Old Montreal Audio Guide for Montreal

Welcome to the historic soul of Canada’s second largest city, known locally as Vieux-Montréal. As you stand here amidst the cobblestone streets and granite facades, you are walking through over three hundred and eighty years of human history. This neighborhood was once a fortified colonial town, enclosed by thick stone walls that protected early settlers from the elements and conflict. Today, those walls have been replaced by a vibrant urban landscape that feels more like a pocket of Europe than a North American metropolis. Looking around, you will see a fascinating contrast between the seventeenth century French architecture and the towering, ornate Victorian structures of the nineteenth century British era. You are currently near the geographic heart of the district, where the spiritual and financial powers of the past still face one another. Take a breath of the fresh river air and prepare to meet the pioneers, architects, and merchants who built this city from a small religious mission into a world-class gateway.