Old Montreal: Gearing Up For The Summer!

Old Montreal is waking up after loosened restrictions, beautiful weather, and the return of summer vacation! Between its ancient stone, its audacious restaurants, and its wonderful boutiques, it is the ideal locale in which to relax, get away, and find some fun. Before sending you a postcard from the city’s most beautiful neighbourhood, here’s some practical information to help you make the most of your vacation here!

Visiting A Welcoming Neighbourhood

Search for the little blue signs at our neighbourhood businesses! The blue side means that they are open and you may enter. If the red side is showing, the business has reached their maximum capacity, and you’ll have to wait a little bit before coming in. Thank you in advance for respecting these safety measures.

A network of sanitary terminals have been installed across the neighbourhood in key areas to ensure easy findability. Around twenty stations have been put at the public’s disposal. If one of these is empty or damaged, please don’t hesitate to contact our team: info@sdcvieuxmontreal.com

Walking A Friendly Neighbourhood

Enjoy the return of pedestrian walkways! Place Jacques-Cartier, Saint-Paul Street East – (between Marché Bonsecours Street and Saint-Laurent Boulevard), Saint-Amable Street (with its delightful bougainvillea-covered arches), Saint-Vincent Street, and Place d’Youville (in the Place Royale sector, in front of the Pointe-à-Callière Museum) is now open for you, walkers!

Also consider that everything is within walking distance in our neighbourhood; it only takes around twenty minutes to walk from one side to the other… if you don’t take an ice cream break, sit in at a welcoming terrace, or drop by a nice boutique first!

On the public transport front, three Orange Line metro stations serve the historic neighbourhood: Champ-de-Mars, Place D’armes, and Square Victoria. In addition, 10 Bixi stations are available for the convenience of its users.

Taking A Break In A Gourmand’s Neighbourhood

A good number of terraces have been open since May 28th, and many are in the process of opening! This is great news for daytime explorers, nighttime revelers, and those who just love the neighbourhood in general! Our businesses are very excited to serve you, and for some, a little breaking-in period is necessary for their new teams after such a long pause, so we ask your patience. They are devoted to opening again and will be very happy to welcome us once more.

In addition to these magnificent terraces and eating areas where you can settle, Parklets and outdoor urban oases are back this summer. These spaces are ideal for taking a rest and enjoying a lunchtime getaway or coffee break.

Escaping to a Neighbourhood in Bloom

Pétanque fields along the de la Commune promenade – beneath the trees in front of Bonsecours Market – are open again, but players are required to bring their own equipment! First come, first served. Please note that these fields are public property, and no consumption of alcoholic beverages is allowed.

For the rest of the summer decorations, our seasonal landscaping team is at work, planting flowers to beautify our streets. Depending on the weather, we are expecting some more beautiful floral decorations this year.

As a reminder, Park Dauversière, the garden at Château Ramezay, the Champ de Mars esplanade, Place D’Youville, and the nearby Old Port and the Grand Quay’s verdant roof are all outstanding places to come read, picnic, or just relax against a scene of calming greenery.

Having Fun in a Cultural Neighbourhood

Several art galleries, museums, art distribution centres, and cultural sponsors are launching new exhibitions. It’s a good chance to see history in a different way (Marguerite Bourgeoys Historical Site, Château Ramezay, Sir Georges-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site) or dive into new immersive experiences (Cirque Éloize, Centre Phi), and even discover new contemporary artists in the galleries.

Also, we would like to let you know of some photography exhibitions that will be held outdoors. On St-Claude and Le Royer Streets, discover the new offshoot of our Fabricants d’émotions – 2021 Edition project, an Old Montreal SDC initiative in partnership with the borough of Ville-Marie: a chance to take an in-person photo with certain entrepreneurs that are impossible to miss on a normal neighbourhood walk.

And good news for the photojournalism fans out there: Starting June 18, after one year of absence, a mini version of the Old Montreal World Press Photo Expo will be returning for its 2021 Edition! Old Montreal SDC, is partnering with the borough of Ville-Marie in collaboration with the Montreal World Press Photo Expo team, to bring you an essential view into the world of news!

Enjoying Special Offers From A Collaborative Neighbourhood

Several members of the neighbourhood are offering activity “passports” with their neighbours in Old Montreal and the Old Port, which offer complete experiences at advantageous prices. You can find them at sites like the Marguerite Bourgeoys Historical Site, Guidatour or the Bateau-Mouche.

Photos: Geneviève Giguère