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The
village! Montreal - Quebec Canada.
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One of the oldest cities in North
America, Montréal is the largest French-speaking city in the
world after Paris , and yet the most bilingual city in Canada . A
magnet for world travelers and one of the world's most exciting
urban getaways, few cities can compare with Montréal. The city
possesses a unique historical character and Montrealers have made
their city a warm, welcoming destination.
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As a metropolis of over 3.4 million
people, Montreal has a very large gay and lesbian community, and
over the years a special spirit of openness and
tolerance between the community and the general public has been
forged. Such open-mindedness has made the city, particularly the
Village (one of the largest gay neighborhoods in
the world), a preferred destination for members of the gay
community from all over the globe. Here, more than anywhere else,
men and women of all ages, from all backgrounds, can walk together
in safe, comfortable surroundings. And visitors keep returning for
great events like the Divers/Cité Festival, which include a huge
parade for gay and lesbian pride Celebration, and the Black &
Blue Festival, which raises money for AIDS research through a
week-long whirlwind of parties. This popularity no doubt explains
why Montréal is the natural choice to host the 1st
World Outgames, which takes place between July 29 and August
5, 2006.
The Village is one of the largest gay neighborhoods in the world, and its principal metro station,
Beaudry, proudly bears the colours of the gay community.
The neighborhood stretches east to west along Sainte-Catherine Street, the main business thoroughfare, from Saint-Hubert Street to Papineau Street. The vivid nightlife is complemented by a high level of daytime energy, when the streets of the Village hustle and bustle with employees from nearby radio and TV production houses. Numerous events and festivals taking place each year keep the excitement going, with the highlights being the Festival des Arts in July, the
Divers/Cité, Gay and Lesbian Pride Célébration in August and the Black & Blue Festival in October. These three events alone draw more than a million participants !
In the neighborhood you'll find cafés, bistros, boutiques, antique shops, family restaurants and exotic eateries. To really get a feel for the place, take a stroll along the north-south side streets between Sherbrooke Street and René-Lévesque Boulevard and admire the carefully restored brick homes, shaded backyard gardens and window boxes brimming over with flowers. Be sure to drop into the Androgyne bookstore as well, the first in Canada devoted to gay literature. Or visit the superb neo-gothic
Saint-Pierre-Apôtre church, built in 1851, at 1201 Visitation Street. It houses the Chapel of Hope, the first chapel in the world consecrated to the memory of victims of AIDS.
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The southern end of Amherst Street fans out to afford a striking view of the elegant clock tower in the Old Port. If you pause near
Saint-Pierre-Apôtre at the corner of René-Lévesque Boulevard and Visitation Street, you'll catch an arresting view of the modern Radio-Canada building soaring up in front of the majestic
Jacques-Cartier Bridge.
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The Art Deco architecture of the impressive Saint-Jacques Market building and the Écomusée du fier monde (across the way on Amherst Street) are also worth a stop. And all along Amherst Street you can visit antique shops that specialize in objects from the 1930s through the 1960s. The narrow, winding side streets nearby, particularly Lartigue Street, have a distinctly European feel.
But above and beyond all these attractions, you'll find it's the warm
neighborhood life and the hospitality of the people who live there which make the Village so unforgettable.
Bon Voyage!
Content & Copyrights: Tourisme
Montreal
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Montreal
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