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Marché Bonsecours
Opened in 1847, this sprawling neoclassical building has been everything from a farmers market to a concert theatre to a brief stint as city hall 1852-1878. It is also where the government of United Canada retreated to, so as to continue the legislative session after the parliament buildings nearby were burned down by an angry anglo mob in 1849.
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Marché Jean-Talon
The pride of Little Italy, this huge covered market is Montréal's most diverse. Many chefs buy ingredients for their menus here or in the specialty food shops nearby. Three long covered aisles are packed with merchants selling fruit, vegetables and flowers as well as baked goods. The market is flanked by delis and café-restaurants with tiny patios. Even in winter the market is open under big tents.
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Masonic Memorial Temple
This Grand Lodge of Québec is one of the most imposing monuments on rue Sherbrooke, built in 1929 to honor the fallen in WWI. Huge classical columns frame the facade while two mysterious obelisks with dragons and globes guard the entrance. Free guided tours are offered on an irregular basis; check ahead for a worthwhile glimpse into the secretive world of Freemasonry.
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McGill University
The campus, one of Canada's most prestigious learning institutions, is rather nice for a stroll around at the foot of Mont Royal, and also incorporates the Musée Redpath. Founded in 1828 by James McGill, a rich Scottish fur trader, the university's medical and engineering faculties have a fine reputation and many campus buildings are showcases of Victorian architecture.
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Mont St-Louis
This charming greystone was converted to a Christian boys' school. The long, segmented facade is one of the best examples of French Second Empire style, with a mansard roof, arches and pavilions.
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Montréal Planetarium
This 20m-high dome offers a window on the stars, space and the solar system via a celestial projector. The 50-minute shows run in shifts: mornings are geared toward kids and school groups, afternoons are for all ages and evenings are reserved for adult programs. Seasonal presentations run at Christmas and other times of the year.
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Morgan Arboretum
This arboretum holds the country's largest grouping of native trees: fragrant junipers, cedars and yews but also exotic species like ginkgo, cork and yellowwood. There's a wonderful trail map and the area is perfect for a long hike in the woods, strolling through magnolia blossoms or having a family picnic. Spring and fall offer the best colors.
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Moulin Fleming
This restored five-story windmill was built for a Scottish merchant in 1816, and a multimedia exhibit inside covers its two centuries of history. It's a nice diversion if you're out here visiting the other Lachine sites, and a great photo op.
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Mount Royal Club
Founded as an exclusive men's society, the Mount Royal Club was founded in the 19th century as a one-up on the older Beaver Club across town. It's essentially a business people's club today, and both men and women are welcome.
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Mt Stephen Club
The Mt Stephen Club, dating from 1880, was an exclusive businessmen's club named for the first president of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The 15 rooms of this Renaissance-style mansion have been completely renovated by a private foundation, and are rich with quality materials and skillful artistry, including a splendid mahogany staircase, marble mantelpieces and rather swanky furnishings.
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Musée d'Archéologie et d'Histoire Pointe-à-Callière
Built on the very spot where European settlers set up their first camp, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum of Archaeology & History provides a good overview of Montréal's beginnings. Visitors should start with Montreal, Tales of a City a 20-minute multimedia show that illustrates the centuries with the aid of film, hologram characters and real drizzle.
Read more about Musée d'Archéologie et d'Histoire Pointe-à-Callière
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Musée d'Art Contemporain
This showcase of contemporary Canadian art has eight galleries divided between past greats since 1939, and exciting current developments. A collection of 6000 permanent works includes Quebec legends Jean-Paul Riopelle, Paul-Émile Borduas and Génévieve Cadieux. There are also temporary exhibitions of works by current Canadian and international artists.
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Musée de Lachine
One of the oldest houses in the Montréal region (1669) with shooting holes inserted in the structure for defense. In those days Lachine was the last frontier for trappers headed west and the final stop for fur shipments. Here you can see and smell the old fur-storage building from the original trading days. Adjacent to the museum is a huge waterfront sculpture garden that you can visit anytime from dawn to dusk.
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Musée des Beaux-Arts
Montréal's Museum of Fine Arts, the oldest in the country and the city's largest, is housed in two buildings: the classical, marble-covered Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion, and the modern annex across the street, the Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion. The latter plays host to works by European and Canadian masters but also ancient artifacts from Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Far East; Islamic art and works from Africa and Oceania.
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Musée des Soeurs Grises
Dedicated to Saint Marguerite d'Youville, founder of the community of the Sisters of Charity, better known as the Grey Nuns, this museum has a small but wonderfully presented set of exhibits. There's regularly scheduled tours in French and English but you must call ahead for the schedule and availability.
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Musée Ferroviaire Canadien
The Canadian Railway Museum contains more than 150 historic vehicles, ranging from locomotives, steam engines, Old Montréal street cars and passenger cars to snow plows. It's widely acknowledged as one of North America's most outstanding collections. Not particularly well-known by Montrealers, this museum gets raves from those that make the trek, especially families, and many claim it's the best museum in the Montréal area.
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Musée Juste Pour Rire
The Just for Laughs Museum is the seat of the summer comedy festival of the same name. Apparently comedian George Burns was nearly killed by a brick of fake banknotes here, but otherwise guffaws are few and far between. A favorite with kids, the Abracadabra show reveals a fascinating glimpse of magic and magicians behind the scenes. The adjacent Cabaret Theater (845-2014) stages special events and shows.
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Musée Marc-Aurèle Fortin
This museum has but a few viewing rooms dedicated to a sole Québec painter, Marc-Aurèle Fortin (1888-1970), whose depictions of lush trees and greenery transformed the art of landscapes. A self-taught genius, Fortin produced thousands of works. He painted until his death, even after he lost his legs, and later his eyesight to diabetes. Fortin's bold, colourful paintings are a sharp contrast to his tragic end.
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Musée McCord
With hardly an inch to spare in its cramped but welcoming galleries, the McCord Museum of Canadian History houses nearly a million artifacts and documents illustrating the social, cultural and archaeological history of Canada from the 18th century till the present.
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Musée Redpath
A Victorian spirit of discovery pervades this old natural history museum though you won't find anything more gruesome than stuffed animals from the Laurentians hinterland. The Redpath Museum houses a large variety of specimens, a life-sized dinosaur skeleton and seashells donated from around the world. A highlight is the 3rd-floor Ethnology Gallery which traces the beginnings of mankind.
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Musée Stewart
Near La Ronde amusement park there's also an old fort where the British garrison was stationed in the 19th century. Inside the remaining stone ramparts is the Musée Stewart with artifacts and tools from Canada's past. Check out the huge model of Old Montréal inside. There's a spotlight that sweeps over the buildings while old footage pops up on a video screen accompanied by narration and the presentation is beautifully done.
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Olympic Stadium
The Stade Olympique seats 56,000 and remains an architectural marvel though these days hosts mostly concerts and trade shows and rarely sports events. The best thing to do is take the bilevel cable car up the Montréal Tower (Tour de Montréal, also called the Olympic Tower) that leans over the stadium.
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Oratoire St-Joseph
The gigantic oratory honors St Joseph, Canada's patron saint. The largest shrine ever built in honor of Jesus' father, this Renaissance-style building was completed in 1960 and commands wonderful views on the northern slope of Mont Royal. The oratory dome is visible from anywhere in this part of town.
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Palais Des Congrés
Located on the new Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle in the heart of town, the facade of this convention centre resembles a pallet of popsicles with perky blue, orange, yellow and green panes; entering the hall is akin to strolling through a kaleidoscope. Day brings out the colors, night the transparency. More modern art lies within, including the Lipstick Forest that consists of 52 tree trunks daubed in electric pink.
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Palestre Nationale
The neobaroque National Palace (1916) was originally a sports center for local youth, drawing spirited crowds to amateur athletic events in the 1980s. Note the horn-of-plenty motif above the ornate portico. It now houses the university dance troupe Agora de la Danse.
