7 Things You Didn’t Know about Montreal, Canada

Things You Didn’t Know About Montreal

Have you ever been to Montreal? Many people travel around the world every year but don’t spend much time learning about their destination – they simply want to explore. Of course, it is fine to explore a new country, but it can also be beneficial to learn a little about its history and how it operates on a daily basis. 

Montreal is a vibrant city that has something for everyone and has a lot of history attached to it. Of course, you can visit a local museum to find out about the history but will this cover everything that you need to know?

In this article, we are going to tell you about some of the things that you might not know about Montreal. This will include everything from where the name of the airport came from to some interesting facts about the Berlin Wall. Keep reading if you would like to find out more about this.

It Has A Segment Of The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall is a piece of history that will never be forgotten as it had such a big impact on those who lived in Germany throughout this time. This wall signifies a very hard time for the people of Germany and those who are still living now think about this time every day. 

Interestingly, the city of Berlin actually donated a piece of the wall to Montreal on their 350^th anniversary which was in 1992. This was a big event and the people of Montreal took in the piece of the wall with open arms.

If you want to visit the piece of the wall, then you will need to head to the Ruelle des Fortifications which is right next to the Montreal World Trade Centre. Once you get there, you will be able to see the wall and appreciate this piece of history. 

The Airport Is Named After A Prime Minister

Did you know that the main airport in Montreal was actually named after one of the longest standing prime ministers that Canada has had? Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliot served as prime minister for the country for 15 years and eventually, they decided to name an airport after him. This happened in 2004 and the airport has since been named Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport.

This airport is extremely busy and offers flights to and from many different countries. If you want to see this airport up close in person then you should consider booking some flights to Montreal. You will love flying in and out of this airport as it has a lot to offer travellers in terms of food, drink and shopping. Take a look at these flights from Porter Airlines if you are planning on jetting off to Montreal later this year: https://www.flyporter.com/en-ca/book-flights/where-we-fly/canada/montreal.

UNESCO City Of Design

Another thing that you might not know about Montreal is that it is actually a UNESCO City Of Design. In 2004, UNESCO created their Creative Cities Network and named Montreal as one of the cities in the design category. This was quite big for Montreal, but it wasn’t a surprise as they have an impressive infrastructure and sustainable urban development that is recognized around the world.

Just a quick trip to Montreal will show you why they are one of the UNESCO Cities Of Design so make sure to check out this city this year! 

It Is A Port City

Did you know that Montreal is actually a port city? The Port Of Montreal handles 26 million tonnes of cargo every single year and it is one of the largest inland ports in the entire world. At this port, you’ll find everything from machinery to sugar, grain and of course consumer goods. As a port city, Montreal plays its part in keeping Canada stocked up on all of the important things. Make sure to visit the Port Of Montreal when you visit this city as you will be very impressed with how smoothly things operate here on a day-to-day basis.

There Are Plenty Of Educational Establishments

It is likely that you are aware of some of the universities in Montreal, but do you know that there are four for prospective students to choose from? On top of this, they have 12 colleges which are known as CEGEPs and seven degree-awarding institutions. This is a huge number of places for people to learn and it is why there is such a large student population in Montreal throughout the semesters. 

If you are looking for somewhere to study that has a lot to offer, Montreal might just be the place for you. It is also a good hub for secondary schools which means that many families tend to move into the city to take advantage of this. With a huge focus on education, this city is the perfect place to bring up your kids.

It Is On An Island

Another thing that you might not know about Montreal is that it is actually located on an island. The Saint Lawrence River acts as the primary drainage outflow for the Great Lakes and it is one of the largest rivers in North America. Montreal is situated on an island surrounded by this river and this makes it quite unique to the rest of Canada. 

The great thing about the location of this city is that there is plenty to do when it comes to water sports. Citizens and tourists in Montreal can enjoy kayaking, boating and much more on the river and get out there and explore some of what nature has to offer!

There Are No Skyscrapers

The final thing that you might not know about Montreal is that it doesn’t have any skyscrapers at all. If you visit any other city around the world, you’ll find dozens of skyscrapers with some competing to see which can be the tallest. In Montreal, however, there are no skyscrapers in an attempt to keep things a little more natural. This is quite interesting.

Don’t worry about the lack of skyscrapers, however, as there are plenty of other ways that you can see the views that this city has to offer. Make sure to check out the Mount Royal which is 233 metres tall and is located in the middle of the city. All you need to do is head up this hill and soon you’ll see the beauty of Montreal. 

“There are currently 42 buildings and structures in Montreal greater than 100 m (328 ft). The tallest building in the city is the 51-storey, 205-metre-tall (673 ft), 1000 de La Gauchetière. Municipal regulations forbid any building from exceeding the height of Mount Royal, or 233 m (764 ft) above mean sea level.^[1] Above-ground height is further limited in most areas and a minority of the downtown land plots are allowed to contain buildings exceeding 120 metres in height.^[2] The maximum limit is currently attained by 1000 de La Gauchetière and 1250 René-Lévesque, the latter of which is shorter, but built on higher ground.” Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Montreal

Final Verdict

It can be easy to get distracted by the tourist attractions when you go travelling and miss out on the exciting facts that you could be learning about the destination. Admit it! There are many things you didn’t know about Montreal! Here, we have looked at some of the things that you might not know about Montreal, but this list does not exhaust everything that you can find out about this exciting city.

If you are planning on visiting Montreal this year then make sure to look out for some of the things that we have discussed in this article. You will love getting up close to the Saint Lawrence River and visiting the airport that has been named after one of the longest standing prime ministers in Canada. Make sure to visit Montreal this year and see what this exciting city has to offer!

Sponsored Post

You’d also enjoy

Tam’s 5 Favorite Reasons to Visit Budapest