Bonsecours Market

Explore the charming Old Town of Montreal with an expert private guide, and learn about its nearly 400 years of history as you tour its cobbled streets, iconic landmarks such as Notre Dame Basilica, and of course the scenic Old Port.

On your private 2-hour walking tour, you will: 

• Walk through the International District to the cobbled Saint Paul Street - a vibrant street lined with 19th-century buildings that are now cafes, bars, and boutiques;
• Stop outside the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History - founded in 1992 to mark the birthplace and 350th birthday of Montreal;
• Admire the Old Saint-Sulpice Seminary the oldest building in Montreal, built between 1684 and 1687; it is a beautiful U-shaped building and houses the oldest private garden in North America, its neo-classical façade of rough-cut limestone with gate and Ionic columns dates to 1740, and its clock dates to 1701 - possibly the oldest in America;
• Appreciate the majestic Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal from the outside, famous for its spectacular Gothic Revival architecture, it is a testament to the city's cultural and religious history;
• Wander around Place d'Armes and see the Monument to Paul de Chomedey, the founder of Montreal;
• Walk through Old Montreal Streets stopping by the Old Montreal Courthouse, Place Jacques-Cartier, and Montreal City Hall;
• Pass by the Château Ramezay - a museum dedicated to the history of Montreal and once the home of the Governor;
• Walk to the Old Port of Montreal - a 2km stretch along the Saint Lawrence River it has been used as a trading post since the 1600s and is today full of family attractions from a Ferris wheel to arcades, cinemas, restaurants, and shopping malls;
• Experience the vibrant Bonsecours Market situated in an iconic domed building dating to the 19th century - one of the most recognisable buildings in Old Montreal it once housed the Canadian parliament for a session in 1849;
• Enjoy the incredible views of the Ferris wheel La Grande Roue de Montréal and the Clock Tower from the Old Port area;
• See the beautiful Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel built in 1771 over an earlier edifice;
• End your tour at the Old Port near the bustling shops and restaurants and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.
  

With a history stretching back almost 400 years, the Old Town of Montréal is a treasure trove of historic architecture, public buildings, churches, markets, and of course stunning views from the Old Port along the Saint Lawrence River. It was a thriving fur trading port from the early 17th century and grew in stature, prosperity, and religious and cultural influence. 

Montréal is named after 'Mount Royal', the three-peaked hill in the heart of the city. It is the largest city in the province of Québec, situated on an island in the Saint Lawrence River.

Its official language is French and many of its boroughs were once independent cities in their own right. Old Montreal is an example of picturesque, cobble-stoned French colonial architecture and influence - with the majestic Notre Dame basilica in the centre, a prime example of Gothic Revival architecture.

A sea-faring trading city, you'll be able to enjoy views from the Old Port as well as the very modern, vibrant atmosphere prevalent today! 

Discover all the highlights of Montreal on a whirlwind three-hour driving tour of this vibrant city with an expert private guide. Perfect for taking photos of all the must-see landmarks! Montreal is the largest city in Quebec, a French-speaking metropolis, famous for its vibrant arts and music scene, its many festivals, its passion for sport, the home of Cirque du Soleil, being the birthplace of Leonard Cohen, as well as its beautiful old French colonial architecture and fascinating history dating back to 1642.

On your private tour, you will:  

•  Explore the most popular highlights of Montreal with an expert private guide on a whirlwind 3-hour driving tour;
•  Learn all about the fascinating history of this vibrant and modern metropolis, dating back to 1642;
• Hear how the city was founded as Ville Marie - the City of Mary - by French missionaries, and later named Mount Royal after the triple-peak mountain around which the city was built;
• Travel back in time to Old Montréal as you visit Place d'Armes, the Old Port, City Hall and the Bonsecours Market;
• Compare the modern architecture of the new Quartier International like the famous skyscrapers at Place Ville Marie;
• Explore the hustle and bustle of downtown Sainte Catherine Street, and the grand and stately McGill College Avenue;
• See a little of the RÉSO Montréal - more commonly known as the Underground System - a network of subterranean offices, hotels, cafes, shopping malls, a whole other city; 
• Admire the Square Mile dating back to the Victorian era, then cross Mount Royal Park - to arrive at a breathtaking panoramic view of the city;
• Visit the awe-inspiring and iconic Saint Joseph Oratory, Canada's largest church - attracting 2 million pilgrims every year; 
• Explore the Bohemian, laid-back districts of Plateau Mont-Royal, and the Latin Quarter - learning about the cultural and ethnic diversity of the city; 
• Be astonished at the famously vibrant and colourful street art, murals, and graffiti on Saint Laurent Boulevard;
• Enjoy the greenery and peace of Jean-Drapeau Park with Saint Helen and Notre Dame islands - an oasis of calm;
• Spy the famous Gilles Villeneuve racing circuit, the Montreal Casino and La Ronde park; 
• Stop to take photos of the Olympic stadium, and the world's tallest inclined tower - and pop into the Biodôme and the Botanic Gardens on your return. 

Montreal is a vibrant French-speaking, international metropolis, and the largest city in Quebec. It is famous for its historic architecture dating as far back as 1642 when the city was founded by French missionaries as Ville Marie (City of Mary) as well as for being a global hub for contemporary arts - especially Jazz, street art, and the Cirque du Soleil.

Enjoy whizzing around all the major highlights of Montreal on this 3-hour driving tour - which enables you to take photos of all the must-see sights, as well as learn the whole history of this fascinating city. Admire the French colonial architecture in Old Montreal and compare it with the modern skyscrapers and epic murals, graffiti, and street art around Saint Laurent Boulevard.

Take in the awesome panoramic views from Mount Royal Park, and admire the impressive dome of the Saint Joseph Oratory; the most iconic landmark of the city with one of the largest domes in the world. The basilica is a Catholic shrine that can seat 2000 people and attracts millions of pilgrims each year.

Return via a refreshing walk in the peaceful Jean Drapeau Park, as well as photo stops at the Olympic Stadium or the Gilles Villeneuve racing circuit! 

Explore the shadier nooks and crannies of Old Montréal on this fun, exciting - and spooky - ghost tour, led by a professional actor and expert storyteller!

On your private ghost tour, you will:

• Meet your guide at Place Royal, a small public square located right across Pointe-a-Calliere Museum;
• Explore the darker past of Old Montreal on this unusual tour of its back streets and alleyways;
• Discover long-hidden secrets and unexplained events as you step back in time to the grim past of New France;
• Listen to unsettling stories of murder most foul, ghostly hauntings and unexplained phenomena;
• Stop outside both famous and forgotten buildings and monuments where significant, disturbing events took place;
• End at Bonsecours Market - close to amenities, shops, restaurants and transport.

Enjoy a fantastical, ghostly tour experience with a professional actor and storyteller, who will bring the past back to life in surprising, intriguing and unsettling ways on this 90-minute ghost tour of Old Montreal!

Meet your guide at Place Royal and set off to discover the hidden backstreets, atmospheric alleyways and evocative old buildings of Old Montreal.

The neighbourhood dates back to the 17th century - and is famous for its quaint cobblestone streets, lively plazas and vibrant cafe culture. You'll see all of this - plus the historic famous landmarks of the area like the Basilica and Saint Sulpice Seminary... but you'll also find yourself down strange back streets and empty, eerie warehouses!

But on this tour, you will learn about the darker history of New France, and hear about the legends of witchcraft and sorcery, the city's notorious criminals and villains - and their heinous crimes. Your tour will be filled with unsolved mysteries, gruesome hangings and eerie hauntings - will you see a ghost?!

Your in-character guide will truly bring the past back to life!