Beautiful Montreal has such a European flair, you'll forget you're still in North America. French is the main language spoken here, and while many of the residents and tourist industry workers are bilingual, it doesn't hurt to know a little French. Let's discover what you can expect from a weekend getaway to this beautiful city!

Museum Lovers
The Muse des Beaux-Arts de Montreal, 1380 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, was founded in 1860 and is the oldest museum in Canada. The museum boasts an extensive collection of classic and contemporary art from all over the world as well as exhibits of archaeological artifacts and decorative arts. There is no cost to see the permanent collection.

For a unique experience, check out the Muse d'Archologie Pointe- -Calli re, where you'll travel to an underground archaelogical site where buildings from the 1700s have been excavated as well as the remains of a cemetery dating from the 1600s.

Nature Lovers
Wander among the greenery of the Jardin Botanique, 4101 rue Sherbrooke Est This huge botanical garden contains many smaller gardens that show different styles of gardening, including a peaceful Japanese garden, a butterfly garden and a lilac collection.

History Lovers
In Vieux- Montreal (Old Montreal) visitors can see homes and buildings built as far back as the 1600s. Street performers abound along the picturesque cobblestone streets and there are plenty of activities for tourists to enjoy, including shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Religious Structures
With its soaring towers the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montr Montreal, 110 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, is one of the grandest churches in Montreal. Work on the church was completed in 1829 and services are still held there today. The huge church is decorated with lovely frescoes, stained glass windows and gothic architecture.

Another notable religious structure located in Vieux-Montreal is the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, 400 rue St-Paul Est. The original building was built on this spot in 1671, but burned down. Miraculously, the statue of the Virgin Mary made it through the fire intact, and was installed in the new chapel built at the location in 1771.

Yet another example of beautiful architecture in a religious building is St. Patrick's Basilica, 460 blvd. Ren-Lvesque Ouest. The picturesque basilica was built in 1847 and is a favorite among English speaking residents of Montreal.

Shopping and Dining
Enjoy a stroll through Montreal's Quartier Latin, a trendy, artsy community filled with interesting galleries, one-of-a-kind shows and plenty of bars and eateries. Finally, for shopping head to avenue Laurier Ouest where you'll find eight blocks of clothing boutiques, book stores, toy stores, restaurants, bars and more.

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