Welcome to Montreal!

EarthCam and affiliate Tourisme Montreal bid you a visual "bienvenue", a welcome to historic Place Jacques-Cartier Montreal, and the Place des Arts Montreal, in Quebec, Canada. The square with a romantic view uphill dominated by the Napoleonic III architecture of Montreal's City Hall, a Canadian National Historic Monument, continues to fulfill its centuries old role as a public gathering place. It bears the name of French explorer, Jacques Cartier, who in 1535 became the first European to set foot in what is now Canada.

The square also serves as a gateway to the old Montreal waterfront. The waterfront along the St-Lawrence River in the old Port of Montreal is the original social, economic and cultural center of Montreal with traditions reaching 350 years into history when French fur traders used it as a trading post.

Today summer tourists stroll among kiosks, enjoy street artists, and dine at Parisian style cafe's and classic French restaurants, which line the square or are tucked away invitingly on nearby streets.

In the holiday season lighted Christmas trees line the square paying homage to annual celebration.

The Place des Arts is a complex of concert and theater halls in downtown Montreal. Adjacent to it is the Museum of Contemporary Art, which was founded in 1964 and moved to its present location in 1992. Also nearby is the Complexe Desjardins, an exciting example of modern architecture; the complex, with its multilevel terraces, balconies, mezzanines, and sunken plaza.

Tourisme Montreal is a private, non-profit organization of more than 750 members and partners from Montreal's tourism industry. Founded in 1919 and incorporated in 1924 it is dedicated to the goal of promoting the city internationally as a premier travel destination.

For more information, please visit our affiliate at www.tourisme-montreal.org.