Vieux-Montréal or Old Montreal, as its name indicates is the historic district of Montreal where the city was born. Located along the St. Lawrence River, a five minute walk from Downtown and just a short walk from the convention centre, most of the area was declared historic district in 1964 by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Quebec.

Old Montreal is one of Québec’s and Canada’s most popular tourist attractions. Here you will find several important public squares such as Place d’Armes, Place Jacques-Cartier as well as the Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica visited daily by more than 2,500 people during peak tourist season.

Today, seven buildings from the French system which ended in 1763 still stand: the Old Seminary of St-Sulpice (1684), the former General Hospital (1693), the Ramezay Castle (1705), the Clement House Sabrevois of Bleury (1747), Brossard-Gauvin House(1750), a small outbuilding associated with the main Papineau House, but not accessible by road (1752) and the Dumas House (1757).

Old Montreal is also a cultural centre with seven museums: Montréal Science Centre, Centre d’histoire de Montréal, Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier National Historic site of Canada, La Maison de Mère d’Youville, Bank of Monttréal Museum, Château Ramezay Museum, Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum and last but not least the Pointe-à-Callière Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History.

Many family activities also take place in the Old Port area such as special exhibitions, biking, rollerblading, cycling, jogging, etc.