Every time I go to a new city, a spirit of adventure and discovery increases my energy level and 06:10 I was already awake. I read my guide for a while and then doze off again, only to awaken a major thunderstorm that drenched the city with a downpour. So I got up and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and 09:30 or so they have calmed down again, just in time for my research center. Old Montreal Ghost Tour last night but he gave me a little review of the old historic center of Montreal and I met some interesting characters.
Five minutes from my hotel is the Place d'Armes, one of Montreal's most famous squares. The old part of town was still quiet, and I enjoyed a quiet stroll through the cobble-stoned streets. I went into one of Montreal's tourist office, located at the southwest corner of the Rue Notre Dame and Place Jacques Cartier to stock up on maps and ask different questions from the clerical staff.
Old Montreal in the morning as a European feel to it, with little cafes just setting up shop and local residents getting ready to walk to work. calm relaxed atmosphere contrasts very sharply with the usual frantic hustle and bustle that we are so accustomed to our North American cities.
After a relaxing walk that allowed me to admire the architecture and narrow streets and passages, I returned to the Place d'Armes, where my Old Montreal Walking Tour, provided that the licensed tour guides from Guidatour, will be starting in 11: 12:00. meeting place was just outside the Notre-Dame, and our two tour leaders were already waiting. Our English-groups will be handled by Louis while French-speaking group was assigned to another guide, Bruno.
Eleven tourists flock around us, Louis and his French accent with a charming yet perfect English began to educate us about the history and architecture of Old Montreal, adding a dose of subtle humor. Of course our tour began with Notre-Dame Basilica, probably Montreal's most visited buildings. Louis we were inside the basilica, and we found that the C $ 15 ticket for walking actually comprises four dollars to the Basilica of the charges for entry.
Notre Dame Basilica is a magnificent Gothic Revival church, designed by the irony of Protestant Irish-American architect James O'Donnell, who also designed the church in New York, and was built between 1824 and 1829th Apart from the stunning Gothic Revival exterior, Notre Dame features a dramatic interior, with a deep blue ceiling is decorated with golden stars. This is one of the most unusual churches I have seen and its visual impact is stunning.
Louis explained that for about $ 2000 Can I get married in that church, but apparently there is a waiting list of at least two years. Celebrities as a Quebecois singer Celine Dion and hockey great Mario Lemieux married here. Notre-Dame Basilica is also a place of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau's funeral, Canada's most famous prime minister. Louis then lead us through the side chapel outside the wedding chapel, officially called "La Chapelle Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur, " which, unfortunately, has been seriously damaged by fire in 1978th Much of the woodwork has been reconstructed in a more modern style, but the chapel was still an impressive space.
After our first introduction to the architecture of Montreal, we walked to the west, just a few steps to the Rue Notre-Dame and had a look in Montreal, the oldest buildings: the Old Seminary or "Vieux Séminaire Saint-Sulpice. " Built in 1683 by Sulpician priests, this building used to the castle from which the priests succeeded in their vast land holdings. During the early years of the history of the Montreal citizens are subjected to frequent attacks by the Iroquois, and the Old Seminary represented refuge in a place that was still mostly wilderness. characteristics of public clock was installed in 1701 and is among the oldest such timekeepers in all North America.
We then stopped to admire Place d'Armes in front of the basilica, so named because it was once a place for military maneuvers, as well as for religious processions. Place d'Armes is a real collection of architectural history. New York Insurance building, which dates from 1888, was the first building to install a new elevator was invented at the time the tallest building in all of Montreal. Hotel Place d'Armes just north, originally five stories high, is actually three stories added a building is equipped with an elevator.
Aldred Building is a good example of Art Deco architecture, skyscrapers, and for many years was the tallest building in Montreal. Louis quite appropriately stepped back from skysraper wedding cake design as an architectural style. In the middle of Place d'Armes is watched over by a statue of Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maissoneuve, which was founded in Montreal 1642nd
north end of Place d'Armes holds yet another architectural marvel: Bank of Montreal building. Founded in 1817 as the first bank in Canada, Bank of Montreal decided to build an impressive headquarters in 1847 and created a neoclassical exterior modeled on the Roman Pantheon. The interior was completely redesigned in 1904 to 1905 by the famous New York architectural firm McKim, Mead and White with a magnificent banking hall modeled on a Roman basilica.
Title west of St. James Street (or rue St-Jacques), Louis explained that it used to be Canada, a business center during the 19th century. Many Canadian banks had their headquarters here until they moved to downtown Montreal and later in Toronto. Rail and shipping companies also had their headquarters here, many of them were founded by immigrants from Scotland.
architectural mix in the Rue St-Jacques is an impressive and Louis pointed out one example that was recently renovated and reincarnated as a very upscale St. James Hotel. This trendy boutique hotel offers a penthouse apartment that can be rented for about $ 5000 night (in low season) and it is a favorite gathering place known. To mention just one example, Madonna has only stayed at the St. James recently, in late June during her Montreal concert stop.
Another really impressive architectural gem came into view: the former head of Royal Bank, whose construction began in 1928 to the designs of famous skyscrapers in New York professionals York and Sawyer. For a long time this building was the largest in the British Empire. design is influenced by the Florentine palaces and impressive high ceilings in the Great Hall of the feature logos eight ten provinces of Canada.
Unfortunately no photography is allowed at any Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank building, but they are amazing examples of architectural styles from different eras. Louis then lead us through the narrow streets of Old Montreal, the city's waterfront and the birthplace of the city. As a major port city and center of the customer, many buildings in Old Montreal are warehouse buildings contain large windows to let in lots of natural daylight. This was to reduce the risk of fire which was caused by artificial lighting at the time, putting at risk the precious cargo that these facilities were storing.
and I kept asking lots of questions about Louis architecture and social history of Montreal. His knowledge of architecture was impressive, and to compare architectural styles, he was referencing a number of other famous buildings in other cities such as New York, Toronto, Boston and Chicago. He noted that many historic buildings were demolished in Montreal during the 1960s as in many other cities in North America, but fortunately, the architectural preservation movement gained strength and now all of Old Montreal is protected.
Old Montreal languished for several decades, because most of the action have moved downtown, but in the last forty years Vieux Montréal has experienced a resurgence that began with a major international event Expo 67th Today, many of these former warehouse buildings have been converted into upscale condos and Louis has informed me that even a small studio apartment will probably fetch a price of at least half a million dollars. Old Montreal has made a successful transition from the former commercial district of vibrant tourism, entertainment and residential space.
waterfront we arrived at Place d'Youville, extended public space located on the former river bed of Rivière Saint-Pierre, which was channeled in 1830 and eventually covered and dries up completely. History Centre in Montreal is the former fire and a rare example of Flemish architecture in Quebec.
Just a few steps west of the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History at Pointe-à-Callier. It is very rare to know exactly where the city was founded, but Montrealers know exactly where their city first came into being: the narrow strip of land between the St. Lawrence and Saint-Pierre River. Right there, the first settlers built Fort Ville-Marie, using earth and wooden posts. As a fact, at the 17th May 1642, Father Vimont held a mass celebrating the establishment of Montreal, attended by the Sieur de Maisonneuve, Jeanne Mance and the other founding colonists.
Today, the museum consists of six buildings and introduces visitors to the city history in innovative ways. There is even an archeological dig here, digging further knowledge about the history. Various festivals including multicultural festivals and historic weekend markets are also held at Pointe-à-Callier.
Our route then took us back to Notre Dame Street. The former Palais de Justice, built between 1849 and 1856, is a good example of Canadian neo-classicism. Today the building of the Quebec Court of Appeal. Across the street is Ernst Cormier building, opened in 1926 and named after the famous architect who designed the main Pavillon, Université de Montreal, as well as the doors at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Our tour of Old Montreal appropriately come to an end at the place Jacques-Cartier, gently sloping grandest public space of Old Montreal. Numerous restaurants with outdoor terraces line both sides of the square and the center holds a variety of wooden stalls selling flowers, art and souvenirs. the northern end of the square is overlooked by a statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who are curious faces away from Montreal's port area. The statue is a testament to the strength of British origin, traders who wanted to commemorate the British defeat the French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar.
northeast end of the Place Jacques Cartier is the place of Montreal's City Hall, built in Second Empire style and opened in 1878. Fire destroyed the roof and the interior of the building in 1922, and the roof was rebuilt in 1926 along the lines of the city hall in Tours, France. Today, Montreal's City Hall is still located in the historic building.
Place Jacques-Cartier was a fitting place to end our trip to Old Montreal and everyone in the crowd thanked Louis profusely for sharing his local insight and knowledge. By this time it was almost 13:00, and my stomach is telling me it was time for: lunch in the Café du Chateau
.
Postingan
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar