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Montreal
Montreal is the largest city in Quebec and the second city in terms of size in Canada which attracts millions of tourists every year. Originally called the "City of Mary", Montreal takes its name from Mont-Royal, the famous hill in the center of the city, and the island where the city stands. It is the second Canadian most populous city. Montreal speaks French as the official language and the language most widely spoken at home, with English coming second. What is notable, Montreal is the world's second largest French-speaking city after Paris. Montreal has gained the title of "City of Design" given by UNESCO and is often called "Canada's Cultural Capital". The city is an important center of commerce, finance, science and technology, tourism and international affairs.

Previously, Montreal had been the industrial heart of Canada with a variety of factories, warehouses, elevators, refineries and mills. Nowadays they are of great historic and architectural interest. A lot of buildings have been preserved in their original form: Bonsecours Market, Notre-Dame de Montreal Basilica, banks in St. James Street. Modern buildings and the most memorable architectural attractions include St. Joseph's Oratory, Place Ville Marie, Ernest Cormier's Art Deco University, and the Olympic Stadium. The Montreal Metro is unique in its design and ornamentation. Each station is a work of art.

To the south-east from the downtown area, there is a historic district called Old Montreal. This part of the city is rich on tourist attractions of various types and includes the Old Port of Montreal, Montreal City Hall, Place d'Armes, the Montreal Science Center, Place Jacques-Cartier and others. The architectural pattern and cobbled streets of Old Montreal have been restored and are now frequently visited by tourists. The riverside area next to the Old Montreal is called the Old Port. It was the previous site of the well-known Port of Montreal, but today it serves as a recreational and historical area. The Port of Montreal is also considered to be the world's largest inland port.

Montreal is also known for its churches: four Roman Catholic basilicas: St. Joseph's Oratory with the second in size copper dome in the world, Notre-Dame Basilica, St. Patrick's Basilica, and Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral.

Mount Royal Park is one of the largest green areas in Montreal designed by the famous Frederick Law Olmsted. The park has two belvederes, overlooking the center of Montreal. In the park, one will also find a small man-made Beaver Lake, a ski slope, a monument to George-Etienne Cartier, and a sculpture garden. Very often athletic and cultural events take place in this park. On Mount Royal one will also find Mount Royal Cemetery with about 162,000 graves of notable Canadians and veterans awarded with the highest military honor of the British Empire, the Victoria Cross.

Montreal is sometimes called "Canada's Cultural Capital" being the center of French-speaking television and radio, theatre and film, media and publishing. Montreal has a tradition of creating jazz and rock music, its downtown area often hosts cultural events and festivals. Place des Arts is the site where the world's leading orchestras assembly - the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the chamber orchestra Musici de Montreal.

Many people travel to Montreal to go shopping in its international boutiques. The best place for shopping is the Underground City. The "city" which includes major buildings and multi-level shopping malls is a paradise for shoppers. Safe and separated from the city bustle, the Underground City has a good selection of goods and services, cafes and restaurants, cinemas and entertainment venues, and does not depend on weather or traffic problems.

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