Karl Janssen - Montreal

Montréal

Artworks inspired by this location:

This may be the most European city in North America, and one certainly feels that way when you're strolling through the narrow alleyways of Old Montréal. On the other hand, it does exhibit a lot of qualities that you would find in any big city in America: the worst traffic I've ever seen, pollution, graffiti, street people, and an abundance of sex shops. In that sense I feel that Montréal is even more "American" than Toronto. The population doesn't seem to have the same spirit of brotherly love that one finds in Toronto either. It seems like half the inhabitants of this city are trying to show off how rich they are, and the other half are trying to show off how bohemian they are. Whichever side they're on, they seem to be looking down their nose at everyone else, including you.

,That said, Montréal is a fun place to visit, with a lot of interesting tourist attractions and a general atmosphere of urban activity coupled with old-world charm. A knowledge of the French language is not necessary to travel in Québec, though it does make the trip a little more fun, and easier to find what you are looking for, since all signs are in French.

The main art sites in Montréal are the Musée des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Musée d'Art Contemporain (Museum of Contemporary Art). I was a little disappointed with the Museum of Fine Arts. It has an excellent collection of European Art, particularly old masters. I was hoping to see more Canadian art, and learn more about the art of Québec. The most famous painters of Montréal were a group of abstract expressionists led by Jean-Paul Riopelle and Paul-Émile Borduas, mostly active in the '50s and '60s. There was a little of that on view, but not much. I can't make a fair judgment on the Museum of Contemporary Art because about half of the facility was undergoing renovation when I visited.

Another art form for which Montréal is famous is jazz music, and there are several clubs downtown where you can catch live acts. While you are out on the town you'll discover that Montréal is a great place to eat as well. I particularly enjoyed the town specialty, Montréal smoked meat.

Parc Mont Royal
Here's a scenic view of Montréal from the top of Mont Royal, a beautiful wooded park that rises up in the middle of the city. Beyond the skyscrapers you can see the mighty St. Lawrence River.

Vieux Montréal
Old Montréal is a must-see for all tourists to Montréal. It is the oldest section of the city, and has been preserved to maintain its historic character. Walking through this waterfront neighborhood is like stepping back in time. Horse-drawn carriages clop down cobblestone streets, and you are surrounded by handsome examples of French-inspired architecture, mostly from the 18th century.

Basilique Notre Dame
The most amazing architectural wonder in Old Montréal is this basilica, built in the 19th century. It has perhaps the most beautiful and most unusual interior of any church I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot of churches, in Mexico). The altar is decorated with every color of the rainbow. I don't have a good photo, but this guy does.

Place Jacques Cartier
This public square is the center of activity in Old Montreal (seen here on a rainy day). It is surrounded on all sides by sidewalk cafes, clubs, and art galleries. In the center of this photo is the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), built in 1926.

Oratoire St. Joseph
This gigantic oratory may look like something from the Renaissance, but it was conceived and built in the 20th century, completed in 1960. The Oratoire is a tribute to a monk named Brother André, and many artifacts relating to his life are on display. It is a site for religious pilgrimages, but also of great interest for its architecture and art. The interior spaces are beautifully designed with sculptures and stained glass that are definitely done in a modern style. Outside is a series of expressive stone sculptures telling the story of the stations of the cross. Much of the film Jesus of Montréal was filmed here (a good Canadian movie to rent).

One of the coolest things about this site is a museum where they have hundreds of nativity scenes done by artists from around the world, in the traditional folk art styles of their cultures. I'm not a religious person, but I was fascinated by all the different styles and materials used. All nations, big and small, are represented, and all the pieces are crafted by excellent artists.

Parque Olympique
Olympic Park was the home of the 1976 Olympic Games. The site includes three positively extraterrestrial examples of architecture, the Montréal tower (at right), the Olympic Stadium (not shown), and the former Velodrome cycling stadium which now houses the Biodôme, an unusual zoo which features four different ecosystems loaded with plants and free-wandering animals. (To make matters confusing, there's also a park called the Biosphere, in another location.)

Plateau Mont Royal
This area of the city must surely be one of the most beautiful residential neighborhoods in this hemisphere. It features French-inspired architecture, much of it painted in vibrant colors.

Graffiti Murals
Montréal has a lot of murals, particularly amongst the pubs and cafes of the Plateau Mont Royal area. Most of them are painted by graffiti artists, commissioned by business owners. This picture alone shows three different murals in one view, and chances are if you turned around you'd probably see three more.

All artwork and photographs in this site ©Karl Janssen, unless otherwise noted.
No reproduction of images without permission.