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Awaiting Your Return From Shore |
 The Island of Montréal was first
occupied by the St. Lawrence Iroquois, whose small village of Hochelaga
(Place of the Beaver) was situated at the base of Mont Royal. French
explorer Jacques Cartier arrived here in 1535 while on an expedition
searching for a northwest route to Asia. The first settlement was
established by the soldiers of Paul de Chomedy, who had been ordered by
France to "bring about the glory of God and the salvation of the Indians."
Attempts to follow these instructions resulted in bloody conflicts with the
Iroquois until a treaty in 1701 guaranteed that the settlement was to be the
main embarkation point for the fur and lumber trade.
When Québec City fell to the British in 1759, Montréal briefly served as the
capital of New France until it, too, was forced to surrender to the British.
A flood of Irish and Scottish immigrants soon made Montréal North America’s
largest city.
With the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867, Montréal emerged as the
new nation’s premier port, railroad nexus, banking center and main
industrial producer.
Today, Montreal is a cosmopolitan city. Its skyline of glass and concrete
rises above churches and monuments in a medley of European styles as complex
as Montréal’s social blend. Two-thirds of the city’s population are of
French extraction, the other third a cosmopolitan mix of Europeans, Chinese,
Italians, Greeks, South Americans and West Indians. The center of cultural
life is found in the restored Old Town, or Vieux-Montréal, where six museums
are devoted to history, religion and the arts. Classical music concerts are
staged all year long at the Notre Dame Basilica, which possesses one of the
finest organs in North America. There is no lack of shopping opportunities;
several enormous malls offer a wide range of stores and boutiques.
Weatherproof shopping began in 1962 beneath the 42-story cruciform towers of
Place Ville-Marie. Here an underground city offers residents and visitors 19
miles of well-lit passages filled with boutiques and eateries, away from the
hardships of the Canadian winter. Food is a passion with Montréalers; this
is evident in the city’s 4,500 restaurants representing more than 75 ethnic
groups.
Please note: Guests in transit to the following cruise may check with the
Tour Office on board for sightseeing options. Guests on Silversea's
Post-Cruise program may check with the Silversea Hospitality Desk at the
hotel for sightseeing, dining and shopping information during their stay in
Montreal. |
Awaiting Your Return
From Shore |
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Complimentary
Spirits Await |
Return to Your
Suite and Sail Away to The Next Adventure |
Entertainment
and Dancing Await You |
