October 5, 2005

MONTREAL'S UNIQUE UNDERGROUND CITY

By: Norman P. Goldman

Norm and Lily Goldman are a husband and wife team who meld words with art focusing on romantic destinations.

Norm is the Editor of the team’s travel site, Sketchandtravel.com, where you will find Norm’s travel articles and Lily’s art work. Norm is also the Editor of the book reviewing and author interviewing site, Bookpleasures.com. The latter comprises over twenty five international book reviewers who come from all walks of life and who review all genres.

One of the most fascinating attractions of Montréal is its unique underground city extending over an area of approximately 30 kilometres. In fact, this underground city is the largest in the world.

Did you know that in Montréal it is possible to live, work, eat, entertain yourself and others, exercise and probably do any other activity you can think of entirely underground?

The origin of this underground city dates back to 1962 with the construction of the Place Ville Marie shopping plaza. The next phase was in 1966 with the completion of Montréals Métro. During the course of the next thirty years a series of tunnels and walkways were constructed in order to make this one of the truly unique attractions in the world. It is one humongous shopping mall and retail complex.

Five distinct sections comprise the underground city. These five sections can be viewed at the following site

You will notice that the first of these sections is to be found in the east end of the city around Berri-UQAM station. It is here where you will find the Université du Québec at Montréal as well as the central bus station.

The second section is located between Place-des-Armes and Place-des-Arts and this is linked to Complexe Desjardins, Musée dArts Contemporain, Complexe Desjardins, Complexe Guy Favreau and the newest building, Palais des Congrès. This could be termed the heart of cultural Montréal.

The third section and one that mainly serves the business community is located at Square Victoria. The fourth section is in all likelihood the busiest and comprises McGill, Peel and Bonaventure Métro stations. It is here where you will find a great deal of shopping such as La Baie, Les Promenades de la Cathédrale, Place Montréal Trust, Les Ailes de la Mode, Cours Mont-Royal, Place Bonaventure, the train station and Place Ville-Marie.

Around the Atwater Métro station you will find the fourth and fifth sections that are linked to Westmount Square, Collège Dawson and Place Alexis Nihon.

There are approximately 35 office towers, 8 major hotels, and 2,600 retail outlets, as well as several apartment complexes that are interconnected within this underground complex.

It would probably take you a few days in order to explore all of the shops, hotels, buildings, cultural venues, etc; however, if you have the time it is well worth exploring this subterranean world that apparently was based on an idea by Leonardo da Vinci.

In fact, if you are vacationing in Montréal during the cold winter months or even the hot humid summer months, you will enjoy meandering around this fascinating attraction.