Montreal

Quebec, Canada

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Montreal is Canada’s second-largest city and the largest in Québec, located on Montreal Island at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, where it serves as a major inland port and the heart of French Canadian culture and industry.

Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie by French settlers, the city grew into a fur-trade hub, became Canada’s capital from 1844 to 1849, and has hosted landmark global events including Expo 67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics. French is the official language, spoken by about 65% of residents, yet Montreal is also one of the world’s most bilingual and multilingual cities, blending European charm with North American energy.

The city is famous for its world-class festivals like the Montreal International Jazz Festival and Just for Laughs, its historic Old Montreal with cobblestone streets and the stunning Notre-Dame Basilica, Mount Royal Park offering panoramic views, and a vibrant food scene featuring poutine and international cuisine.

Home to prestigious universities such as McGill (English) and Université de Montréal (French), Montreal thrives as a global leader in aerospace, artificial intelligence, tech startups, arts and culture, and remains the second-largest French-speaking city worldwide after Paris.