You can see it from many places, from far away, it's so big you may think you are close to it, but no, you are still far away from it. Luckily it's easy to reach by bike following Rachel street from Jeanne-Mance park and public transport on the green subway line.
There is some retro-futuristic vibe around the young remains of the 1976 Summer Olympics. The curves in concrete are at the opposite of what you may have seen of Montreal, the reddish bricks houses, but like many cities with their iconic buildings, the Olympic Park is Montreal.
It reminds me of three things, two cities where I grew up and lived. One is Paris, because soon after arriving in Montreal, I realise the architect Roger Taillibert of the Olympic Park also designed the PSG football stadium in Paris, something with the concrete and the curves. Second is Berlin - it's a type of construction that makes me think of these cities - Montreal and Berlin - they're both built on a giant spacecraft we can only see the top of.
Finally there is something very organic or animal-like about this stadium, like a giant scorpion. I recommend walking in park Maisonneuve behind which seeing the top of the spike above the big trees is always impressive.
Find your way with 135 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"The Illuminated Crowd" in Montreal is a sculpture of 65 people with exaggerated facial expressions. Everyone's passed by, but few people really notice it!
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Boutique Réunion in Montreal has kitchenware and food items like jams, but what piqued my interest was the fix of craft imports & fine local products...
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Le Quai des Glaces in Montreal is an ice-cream shop with a growing reputation. One taste of their key lime pie or mojito is enough to stand in line...
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"Munchiz Exotique" in Montreal is unlike any other 'depanneur' (or convenience store) I have ever visited...
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"Trois Disques by Calder" in Montreal is one of the few remains of the 1967 Expo. Together with the others, like Habitat 67, it makes for a great bike ride...
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Their mission is to “help educate patrons on the brewing process & above all else, to brew quality, an independent beer that Montrealers can be proud of”.
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"Comptoir St-Jo" in an old building in Lachine, Montreal, has plenty of green spaces & a range of food options - I love the pistachio croissant!
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"Wishbone Art Gallery" is an oasis of freshness & gentleness in Old Montreal. It opened during the pandemic, and they're doing pretty well! Nice area too.
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"H8S Coffee Bar" is a laid-back cafe in Lachine, Montreal, is small, cozy and with an interesting decor. A great way to spend a Sunday morning!
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"Pikolo Espresso Bar" in Montreal is the place I go to for an afternoon escape from the office. I love it for all seasons. It looks like a coffee machine!
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"Cheap Thrills" in Montreal is a music store from the early '70s! If it looks chaotic on the outside, it's organised chaos inside, as a cool shop can be...
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135 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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