Half of Quebec's population lives in the Montreal Metropolitan area with Montreal Island at the center.

The area has the second largest economy of Canada, only surpassed by arch-rival Toronto.

French is the mother-tongue for 65% of the population.and it is also the city's official language.

People have lived here for at least 4000 years, when Jacques Cartier showed up in 1535 he found the place inhabited by the St. Lawrence Iroquoians who grew corn and lived in fortified villages like Hochelaga.

Cattier named the prominent hills on the island Mont Royal after his patron, the first king of France.

 When the French established the fur trading post Fort Ville-Marie in 1611, they noticed the Iroquois were all gone.

First settlers arrived in 1642 and in 1705 the name of the place changed from Ville Marie to Montreal.

 Thanks to its strategic position on the St Lawrence River, Montreal grew into an economic powerhouse and in 1844 became the capital of the  Province of Canada only to lose that title soon to Ottawa.

 Montreal successfully hosted the Expo 67 and the summer Olympics of 1976.

Some of the glorious past is preserved in the old town located near the harbour.

The imposing Notre Dame Basilica at the Place des Armes dates back to 1672 and is a must see.

St Joseph's Oratory at Mont Royal is also well worth a visit.