Walking tours celebrate Montreal architecture

From its origins as a missionary outpost to its current incarnation as a city of festivals, Montreal’s many phases are reflected in its built environment.

Now, you can learn all about that evolution in a series of eight walking tours offered by Heritage Montreal.

ArchitecTours, celebrating 375 years of history, are being held every Saturday and Sunday from August through October.

“At Heritage Montreal we’re really lucky to have a large team of volunteer guides that come from many professions. Some are professors, others are architects, others come from urban planning or art history,” said Mélinda Wolstenholme, co-ordinator of media strategy and digital projects at the conservation organization.

“We have guides who have been with us for more than 20 years,” she added.

The tours range from a stroll through Old Montreal that offers a sneak peek at the private garden of the St-Sulpice Seminary to an exploration of the Quartier des Spectacles near Place des Arts.

The entertainment district was created especially to host mass events like the jazz festival and is an example of how to integrate new architecture with historic buildings, Wolstenholme said.

This weekend’s themes are the first suburbs — Outremont buildings built from 1900 to 1940 — on Saturday, and on Sunday the Cité-jardin du Tricentenaire, built during the Second World War on Viau Blvd.

Three guides are on hand to lead each tour — with two groups in French and one group in English.

There’s no need to reserve in advance.

“You just show 15 minutes before each tour. It’s really first come, first serve,” Wolstenholme said.

Each group are limited to 35, so the maximum for each tour is 105 people.

“Usually there’s a spot for everybody,” she said.

Tours cost $15 ($12 for students and seniors over 65); discounts available for four tours.