Montreal - History & Bridges

Montreal is the city on an island. In the central part of the island is the hill, which gives the city the name - Mount Royal. Yes, we can have the discussion whether it is a hill or a mount. It is one of the oldest cities on North American continent. First Nations lived on the Montreal Island four thousand years ago.  They established city Hochelaga (beaver dam or beaver lake) on the foot of the hill two hundred years before French arrived.

Montreal today is modern Canadian city with French charm. The architecture helps a lot to create the atmosphere, but most important are the people - friendly, open and very kind (they talk to us, English speaking foreigners, with pleasure).  Everything here is very Canadian, even the hockey club of Montreal is called Montreal Canadians. Are all other Canadian hockey clubs not Canadian at all?

Montreal - old and in perfect symbiosis

Bridge ‘Pont Jacques Cartier’ - Jacques Cartier, French explorer, visited the island of Montreal in 1535. He discovered on the island village Hochelaga with population over thousand people. Many monuments and locations in Quebec bear his name.

Bridge - Pont Jacques Cartier

Bridge ‘Pont Champlain’ - Samuel de Champlain, is called ‘The Father of New France’. He founded Quebec city and his biggest contribution for Canada - creation of very accurate map of the coast. He served as Governor of New France and oversaw the growth of New France until his dead in 1635.

Bridge - Pont Champlain

Bridge ‘Pont Honoré Mercier’ -  Honoré Mercier, ninth premier of the Canadian province Quebec (from 1887 to 1891). Not only bridge, but also he South Shore suburb of Montreal, Hospital in Saint-Hyacinthe, high and elementary schools, and couple of streets are called by his name.

Bridge - Pont Honoré Mercier

As Mr.Mercier’s name is very popular I wondered who was the first premier of Quebec. His name is Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau. Until now I did not find anything named by his name. I keep searching. On contrary Jacques Viger, first mayor of Montreal, give his name at least to a Hospital. For today this is enough historical data.

Jacques Cartier                                    Samuel de Champlain                                Honoré Mercier 

Many times in my life I have heard ‘there is no real history in America’. Montreal convinced me it is not truth. America has its history. Not only the ‘European’, but as well the ‘before being discovered’ one. I will search for more and dedicate one of my future blogs to this topic.

Todays French word:

bridge - le pont