Mount Royal Park

Inaugurated in 1876, the Mount Royal Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. It is an ideal site for admiring a wide variety of plants and birds or for enjoying outdoor activities. Les amis de la montagne offer a variety of services and activities, including a permanent exhibition at Smith House. The Mount Royal Chalet is decorated with pictures tracing the history of Montréal, including many painted by famous artists. In front, the Kondiaronk scenic offers a striking view of the downtown area and the St. Lawrence River. Erected in 1924, the cross (30 metres) atop Mount Royal commemorates January 6, 1643, when Maisonneuve, Montréal's founder, kept his promise to carry a wooden cross to the summit if the young colony survived flooding.