Founded in 1642, Montréal is the largest city in Quebec Province and the second-largest in Canada. Although Toronto surpassed Montréal in population and economic growth in the 1970s, the city remains an important center for education, art, culture, commerce, pharmaceuticals and tourism. We enjoyed a terrific visit to this home town of a dear friend of Sue’s!
It wasn’t until the Uber driver was taking us from the campground into the city that Sue recalled visiting Montréal with her family for the World’s Fair of 1967, better known as Expo67. Could that really have been 58 years ago?!
Our first stop was the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. Our driver dropped us off at the entrance and we wandered around a bit until we realized that the main entrance was actually across the street in a much newer building: duh, American visitors went to the wrong museum entrance! Hopefully, you will see our confusion in the below photos. The beautiful old building and new are connected by an underground passageway.
We shared a delicious “Jambon Fumée” (smoked ham) sandwich at the Museum Cafe.
We were fortunate to visit the Museum during a very special exhibit, which was so beautifully assembled and curated: Berthe Weill, Art Dealer of the Parisian Avant-garde. We were very glad to learn about the fascinating life (1865-1951) and career of this relatively unknown (at least to us) gallerist. B. Weill devoted her life’s work to championing young painters. She exhibited artists such as Pablo Picasso, Raoul Dufy, Marc Chagall, Amedeo Modigliani, Diego Rivera, Henri Matisse and Suzanne Valadon just as they were starting out. During her lifetime, she focused on contemporary artists and staunchly championed women artists. Sadly, the Galerie B. Weill closed its doors in 1941 during the Nazi occupation of Paris.
“Trust me, you should buy Matisses” [sic]
– Berthe Weill, 1902
Party with B. Weill at center. 
“Fields of Flowers in Bloom, near Caen by Jean Metzinger (1904) 
Flowers at My Window by Jacqueline Marval about 1924 
Still Life by Paul-Elie Gernez (1921) 
The Attentive Virgin, or Virgin with Star by Louie Cattiaux (1909) 
Woman Holding Flowers by Marie Laurencin (1934) 
Surrealist worship of Montréal-born Alan Glass who lived most of his life in Mexico 
Nunatta Sapujjijigit (Protectors of our Land) by Manasie Akpaliapik (2021) on Bowhead Whale Bone 
Detail 
Terrific Display of Inuit Artwork 
Interior Staircase in Original Building 
Lighting Detail 
View of Original Building from New 
Montreal Skyline
Next on our stop was the magnificent Notre-Dame Basilica de Montréal. The church, which was constructed between 1824 to 1829, is truly awe-inspiring! We knelt and said a few prayers for friends and family. Truly a most inspirational place of worship!
Our last stop was at a small shop across from the church, Les Glaciers. We shared a Red Velvet cupcake and took two cupcakes home with us to enjoy later. Parfait!
We are sorry not to have stayed another few days and highly recommend visiting this fascinating and impressive city.
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