The Guidatour company offers a nice — and free — way to (re)discover the beauties of Old Montreal: a pedestrian rally to complete with family, friends or alone.
Posted at 11:30 a.m.
“The goal is to get people out so that they can enjoy Old Montreal in winter, despite the pandemic,” says Angèle Vermette, president of Guidatour. “As we already organize rallies for schools and companies, we decided to create new ones aimed at the general public. »
The rally is offered in English and French, in two distinct versions: one for families and the other for adults. In both cases, you have to open your eyes to find the answers hidden sometimes on a building or a monument, sometimes in a window of shops or restaurants. Some are quite obvious, others require you to rack your brains a little and scan the smallest nooks and crannies (even restaurant menus.) Still others require a certain general knowledge (three points additional for those who have basics in Latin!).
“Guidatour being a guided tour company, we wanted to add a historical dimension to the rally. This is why we have included small capsules on the history of the neighborhood in the questionnaire,” says Angèle Vermette.
Sporting challenges are also added to the family rally: sprint in the alley of Cours Le Royer, lap of the fountain in Place Vauquelin like a penguin… Perfect for warming up the little ones.
The questions are easier for the family rally, but they aren’t extremely difficult for the adult rally either. The activity is really aimed at a wide audience.
Angèle Vermette, President of Guidatour
The author of these lines can confirm this. History buffs may be left wanting more, but those who want to have a good time in the heart of this district with a thousand hidden treasures will be satisfied. We ended the rally by saying to ourselves that we should come back to the area more often… especially since at the moment, tourists are becoming rarer. Under the snow, the streets and alleys of the historic district undoubtedly present their most beautiful face.
The rally is offered every Saturday, until March 5, as well as every school break, from February 28 to March 4. Departures are from Place Royale, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., where guides provide the equipment necessary for the activity (no need for a smartphone!). The route ends at Place Jacques-Cartier. It takes about an hour to complete the journey. Good to know: as the rally takes place entirely outdoors, dogs are allowed.