Walks in Montreal | The roots of Montreal North

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All you need is a pretext to explore a corner of the city you don’t know or to take a fresh look at a neighborhood you think you know well. The Press offers three city walks or bike rides and — why not? — before or after a picnic with family or friends. Today: the houses of Montreal North.

Posted at 11:30 a.m.

Alexandre Vigneault

Alexandre Vigneault
The Press

What’s this ?

One of the assets of the north of Montreal-North is its proximity to the Rivière des Prairies. Its oldest houses still standing date from the middle of the 18th century.e century and are particularly reminiscent of the rural character of this corner of the island at the time. They were then on chemin du Bord-de-l’Eau (today boulevard Gouin), which connected them to the mill erected where the nature park of Île-de-la- Visitation.

What to expect ?

To walk, first, since the heritage houses are scattered over approximately 5 km, from boulevard Saint-Michel to boulevard Langelier, among all sorts of other constructions in heterogeneous styles. Along the way, we come across several Canadian houses from the 18the and XIXe very well preserved centuries, but also houses in the Victorian or Queen Anne style erected at the beginning of the 20the century, just before the extension of boulevard Pie-IX, in 1915, gave a boom to development and the small agglomeration took the name of Montréal-Nord. We take the opportunity to make stops at Eusèbe-Ménard or Aimé-Léonard park for a snack and a breath of fresh air at the water’s edge.

  • Built of fieldstone, like many other dwellings of the time, Maison Robert dates from 1850 (5140, boulevard Gouin Est).

    PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS

    Built of fieldstone, like many other dwellings of the time, Maison Robert dates from 1850 (5140, boulevard Gouin Est).

  • La Maison Bilodeau (4005 boulevard Gouin Est) was built in 1790, making it one of the oldest on the Montreal North circuit.

    PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS

    La Maison Bilodeau (4005 boulevard Gouin Est) was built in 1790, making it one of the oldest on the Montreal North circuit.

  • This walk in the north of the island gives you the opportunity to get closer to the Rivière des Prairies, like here, in Parc Aimé-Léonard.

    PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS

    This walk in the north of the island gives you the opportunity to get closer to the Rivière des Prairies, like here, in Parc Aimé-Léonard.

  • It is called the Maison Blondin, but this Victorian-style residence located at 3950 Gouin Boulevard East could also be called the “Maison Lalonde”. It seems that Jean Lalonde, father of singer and host Pierre Lalonde, lived there in the 1950s.

    PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS

    It is called the Maison Blondin, but this Victorian-style residence located at 3950 Gouin Boulevard East could also be called the “Maison Lalonde”. It seems that Jean Lalonde, father of singer and host Pierre Lalonde, lived there in the 1950s.

  • La Maison Clermont (12036, avenue de l'Archevêque), built in 1920, housed the first doctor in Montreal North and also, from 1949, a hospital open day and night!

    PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS

    La Maison Clermont (12036, avenue de l’Archevêque), built in 1920, housed the first doctor in Montreal North and also, from 1949, a hospital open day and night!

  • Formerly called chemin du Bord-de-l'Eau, boulevard Gouin Est linked agricultural properties to what is now the Île-de-la-Visitation nature park, where a miller was located. In our photo, the remains of the mill.

    PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS

    Formerly called chemin du Bord-de-l’Eau, boulevard Gouin Est linked agricultural properties to what is now the Île-de-la-Visitation nature park, where a miller was located. In our photo, the remains of the mill.

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Little tips

The Borough of Montréal-Nord leaflet recommends going to Maison Cadieux (3265, boulevard Gouin Est). Since this is a linear route, we suggest you do the opposite: start from the furthest point and return towards the center of the island and public transport rather than going away from it. Especially if you are doing the tour on foot. Another piece of advice: the last six houses being very far from each other, you won’t miss much (except a long series of constructions with disparate styles and not always in good taste) by choosing to start or stop your walk at Maison Robert (5140 boulevard Gouin Est).

How to get there ?

From the Henri-Bourassa station, you can take buses 48 or 49 to approach the chosen starting point. You can also choose the Île-de-la-Visitation nature park as the starting or ending point for a picnic.

Duration ?

Leaving or stopping at Maison Robert, it takes about 45 minutes. Otherwise, a good hour. Double that if you travel from east to west and have to retrace your steps. It is also a circuit that can easily be done by bicycle. You can then take the metro to the Henri-Bourassa station and start the walk there.


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