Recreation in Montreal

Facilities for a variety of winter and summer sports and recreation are provided by Montréal’s numerous municipal parks, including Mount Royal, Maisonneuve, Lafontaine, Sainte-Hélène, and Angrignon parks.

Montréal also has four regional parks—Cap Saint-Jacques, Bois de Liesse, Île de la Visitation, and Rivière des Prairies.

The Lachine Canal linear park has a 13-km (8-mi) cycle path. Montréal Botanical Garden, the largest of its kind in North America, features large collections of exotic plants; a magnificent Chinese garden; a Japanese garden; and the Insectarium, a comprehensive museum and zoo of insect life.

Olympic Stadium, the scene of the 1976 Summer Olympic Games, hosts various shows and exhibitions.

It was also the longtime home of the Montréal Expos major league baseball team, but because of financial difficulties the team moved to Washington, D.C., in 2005.

The Montréal Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League and play at the Bell Centre.

The Blue Bonnets horse racing track and the Montréal Casino are also popular attractions.

The Montréal Grand Prix Formula One automobile race is held every year on Sainte Hélène Island.