29 March 2021
Experience downtown Montreal in a wheelchair
Between the river and the mountain, in the bustling downtown area of Montreal, you can do business, window-shop, dine or be entertained. The pleasure is always there. The skyscrapers and public squares are must-sees!
5 points of interest accessible in the city centre
Take a moment to visit 5 accessible or partially accessible attractions in the Quartier des spectacles. You can stroll its streets along a route totalling about 3 km (2 mi.).
Basilique-Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde-et-Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur
Expérience olympique canadienne
Consult the individual fact files for all the technical details and photos illustrating accessibility.
Mary Queen of the World and St. James the Great Cathedral
Inspired by the architecture and imposing dimensions of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Mary Queen of the World Cathedral is an imposing neo-Baroque building from the second half of the 19th century.
The interior of the building and its washrooms are very easy to manoeuvre in a wheelchair. However, you’ll need to cross a ramp with an 8% slope to get there.
Canadian Olympic Experience
After the 1976 Games, the Olympic spirit remained in Montreal. Canadian Olympic House invites visitors to immerse themselves in the captivating world of athletes by following the interactive, fun and educational path of the Canadian Olympic Experience.
The exhibition rooms are very accessible, but the washroom is only partially, due to a few limitations in terms of its dimensions.
Montreal Grévin Museum
Located on the 5th floor of the Montreal Eaton Centre, Montreal ’s Grévin Museum invites you to discover more than 120 celebrities from here and elsewhere, from the past to the present. From Céline Dion to Maurice Richard, from Einstein to Barack Obama, meet incredible people in awesome settings. You will meet historical figures, sports stars and singers, as well as international stars from Quebec, France and the world.
Throughout the visit, an attendant will guide you on request between rooms through accessible corridors and elevators. The entire museum tour and activities have been designed to be accessible to all.
Barbie Expo – Cours Mont-Royal
Barbie, one of the most beloved dolls of all time, now has her own exhibition at Cours Mont-Royal in downtown Montreal. Expo Barbie is the largest permanent exhibition of its kind in the world. It features more than 1,000 figurines, some of which are unique models, inspired by personalities and Hollywood stars or dressed by great fashion designers.
The exhibition room is fully accessible, but the entrance is 71 cm wide (28 in.) and has a 3-cm (1.25-in.) sill.
Dorchester Square and Canada Place
Dorchester Square and Canada Place are vast islands of green bordered by elegant buildings, modern edifices and churches, and are among the city’s iconic green areas. The paths and footbridges invite you to take a tour, and numerous benches beckon. However, it is the meticulously restored old vespasienne and especially the huge truncated fountain with its woodpecker that attract the attention of passers-by.
The terrain of these parks is completely flat, so the tour is easy for everyone. Several benches are available at regular intervals.
Eating in the neighbourhood
Between two visits, you might get a little hungry! Consider exploring one of the following options:
Visit downtown by metro via Bonaventure
Explore the city without a car thanks to the Montreal metro! While this mode of transport has many shortcomings in terms of accessibility, it can also bring you to several touring destinations. In fact, we have found 60 points of interest within 500 metres of the 16 accessible STM stations.
Bonaventure station is right downtown. To get to the Bonaventure station platforms, enter at 1000 De La Gauchetière West. You’ll have to take three elevators:
- A first elevator connects the street level to the Downtown Terminus (central and southern platforms).
- A second elevator connects the Downtown Terminus (centre and south platforms) to the STM ticketing level.
- After the turnstile, two elevators connect each of the platforms, in either the Côte-Vertu or the Montmorency direction.
Enjoy your visit to downtown Montreal!
