29 March 2021
A wheelchair tour of western Old Montreal
Welcome to New France! The cradle of the city, Old Montreal is a magnet for visitors from all over the world. Its charming cobblestone streets are not the easiest to navigate, but the architecture is worth the effort!
Since the area is large, we have divided it into two short tours: one to the west and one to the east. But hardier travellers can certainly combine them.
5 accessible points of interest in western Old Montreal
Take a moment to visit 5 accessible or partially accessible attractions on the west side of Old Montreal. You can stroll its streets along a route totalling about 2 kilometres (a mile and a quarter).
Place d’Armes
Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica
Consult the individual fact files for all the technical details and photos illustrating accessibility.
Place d’Armes
If there were one place to visit in the city to get a feel for Montreal, it would be Place d’Armes! You can see the soul of the city, halfway between history and modern times, between French- and English-speakers, and between religion and business. Each building and every sculpture has an era to chronicle.
The surface of this square is completely flat and barrier-free: an excellent example of blending universal accessibility into heritage.
Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica
A jewel of Montreal’s heritage, the Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica was inspired by the two towers of Notre-Dame de Paris. The ceiling, the wooden sculptures, the stained glass windows and the massive organ of this magnificent gothic-inspired church will leave you breathless. Don’t miss the multimedia show Aura, by Moment Factory!
The basilica is very accessible inside: all areas are passable and the corridors are wide. The washroom is only partially accessible due to its small size.
Pointe-à-Callière, one of Montreal’s archaeological and historic sites
Classified as a national archaeological and historic site, Pointe-à-Callière covers several centuries of history, from the Aboriginal period to the present day. Located on land that bears witness to more than 1,000 years of human activity, at the very place where Montreal was founded, it houses remarkable architectural remains.
The vast majority of the exhibitions and facilities are accessible to all. Fully accessible washrooms are available in pavilions C and E.
Ghosts of Old Montreal
See the dark side of the historic district with the Ghosts of Old Montreal, a guided tour of the creatures of the night. Through fascinating stories, experience a unique tour of the streets and alleys of this heritage site!
There are no washrooms on the course and it can be difficult to get around Place Vauquelin. It is best to contact Guidatour, the company behind the concept, before booking.
Phi Centre
The Phi Centre is a multifunctional centre where art can be expressed in all its forms: painting, sculpture, cinema, music, design and technology. You’ll be captivated by musical performances, screenings, interactive exhibits, guest artist installations and engaging workshops.
The entire establishment is perfectly accessible, provided you arrive through the secondary entrance at the back.
Visit Old Montreal by metro via Place-d’Armes
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.
Place-d’Armes station leads to the west side of Old Montreal. The station’s elevator can be accessed from the Saint-Urbain building at 960 Saint-Urbain street, circled in red on the map.
Enjoy your visit to the west end of Old Montreal!
