As per existing records, the earliest known inhabitants of the island are the First Nations native people, who occupied the area as early as 4,000 years ago. A fur trading post was created in the region in 1611 in present-day Pointe-a-Calliere. The region became a base for fur trading and French exploration. To make way for a large French settlement, the Mohawks were pushed away from the fur trading post, creating Kahnewake, Kanesatake and Akwesasne which are Mohawk reserves presently. The French surrendered to Great Britain in 1760 and Montreal was made the capital of Canada from 1844 up until 1849. By the 1950s, Montreal built the tallest skyscrapers in the country and produced the subway system (Montreal Metro). The city was merged with 27 nearby municipalities in 2002 to form a unified city, but many mergers were withdrawn later as the move became unpopular in several suburbs, thus leaving 15 remaining municipalities. Montreal has evolved from a tiny village to a major metropolis. In addition to its old-fashioned elegance, a vibrant dining and club scene reflecting contemporary Montreal’s culturally diverse population has emerged.

Montréal is a cultural juggernaut with more than 250 theatre and dance companies and 100-plus annual festivals forming a melting pot where artists, writers and musicians, who have contributed to the city’s reputation as an art haven. Another distinctive characteristic of the city’s cultural life, is the people’s exuberance in enjoying life which is reflected in its festivals, ranging from one-day ethnic fairs to two weeks or more mega international productions and leading the way is the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the headline event being the biggest global jazz festival. Other popular festivals include Montreal World Film Festival, Montreal Fireworks Festival, Mural festival, World Film Festival, Formula One Grand Prix, Osheaga Music and Arts Festival and so on. Montreal is a culinary sanctuary with its unending variety of food options, from diners, fast-food joints, ethnic restaurants, its patisseries, English pubs and 87-year-old Jewish delis. Adding to Old Montreal’s vintage cuisine, are its authentic French-themed cafes and old-world French-themed restaurants. There are a number of mouth-watering ice cream parlours, many of which concoct their own ice creams. Montreal has many restaurants specialising in desserts.