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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Montreal

40 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Montreal, Québec

Updated June 6, 2025

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Architecture 9
Sculptures 6
Art 5
Architectural Oddities 4
Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

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Inside Sacré-Coeur Hospital lies an unassuming lab that peers into the mysteries of our sleeping minds.

Inside Montréal’s ‘Dream and Nightmare Laboratory’

In a century-old hospital, a team of “dream engineers” investigates the science of uneasy sleep.
by Kate Golembiewski
Today, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 outdoor staircases remain in the city.

The Twisty History of Montreal's Outdoor Staircases

Immigrants, artisans, economics, and the Catholic Church all played a role.
by Laura Kiniry
Slices of the Montreal melon were once treated like cuts of steak.

What Happened to Montreal’s Legendary Melon?

A medley of efforts, and one abbey's monks, may bring back the forgotten fruit.
by Joel Balsam
Natura Insects Spring 2019–2020 - “Glasswinged Butterfly.”

Meet the Artist Making Fauna Out of Flora

Raku Inoue is now finding inspiration for his precise, ephemeral works in his backyard.
by Winnie Lee
Chocolate babka French toast is a defining feature of Fletchers’s klezmer brunch.

A Montreal Museum Café Digs Into the Foods of the Jewish Diaspora

At Fletchers, cookies and bagels come with a side of food history.
by Caitlin Stall-Paquet
The pipes were often stamped with the manufacturer’s name.

A Kiln That Fired Millions of Clay Pipes Was Unearthed Under a Montreal Bridge

Archaeologists recently dug it up—but now they're putting an end to its brief affair with open air.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
The cave system beneath Montreal’s Saint-Leonard is much larger than once thought.

Found: A New Ice Age Cave Network Below Montreal

Speleologists and cave enthusiasts are dying to see just how far it all goes.
by Vittoria Traverso
On the night of April 25, 1849, a violent fire destroyed the Province of Canada’s first parliament building.

Destroyed by Fire in 1849, Canada's First Parliament Building Gives Up Its Secrets

Odor control was a significant concern.
by Vittoria Traverso

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