# Montreal/Verdun

Verdun is a borough in the south of Montreal, bordered by the South-West borough to the north, LaSalle to the south and the west and by the St-Lawrence river to the east. The borough of Verdun also includes Nun's Island, which is an affluent residential neighbourhood, and is quite different from what is normally considered as Verdun. The main commercial streets in Verdun are Wellington and De L'Église.
Verdun is not a neighbourhood that is often frequented by travellers. However, the adventurous tourist who seeks an off-the-beaten-track destination will find peaceful streets with typical red brick triplexes, a lively main street, beautiful views of the river and restaurants well worth the detour.

## Get in

The green line of the Metro has a few stations in Verdun: Lasalle, De l'Église, Verdun and Jolicoeur. These stations are about 10-20 minutes from downtown.
Nun's Island (Ile-de-Soeurs) is accessible by bus, either via the 168 Cité-du-Havre from McGill station in downtown, or the 12 Ile-de-Soeurs from De l'Église station in Verdun.
Verdun also has a few Bixi (bike-share) stations and bicycle lanes.
Highway 15 borders the northern part of Verdun and nearby exits are 60 (rue Wellington), 61 (rue Atwater) and 62 (boul. de la Vérendrye).

## See

* 45.43739-73.582891 Maison Nivard-De Saint-Dizier, 7244 boulevard LaSalle, ☏ +1 514-765-7284. A 300-year-old house, next to the river, with a museum open from May to October. It is the most extensive prehistoric archeological site on the Island of Montreal. Free.

## Do

* Cycle or walk along the river. A wonderful cycle path stretches along the Saint Lawrence river, offering good views and picnic spots. Free. (updated Feb 2018)
* Swim in the river. Two small piers are accessible for people who want to take a dip in the Saint Lawrence river.
* 45.44082-73.578211 Dance lessons near the river, 7000 boulevard LaSalle. May to August. During the summer, drop in the municipal greenhouse any evening for salsa, tango, country or line dancing. Check website for hours and details. Free.
* 45.453588-73.5651082 Verdun circus school, 5190 Boulevard LaSalle, ☏ +1 514-768-5812. Verdun circus school is a venue for circus shows. See website for a schedule to see a circus show. (updated Jun 2017)
* 45.44369-73.576133 The Natatorium, 6500 boulevard LaSalle, ☏ +1 514-765-7230. Swim at the Natatorium which is a huge outdoor swimming pool. $2.25 adult, $1.25 child.
* 45.4591-73.5744 Bleu Blanc Rouge skating rink, 800, rue Willibrord, ☏ +1 514-765-7150. 09:00 to 22:00. This refrigerated rink is a donation from the Montreal Canadiens children's foundation, and is normally open longer than regular rinks in Montreal. Call before going to be sure it's open. (updated Mar 2017)
* 45.4547-73.55625 Strøm Spa Nordique, 1001 Boulevard de la Forêt. One of the best spas in the city, this place has a beautiful location next to the lac des battures on Nun's Island. There is no nearby public transportation, unfortunately. (updated Feb 2018)

## Buy

The main commercial streets are Wellington and De L'Église and features a mix of independent stores and chains, restaurants and services. A comprehensive listing of shop on Wellington can be found on their website. Specialty stores include:
* 45.45877-73.567481 La Mistinguette, 4537 rue Wellington. Eco-clothing and jewellery from local designers.
* 45.46059-73.567312 La Tienda, d'ici à Compostelle, 4329 rue Wellington. Hiking gear with an emphasis on the Compostelle trail.
* Jeux Face à Face, 4425 rue Wellington. Board games and magic cards. Hosting magic tournaments.
* 45.46299-73.568263 Métro Bellemare, 349 avenue de l'Église. This chain super-market actually boasts an impressive offering of tens of different micro-brewed beers sold by the bottle.
* 45.45718-73.567564 Maltéhops, 4817 Wellington Street, ☏ +1 514-903-2337. Specialized beer store with a wide variety of Quebec microbrews. (updated Mar 2017)

## Eat

Wellington street boasts a variety of restaurants and cafés, from fast food to very fancy fare. Here are some that might be worth a detour.
* Les îles en ville, 5335 rue Wellington. This restaurant offers specialties from the îles-de-la-Madeleine, mostly seafood and cured seal ("loup marin" on the menu).
* $^{[formerlydeadlink]}$ Aka Fuji, 3872 rue Wellington. Tu-Su 17:00-21:00. A well-kept secret, this wonderful tiny Japanese restaurant specializes in sushi. They are excellent, but are cheaper than the ones you can find downtown. Also try the agedashi tofu.
* 45.46495-73.570951 Pierrette patate, 3900 rue de Verdun. A classical greasy spoon, some say they make the best poutine in town.

## Drink

In Verdun, bars were forbidden for over 100 years under local regulation. Many establishments circumvented this rule by requiring patrons to buy food before ordering drinks. A special exception was made for the Benelux Microbrewery which opened in May 2013, and Bar Palco, which opened in December 2015.
* 45.46341-73.56681 Benelux, 4026 rue Wellington (metro Lasalle or metro de L'église), ☏ +1 514-508-5592. Benelux serves beer brewed on the premises. Fantastic terrace at the back, with a big tree and a camp fire at night. $6 for a pint. (updated Mar 2017)
* 45.46353-73.567082 Bar Palco, 4019 Wellington St, ☏ +1 514-303-1345. (updated Mar 2017)

## Sleep

Verdun does not have any hotels. You can find a few guest houses or apartments dotted around the city through booking websites. For a visitor, the closer to the river the better.
* 45.4508-73.56891 $^{[formerlydeadlink]}$ Le Terra Nostra B&B, 277, rue Beatty, ☏ +1 514-762-1223. Bed & breakfast just a stone's throw from the St. Lawrence river. (updated Mar 2017)

## Connect

* 45.44854-73.577911 Verdun Public Library, 5955 rue Bannantyne, ☏ +1 514 765-7170. This library first opened its doors in 1944, and often features small exhibits from local artists in the front lobby. (updated Mar 2017)

## Go next

* If the weather permits it, biking is the way to go. Lasalle, Lachine and Dorval are all accessible via the bike path along the river.
* The Parc des Rapides in Lasalle is one of Montreal's best kept secrets, with impressive views of the Lachine rapids and interesting wildlife viewing.
* Angrignon Park in the nearby South-West borough is one of Montreal's largest parks with total area of 97 hectares. Cross-country skiing can be practiced in the winter.