Surroundings, Montréal

Lachine, on the south-east bank of Montréal Island (in Lac St-Louis), got its name from the first pioneers who in the 17th c. made their way up the St Lawrence looking for a route to China (in French "la Chine"). It became an important staging post for conveying goods round the famous Lachine Rapids. Today it is an important industrial base. It offers plenty of opportunities for charming trips along the banks of the St Lawrence. The Lachine Canal, which was first begun as a way of getting round the rapids in the 17th c., was eventually dug in 1825. It is many years, however, since it was last used for shipping and nowadays forms part of a park which includes an Interpretation Center, telling the story of the canal and providing guided tours. In summer it is possible to ride along the park's 11 km (7 mi.) of cycletracks, while in winter there is cross-country skiing.

Daily between the end of April and middle of October powerful motorboats specially designed for the purpose run exciting - and usually very wet - trips through the rapids from the Vieux Port.

On the south-west tip of Montréal Island, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is the pleasant home to the Macdonald Agricultural College, founded in 1906. Much of its acreage is used for research, and there is an experimental farm that can be visited. The Morgan Arboretum, covering 24 ha (59 acres), has woodland trails, walks and ski-runs that are popular with visitors from much further afield as well.Buildings of historic interest in the early 18th c. Rue Sainte-Anne in the township center include the house of Simon Fraser (1793), one of the heads of the North West Company of fur traders, the Victorian town hall and Saint Anne's Church (1853). A pleasant hour or so can also be whiled away in the cafés and restaurants along the waterfront promenade.

The Église de la Visitation in Sault-au-Récollet, on the Rivière des Prairies, is worth a visit. Built between 1749 and 1752, it is one of Montréal's oldest Catholic parish churches and has an interior covered with wood carvings by local artists. The monuments (1903) in front of the church are to Père Nicolas Vill and Ahuntsic, the Indian chief who lost his life during the Iroquois wars.The riverside park is a lovely place for a walk or a picnic.

The Lieu historique national du Canada du Commerce-de-la-Fourrure-à-Lachine in an old fur warehouse (1803) illustrates impressively, various aspects of the fur trade in the 17th/18th c., long the mainstay of Montréal's existence.Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site of Canada also hosts a number of small events throughout the summer months.

Parc Safari near Hemmingford is a zoological and recreational park with hundreds of animals from five continents. These include elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, lions, macaques, chimpanzees and white tigers. There are seven theme parks within the park including the Drive-Thru Safari, the Wildlife Observatory, the Deer Trail, Noah's Ark, and the Insectarium.