CANADA BELVEDERE CAMILLIEN-DOUDE LOOKOUT

Belvedere Camillien-Houde Lookout. 

By Henry Libo-on, Blogger at Touristang Pobre

 This is the view of the Olympic Stadium from the Belvedere Camillien-Houde Lookout. 

Photo by Henry Libo-on

At first, I was confused with what term to use "lookout" or "overlook" as in overlooking the city. 

But I finally selected the term Lookout when I remembered that area of the Blue Mountains at Katoomba City, Australia where Queen Elizabeth II stood to view the expanse of the Jamison Valley during her visit to Australia in 1954.  I stood on that spot too, the Queen Elizabeth Lookout during my visit to the Blue Mountains in 2000. So, I chose to use the word Lookout. 

Now, here I am again in another Lookout that gave me a fulfilling experience on my first visit to Mont-Royal Belvedere Camillien Houde Lookout.  This tourist destination is visited by at least 4 Million tourists each year. This is my second visit to Canada.  The first was in Niagara Falls City, Ontario. 

  It is with great enthusiasm that I stood on this Lookout and surveyed the view of downtown Montreal.  Beautiful City. 

This view of downtown Montreal is just awesome.  There are several churches in Montreal that are "must-see" but I cannot figure out their locations in this photo although I can see their towers on the left side of this picture.  

These churches are the St. Michael's and St. Anthony's Catholic Church is visible on the left side of this picture. 

 Earlier in the day, we went to the vicinity of the Jacques Cartier Bridge which is seen here in the background. The Bridge looks nice from this viewpoint. It reminded me of the Sydney Harbor Bridge which I visited in 2000 while attending a Short Course at the University of Canberra.

 This is just breathtaking. 

                         

 A souvenir photo at this Lookout. Mont-Royal is also called Mont-Real. If you keep on repeating the words you will hear Montreal. That is how Montreal got its name. 

You will not get hungry here at the Lookout.  The U.S. Dollars is accepted as a mode of payment anywhere in Canada. 

From the Lookout, you can walk down the road to the Parc du Mont-Royal. Some people, however, prefer to ride the bicycle to go to the Lookout and other areas of the Park. 

How To Get There?

Once you are in the city, just use your GPS.  By using your Google Map, you search for Mount Royal,  Belvedere Camillien-Houde Lookout. 

 Photo shot from virtualglobetrotting.com

 There are a number of places and structures that offer a breathtaking view of Downtown Montreal.  One of these is St. Joseph Oratory or the St. Joseph Church.  You can stand on its "balconaje" or the entrance to the Church and be rewarded by the beautiful view of the city of Montreal.  

Another spot is what the residents call the Westmount Lookout Point, Mount Royal Chalet.  

Photo shot from virtualglobetrotting.com

Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument at Avenue du Parc, Borough Plateau, Mont-Royal. 

Sir George is the Father of the Canadian Confederation.

Mount Royal Cross was erected on top of Mount Royal, Montreal, Canada by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve in 1643 in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Maisonneuve was the Founder of Canada. The Cross was lighted with white-colored bulbs during the election of Pope Francis. 

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Now,  if you are billeted in one of the tallest hotels in the city, you can also have a good view of Montreal either by day or night. 

You can also go to the Lookout by driving a car, by riding the bicycle, by walking or jogging too. 

So, what are you waiting for?  You still have enough time.  It's Spring now, then Summer. When Fall starts it might be chilly or foggy on the summit.  

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Photos by Henry Libo-on

The people gather around the monument of  Sir George Cartier,  which I mentioned earlier, to hear and dance to the music of the drums.  This is called the Tam-Tams Festival which is held every Sunday of Summer.  I took these photos on Sunday afternoon of 12 August 2018.