Montréal
An Enclave of Traditional France
Quebec is North America’s most distinctive example of French culture. While the Cajuns and the Wisconsin settlement have integrated with the surrounding culture over time, French Canada remains proudly insular and resistant to assimilation. It speaks the French language exclusively, preserved as it was at the time of settlement 300 years ago, maintains the customs of the time, and is now far more catholic than France itself.
This sign advertises horsemen for sale in a Montréal marketplace.
A Catholic City
Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, founded 197, is one of many imposing churches in this province. You will not find the secularism (laicité) of today’s France here.
A Double Enclave
As Canada’s most prestigious campus, McGill University is an English-language enclave within the French enclave of Quebec within a former British colony. It is located in the city’s best neighborhood, Mount-Royal, from which the city takes its name.
