A true fascinating world lies beneath Montreal. With more than 30 kilometres of tunnels going through the centre of the city, Montreal’s Underground City is indeed the largest underground complex of this kind in the world. It is called a city since 500 000 people (according to Tourism Montreal) are making their way in this underground world each day. In 2004, the official name of RÉSO was given to this great centre of activity.

The tunnels and galleries link numerous residential complexes, shopping centres, universities, hotels and office buildings. The tunnels themselves also include a wide range of restaurants and shops going from the most stylish clothes to low prices items. The Underground City is said to hold close to 35% of all downtown’s businesses. RÉSO allows thus Montrealers to wander in the city away from the cold Canadian winter and also to shop in the comfort of this “indoor city”.

The building of this underground network began in the 1950s during the construction of the metro now serving the entire island of Montreal. You will however be surprised to learn that this network was shaped without any general concert or plan. It was rather built according to the residents’ and workers’ needs of the area throughout the years. Very few people could thus have predicted that this Underground City would become one of the most intriguing attractions of Montreal.

Tags: Montreal, Montreal Attractions, Montreal Metro, Montreal Shopping, Montreal's Underground City, RESO, Underground City

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