Outremont is a residential area like no other. A unique neighborhood in Montreal, known for its rich greenery and historical charm.
A little bit of history
Previously known as Côte-Sainte-Catherine, the area took the name Outremont, after the country house built by Louis-Tancrède Bouthillier in 1833, who named it “Outre-Mont”, meaning beyond the mountain. In 1875, the new town of Outremont was founded on the initiative of Louis Beaubien, who was a member of Parliament at the time.
Its most ancient properties go back to the beginning of the 19th century, when Montreal’s French-speaking upper class built their country homes there, looking to get away from the city.
Outremont remained a distinctive town until its incorporation with Montreal in 2001. Over the years, a number of prominent politicians, business people and artists have been residents of the neighbourhood.
An ideal location
Regarding its geographical location, Outremont is one of those rare treasures that has everything to please. A few features justify its popularity: its proximity to downtown Montreal and its intimate setting.
The neighborhood is easy to walk or bike around. It is possible to live without a car if you wish, and walking is very common. Public transportation services lead easily to the east or west of the city, such as the Blue Line and the 80 bus route on Park Avenue, which runs across the area. Soon, the Réseau de transport métropolitain (REM) will provide an even faster access to the neighborhood, with a station that will serve the University of Montreal, located at the edge of the area.
An ideal location
Regarding its geographical location, Outremont is one of those rare treasures that has everything to please. A few features justify its popularity: its proximity to downtown Montreal and its intimate setting.
The neighborhood is easy to walk or bike around. It is possible to live without a car if you wish, and walking is very common. Public transportation services lead easily to the east or west of the city, such as the Blue Line and the 80 bus route on Park Avenue, which runs across the area. Soon, the Réseau de transport métropolitain (REM) will provide an even faster access to the neighborhood, with a station that will serve the University of Montreal, located at the edge of the area.
Green Spaces
Outremont’s forest legacy, long recognized and renowned, contributes to making it one of the most desirable neighbourhoods on the island of Montreal and a true green heaven. The borough is often referred to as an urban model that has been able to combine its development with an ongoing concern for a quality environment, the primary indicator of which is this abundant and radiant urban forest.
Saint-Viateur Park
Recognized by its emblematic white bridge, this park is a place of rest for the residents. Its beautiful water pond is transformed into a skating rink in winter and allows everyone to do a few laps around its central building.
Outremont Park
The Outremont Park, built in 1912, has an outstanding patrimonial value. Places and landscapes, historical facts and characters, architecture and arts are aspects that we find in this park in a significant way. This place has kept its original appearance quite faithfully until now. It is part of a harmonious architectural complex with houses of homogeneous style that surround it. Among these buildings, 345 Bloomfield Avenue, designed by architect Aristide Beaugrand-Champagne, stands out with its pointed roof and white siding.
Beaubien Park
The water fountain of its pond is guaranteed to charm children! The park is also home to a sledding hill in the winter and a soccer field in the summer that comes alive on weekends when local teams come to play.
Real estate in Outremont
A popular residential area for buyers, the Outremont real estate market is a safe bet.
The borough features splendid homes with traditional architecture. Stately victorian homes with the look of small castles and colonnaded mansions offer Outremont a well-founded reputation as one of Montreal’s most prestigious neighborhoods, where the real estate market is constantly dynamic.
There are also charming homes, less prominent on the outside, but just as luxurious on the inside with splendid renovations that combine tradition and modernity. In Outremont, it is possible to find a luxurious apartment in elegant buildings, some with oriel shaped windows, which give an important cachet to the streets of the neighborhood.
A few must-sees
Leméac
One of the references of Montreal’s gourmet scene, it is a chic setting for a brunch filled with champagne and mimosas.
Chez Lévêque
Where eating bistro cuisine is a matter of tradition.
Bilboquet
Founded in 1983, Le Bilboquet is an artisanal ice cream shop that continues to delight young and old every summer.
The Mount Royal
For the record, the emblematic Mount Royal and its park were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, renowned for the design of Central Park in New York! To access the park, it is possible to take several hiking trails. Once you reach the top, there are superb views from the Kondiaronk lookout (Chalet du Mont-Royal), the Westmount lookout and the Camillien-Houde lookout.
Outremont Theatre
Located on Bernard Avenue, the Outremont Theatre occupies a central cultural position. Since its creation in 1929, the theater is widely considered to be one of the city’s most elegant architectural monuments to the golden age of cinema.
The Paltoquet
Le Paltoquet is a French bakery that opened in 1990 on Van Horne Avenue. Since then, the establishment has become a neighborhood classic with many loyal customers. It has the best croissants in town!
Why settle in Outremont?
Over the years, and despite trends, Outremont has remained a quiet and peaceful residential gem. It offers high-end properties, a dozen parks and thousands of trees.
A lively but peaceful neighbourhood life, tastefully landscaped parks, renowned educational institutions and an enticing mix of beautiful cafés and restaurants with a reputation that extends beyond the neighbourhood.
Outremont is one of the most beautiful and welcoming neighborhoods on the island. Spend an afternoon here and you’ll understand why!
