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From Old Montréal (Vieux-Montréal), I hopped on the nearest metro line and made my way to Olympic Park (Parc Olympique). This is where the 1976 Summer Olympics took place. There are several events year-round held at the park and stadium.
Stadium and Tower
At Olympic Stadium (Stade Olympique), I was able to walk around the pool and visit the tower. At 165m and with an angle of 45°, the tower is the tallest inclined tower in the world and provides great views of the surrounding area. The tower is currently closed for renovation and expected to reopen in Fall 2025 (as of July 2024).
When I went, it was a little pricy for what you get, but I enjoyed the experience anyway. It was also possible to buy combo tickets for the tower and a stadium tour, and other combos for museums located at the complex.
Museums
There are several nature museums located in the park: the Montréal Biodome (Biôdome de Montréal), the Montréal Biosphere (Biosphère de Montréal), the Rio Tinto Alcan Plantarium (Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan), Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique), and Insectarium. Adult admission to each museum individually is CAD$23.25 (as of July 2024). It’s also possible to buy a package ticket to include all five museums for CAD$85 (as of July 2024). Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit any of the museums but plan to on a future trip.
The largest and seemingly most popular museum, Montréal Biodome, houses a habitat for the four ecosystems found in the Americas. It served as the velodrome and judo facility for the 1976 Olympics.
Sports Facilities
The sports facilities in the park include Saputo Stadium (Stade Saputo), the home of MLS soccer franchise Club de Foot Montréal, and Maurice Richard Arena (Aréna Maurice Richard), an ice skating venue.
Chateau Dufresne Museum
The Chateau Dufresne Museum is a mansion built in 1918. It’s dedicated to the history of Montréal’s East End and is across the street from Olympic Stadium. It’s open from Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30am to 5pm. Adult admission is CAD$14 (as of July 2024).
