2-day itinerary: discovering nature in Montréal's Spaces for Life

On our first day in Montreal, we decided to take our family to discover the plants and animals of Canada. We are a family of 4 with 2 children aged 8 and 13. The spaces for life are ideal attractions for children, but not the only ones!

Four spaces "for life

Four spaces have been created in Montreal's Parc Maisonneuve. A planetarium, an insectarium, a biodome and a botanical garden. Together with the biosphere, these 5 structures focus on the protection and conservation of flora and fauna. These are spaces that inform and amaze, where each ecosystem and each of its inhabitants plays a vital role. We decide to have a good breakfast before our day of sightseeing and walking.

From old Montreal, take metro 1 from Saint-Laurent station to Parc Maisonneuve. You can stop at either Pie IX or Viau station.

The Montreal Planetarium is an 8,000 square metre building on the city's Olympic site. Beneath this atypical architecture lies a space devoted entirely to astronomy. Since it opened in 2013, the Rio Tinto Alcan planetarium has shone through its exhibitions and its commitment to the environment, enabling young and old alike to admire the planets and stars as they have never seen them before.

The Montréal Botanical Garden is one of the largest and most beautiful gardens in the world. We spent the sunny afternoon strolling through the 3 gardens, the Japanese garden, the Chinese garden and the First Nations garden. It was a wonderful moment of relaxation and contemplation that we shared as a family.

We're sleeping right next to Parc Maisonneuve.

We have a coffee at L'Insolite, the gourmet restaurant in Parc Maisonneuve, before spending the day at the biosphere.

The Montreal Biosphere is located on the island of Saint-Hélène, just above Montreal. To get there, we take the Jacques Cartier Bridge. By metro, the journey takes about twenty minutes. We take lines 1 and 6 and stop at Jean Drapeau station.

The Biosphère is a geodesic dome built in 1967. It focuses on environmental and artistic exhibitions. Beneath this magnificent transparent bubble built by Richard Buckminster Fuller, a pioneering environmentalist, lies a world that will fascinate curious minds. We spend half a day at the biosphere, admiring the breathtaking view of Montreal from its belvedere.