Over the years, the city has seen the forging of a special spirit of openness and acceptance between the general public and the city's gay community.

Montréal, Québec, is one of the oldest cities in the New World, as well as one the most cosmopolitan. Visitors often describe it as having the best of North American modernity and friendliness as well as the architectural beauty and sophistication of Europe. The largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris, and Canada's second-biggest metropolis, the vast majority of its citizens speak both English and French, and often other languages. Montréal's 3.5 million inhabitants live around the base of a mountain forest in cozy neighbourhoods, rich with artists and famous for winding, outdoor staircases.

Montréal is a magnet for gay and lesbian travellers. Its fun-loving, open and charming denizens have made the city an irresistible party destination since the jazz days of the 1940s and beyond. Today the huge gay and lesbian population of Montréal live with the rest of the city - not only in tolerance and security - but in the true spirit of Québec joie de vivre and acceptance that makes the city a paradise of harmony for people of all sexual orientations, colours and languages.

Over the years the city has forged a special spirit of openness and acceptance between the general public and gays and lesbians. The result is a gay-friendly environment that has been further nurtured by numerous government policies. In fact, Québec is the first jurisdiction in North America to have legally recognized same-sex partnerships, on both federal and provincial government levels.

As a city, Montréal is a work of art. It is a place that attracts the most avant-guard artists in Canada; it is always on the cutting edge of music, theatre, dance, art, and literature. This is the home of the Cirque du Soleil and, of course, the Montréal Symphony Orchestra. Montrealers live, breathe and walk art.

But most of all, we love having fun. So come have fun with us. Find out what joie de vivre means for you!