Some parks serve as backdrops for tourism. Parc La Fontaine is something different — a 40-hectare green space at the heart of the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood that Montrealers genuinely use, year-round, to live their daily lives. For visitors who find it, it’s an authentic window into local life that no postcard can capture.
Source : Ville de Montréal, Parc La Fontaine
A park that belongs to its neighbourhood
Parc La Fontaine has a long history of civic belonging. Originally a military training ground for British garrison soldiers — the land was ceded to Canada in 1845 — it became a public park in 1874. It was renamed La Fontaine in 1901 in honour of Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine, the first francophone Prime Minister of Canada, cementing its identity as the green heart of French-Canadian Montreal.
Writer Michel Tremblay, in his Chronicles of the Plateau Mont-Royal novels, returns to the park repeatedly as a collective reference point for his characters. This bond between the neighbourhood and its park is still palpable today — weekend picnics on the grass, pétanque players in the afternoon, morning joggers, summer evenings at the outdoor theatre.
What visitors will find
- Two natural ponds connected by a waterfall — pedal boat rentals in summer
- Théâtre de Verdure: open-air stage with 2,500 seats for summer performances and concerts
- Statues and monuments: Charles de Gaulle, Félix Leclerc, Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine
- Walking, jogging and cycling paths through mature trees
- Refrigerated skating rink and tobogganing in winter
- Espace La Fontaine: chalet-restaurant with terrace
- Playgrounds for children, sports courts, pétanque pits
- Wildlife observation: birds, squirrels, ducks
Best seasons to visit
| Season | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Spring | Blooming trees, park coming alive |
| Summer | Outdoor theatre, picnics, village atmosphere |
| Autumn | Extraordinary foliage, local crowd lingers |
| Winter | Skating rink, tobogganing, snow-covered Montreal |
How to get there from Old Montreal
About 4-5 km from Old Montreal, Parc La Fontaine is easily reachable by bike via the Berri Street or Parc La Fontaine Avenue bike paths. Allow 20-25 minutes on well-marked protected paths. By public transit: Sherbrooke or Mont-Royal metro stations (orange line).
Discover Montreal by bike with Ça Roule Montréal
Parc La Fontaine is one of the destinations our guides mention most on our guided bike tours in Montreal. Our Hidden Gems Tour of the Plateau Mont-Royal passes nearby and provides the context to understand what you’re seeing. Even on a self-guided bike rental, the park makes a natural stop on any Plateau ride.
Since 1995, Ça Roule Montréal (Montreal On Wheels) has offered a unique way to experience the city: by bike, with certified local guides, in small groups of maximum 10 people, with a local food break included. Montreal reveals itself differently at 15 km/h — at the level of its laneways, parks and terraces. It may be the best way to understand why 93% of visitors want to come back.
Source : Tourisme Montréal, Bilan 2024