About
Saint-Laurent Boulevard, known to Montrealers as "the Main," is a long street in the heart of the city, and its building walls have become a gallery in the open air. Painted murals cover facades along the way, so a walk here is as much an outing to look at art as it is a stroll through the neighbourhood.
What to expect
The murals are bold and varied, and they change the character of the street block by block. Many visitors come simply to wander and look up, stopping wherever a wall catches the eye. The corridor offers plenty of photo opportunities, whether you are after a full mural or a detail framed by the street.
Because the art sits on working buildings, the boulevard keeps its everyday life going alongside it. Cafés, boutiques and nightlife venues line the same stretch, so you can pause for a meal or a drink between viewings.
Plan your visit
- Allow time for a slow walk, since the best pieces are easy to pass without noticing.
- Combine the walk with a stop at a café or shop along the way.
- Visit during the annual MURAL Festival, which is held on this boulevard, if you want to see the street at its most active.
Saint-Laurent is a good choice for anyone curious about the city's artistic side. It gives a direct, free look at how Montreal uses its streets, and it pairs well with the rest of the city's neighbourhoods and cultural life.