Located on an island in the St. Lawrence River, Montreal has long served as an important trading area for the region’s First Nations people. The island later became an important port for European settlers, beginning with the French. Today, the city is a mosaic of different cultures, holding strongly to its French history and serving as the world’s second-largest Francophone city after Paris. No matter the season, Montreal has endless experiences for art lovers, historians, foodies, and nature buffs alike. Though winters can be harsh, Montreal is bustling in its warm underground pedestrian network of shopping malls and restaurants and with exhilarating outdoor activities such as sledding Mont Royal, the mountain that earned it its name.