Fodor's Expert Review Parc Lafontaine

You could say that Parc Lafontaine is a microcosm of Montréal: the eastern half is French, with paths, gardens, and lawns laid out in geometric shapes; the western half is English, with meandering paths and irregularly shaped ponds that follow the natural contours of the land. In summer, you can take advantage of bowling greens, tennis courts, an open-air theater (Théâtre de Verdure), where there are free events, and two artificial lakes with paddleboats. In winter, one lake becomes a large skating rink. The park is named for Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine (1807–1864), a pioneer of responsible government in Canada. His statue graces a plot on the park's southwestern edge. Théâtre de Verdure is temporarily closed while it undergoes reconstruction/redevelopment.