"The Best in the ..." a Mont-Tremblant Travel Page by amsterdam_vallon

Area history

The Laurentides were not colonized until late during the 19th century, when Father Antoine Labelle decided to populate the North with French Canadians in reaction to the threat of protestant expansion. He chose the sites based on the richness and fertility of the soil, on access to water ways and on the layout of the railway line he planned to build. These brave settlers faced a difficult beginning, initially fighting poverty and surviving on meagre crops, but eventually thrived and benefited from the Father's generosity and vision.

He sensed that one day tourism would be an important resource for the region, and worked arduously for the inauguration of the Montreal-Saint-Jerome railway line in 1879. This was an important contribution to the development of the region and eventual growth of tourism. In December 1892, the whistle of the locomotive was heard for the first time by the residents of Saint-Jovite, putting an end to the isolation.

In 1938, Joseph Bondurant Ryan, a young wealthy American from Philadelphia who had come to the North to do come gold prospecting, he was taken by the beauty of the majestic "mountain of the spirits". He had climbed to the summit, and upon seeing the breath-taking view of the snow-covered landscape, Jo Ryan vowed to transform the wilderness at the foot of the mountain into a world-class alpine village. Just on year later, in February 1939, his dream was realised, when the Mont-Tremblant Lodge, with its architecture reminiscent of Old Quebec, opened.

In 1991, as the alpine village teetered on the edge of bankruptcy, the biggest promoter of alpine resorts announced that it would buy the Mont-Tremblant Lodge and promised to pursue Jo Ryan's dream...to make Mont-Tremblant one of the best leisure destinations in the world.

Ten years later, the Mont-Tremblant Lodge has been transformed at a cost of $850 million into the magnificent pedestrian village of Tremblant. And in the next ten years, Intrawest has plans to build two more alpine villages on the North side and on the versant Soleil of the mountain.

The Evolution Continues...

Despite the evolution, the pioneers of our region have been and continue to be mindful of the precious environmental balance, for it is the beauty and the purity of this incredible land that seduced Jo Ryan, the French settlers and the Amerindians before them, and that continue even today to enchant all those who come to ski, to hike, to fish and to golf, or who simply come to rest outside of the metropolis.

The resort is much like a kingdom, resembling a small European village but with a large cities amenities.This is a cosmopolitan oasis in the middle of a beautiful natural setting. Superb restaurants, quiet bistros, lively bars and fascinating boutiques are all within a short walk of the world class accommodations. While the resort has a heavy French favour it is truly international. English is spoken everywhere, and assistance is available in many languages. It's important to make the distinction between Mont Tremblant Resort (on the mountains south side) and the nearby older village of Mont Tremblant.

The Hills
The primary area, the Versant Sud, has a vertical of 649m (2131FT) with 39 trails and 7 lifts including the Gondola. The trails range from the easy 6km (3.75 Mile) Nansen to some wild double diamond steeps at the top of the mountain. The Versant Nord at 315m (1034FT) has a mix of slopes and glades ranging from some gentle runs all the way up to the fierce dips and drops of the Expo. Four lifts, including four high speed quads service the area. There are extensive glades in the newest area, the Versant Soleil 581m (1905Ft) with several expert runs and an excellent intermediate combination running top to bottom, linking the Franc Sud, the Toboggan, and the Tapcul. These trails are serviced by a high-speed quad.

Tremblant was voted "Best Ski Resort" by Ski Magazine readers seven times in the last eight years. When you consider everything we have to offer, it's easy to see why. Tremblant's renowned pedestrian village is a walk-through marvel. Leave your car behind: Everything you need is a step away.