In other words, there's no shortage of spooky locations that make this city an epic place to live if you're into deep, dark, haunted horror vibes.
Perhaps you pass these places every day and had no idea they were haunted. Perhaps you'll make a mental note to check out some of these spots in the future, bringing a 'ouija board' along with you.
But be sure to always respect the rules of the environment and don't trespass.
Or maybe it's scary enough for you to learn that right now... as you read this... millions of restless spirits are lurking in dark corners of the city you call home.
Editor's Choice: Montreal Has A New Memorial For Our Beloved Whale
Meunierd | DreamstimeDorchester Square
Address: 2903, rue Peel, Montreal, Quebec
Why You Need To Go: Underneath the soil of this downtown park were the bodies of thousands of Montrealers. Though most of the bodies were dug up and moved to Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery on Mount Royal in earlier centuries, electrical workers found remains nearby in 2012 when installing new lamp posts in the park.
The locations of the bodies that remain are said to be marked by crosses on the pavement.
Given that some people were buried alive during the cholera epidemic of 1832, after being given heavy doses of opium, legend has it that their spirits continue to haunt Dorchester Square.
Indrid Cold | FlickrSaint-Henri Park
Address: 753, rue Agnès, Montreal, Quebec
Why You Need To Go: Saint-Henri park is home to a towering statue of Jacques-Cartier, adorned with four decapitated Indigenous heads. The heads below the feet of the colonialist makes for extremely creepy and racist imagery.
Legend has it that the statue's eyes move at night, and Haunted Montreal says that some visitors have heard distant screams when visiting the park. Visit at your own peril!
Rania Mekky | DreamstimeRavenscrag
Address: 1025, avenue des Pins O., Montreal, Quebec
Why You Need To Go: McGill is home to lots of extra-disturbing history, including Project MK-Ultra, a CIA mind control human experiment that took place in the Allan Memorial Institute, previously known as Ravenscrag.
The human experiments included sensory deprivation, high doses of LSD and electroshock therapy, all performed by Dr. Donald Ewen Cameron between 1957 and 1964. The grounds are allegedly haunted by spirits that died as a result of his experimental treatments for mental illness.
Meunierd | DreamstimeFort on St. Helen's Island
Address: 20, chemin du Tour-de-l'Isle, Montréal, Quebec
Why You Need To Go: St. Helen's Island is home to a fort built in the 1820s to protect Canada from the threat of an American invasion.
It's unclear whether or not the fort is accessible without attending the museum, but legend has it that the ritualistic marching of fallen soldiers can sometimes be heard. It's also been said that there are unexplained noises and smells of smoke on the premises.
Azzalea | FlickrKing George Park
Address: 68, croissant Belmont, Westmount, Quebec
Why You Need To Go: King George Park, formerly known as Murray Hill Park in Westmount, is known to be one of Leonard Cohen's favourite writing spots.
The greenspace is a popular area for Montrealers to hold picnics and outdoor games on its grassy grounds. Legend has it that the creepy forms of phantom children lurk the grounds at night.
Sals Photographie | Dreamstime Mount Royal
Address: 1576, voie Camillien-Houde, Montreal, Quebec
Why You Need To Go: Mount Royal is known for its spooky ambience, especially at night. The popular locale has actually been said to hold a cave beneath its grounds where squatters live. It's also been home to a number of mysterious deaths by people who have fallen off the side of the mountain.
Martine Oger | DreamstimePlace Jacques-Cartier
Address: Entrance to the Old Port of Montreal
Why You Need To Go: Place Jacques-Cartier, which houses restaurants and food trucks in the Old Port, has a dark history that could explain its alleged haunting. Previously named Place des Jésuites in the New France era, it was in the square that Indigenous people were tortured and executed by Jesuit priests.
Indigenous people used the area as a trail into the woods before it became a castle for a Governor in the 1700s.
Michel Bussieres | DreamstimePlace Vauquelin
Address: 275, rue Notre-Dame E., Montreal, Quebec
Why You Need To Go: Place Vauquelin in the Old Port is one of the creepiest places in the city, allegedly haunted by old prisoners.
The square was the site of an old prison until 1836, until the government demolished it to build a courthouse. But lurking beneath the square are the remnants of the jail's dungeon, where prisoners were held in unsanitary conditions. The square was also home to a number of public executions in the city.
Wally Gobetz | FlickrRemains of McTavish Mausoleum
Address: Mount Royal Park, between avenue des Pins and rue Peel
Why You Need To Go: The grounds of Simon McTavish's Mausoleum are widely known to be haunted by the fur baron's ghost.
Archaeologists unearthed his tomb on the grounds in 2010, near the Olmstead Trail and Peel Street. The city destroyed the mausoleum in the 1870s to deter grave robbers, and the McTavish ghost has been said to be seen coming down the hill on a toboggan.
We strongly advise that before you visit any location, you check the most recent updates on potential hazards, security, and closures. Always respect the environment and obey any local laws.
