The Laurentians, also known as Little Switzerland
The
village of Mont-Tremblant, now merged with the village of Saint-Jovite, is
a spectacular, all-season paradise in the heart of the Laurentian
Mountains, is a famous scenic European-style resort just north of
Montreal.
The area was colonized in the late nineteenth century by Father Antoine
Labelle, in reaction to the threat of Protestant expansion. He chose the
Laurentian Mountains for their rich, fertile soil, access to waterways,
and their potential contact with Quebec. These initial pioneers of the
area fought poverty and struggled in the undeveloped landscape.
Eventually, through the father's generosity and vision, they thrived in
this lush, majestic scenery.
Father Labelle sensed that tourism would provide a key resource for the
region and arduously petitioned for the installation of the Montreal -
Saint-Jerome railway line, which was completed in 1892, enabling the
development and growth of the settlement.
In 1938, Joseph Bondurant Ryan, a wealthy American from Philadelphia came
north to prospect for gold. He was immediately taken with the pristine
beauty of the 'mountain of the spirits'. He scaled it, and upon seeing
the breathtaking view of the snow-blanketed landscape, vowed to transform
the wilderness into a world-class alpine village. In February 1939, his
dream was realized, when the Mont-Tremblant Lodge, its architecture
reminiscent of Old Quebec, was opened for business and in 1991, the
Swiss-style pedestrian village was created.
The beauty of the landscape has been luring visitors since the
Amerindians, although rather than hunting and
gathering food, the hordes now come to ski, hike, fish, bike, golf, raft
or simply enjoy a respite from the nearby urban chaos. Maintaining the
beauty of the area remains a priority with the people who live here.
In the autumn, the Laurentians put on a brilliant display of colorful
autumn foliage. The annual Tremblant 'Symphony of Colors' festival
allows visitors to enjoy the spectacular natural canvas from a gondola.
This sight is enough to make you understand why Jo Ryan risked everything
to live his dream in this majestic enclave.
