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The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
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    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores

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    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
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    • RSS Feed
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    • Privacy Policy
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    The Main Media Inc. 2026

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      • Design

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        La bonne bouffe.

      • History

        Stories, lessons, and context.

      • Newsletter

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      • See all original stories
      Explore Montreal
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      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
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      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
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      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
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      1. Articles
      2. Design

      The Hidden World Bustling Beneath Montreal’s Olympic Pyramids

      Echoes of elegance: Inside a faded “Grand Hotel” that's lost its splendour over time.

      By Jean Bourbeau @ URBANIAJuly 29, 2025 - Read time: 11 min
      The hidden world bustling beneath Montreal’s Olympic Pyramids

      This story originally appeared on July 30, 2021 in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

      A year after the Parisian Olympic spotlight turned elsewhere, and far from the fleeting buzz of international games, it’s worth pausing to reflect on Montreal’s own Olympic legacy. Back in 1976, the city welcomed the five-ring spectacle with exuberant ambition and this athletes' residence. Roger Taillibert’s sweeping stadium and the pyramid-shaped Village by Roger D’Astous and Luc Durand echoed the bold spirit of Expo 67.

      Under Mayor Jean Drapeau, Montreal envisioned itself stepping onto the world stage. What followed, of course, was a financial fiasco, highly public, and deeply embarrassing. For those who didn’t live through the 1976 fever, the pride has largely faded, replaced by the lingering weight of a white elephant. And yet, the Olympic Village still stands tall over Sherbrooke Street East. With the Games now a distant backdrop, I returned to this iconic complex to explore what remains and to meet the people who call it home.

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      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

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      1. Articles
      2. Design

      The Hidden World Bustling Beneath Montreal’s Olympic Pyramids

      Echoes of elegance: Inside a faded “Grand Hotel” that's lost its splendour over time.

      By Jean Bourbeau @ URBANIAJuly 29, 2025 - Read time: 11 min
      The hidden world bustling beneath Montreal’s Olympic Pyramids

      This story originally appeared on July 30, 2021 in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

      A year after the Parisian Olympic spotlight turned elsewhere, and far from the fleeting buzz of international games, it’s worth pausing to reflect on Montreal’s own Olympic legacy. Back in 1976, the city welcomed the five-ring spectacle with exuberant ambition and this athletes' residence. Roger Taillibert’s sweeping stadium and the pyramid-shaped Village by Roger D’Astous and Luc Durand echoed the bold spirit of Expo 67.

      Under Mayor Jean Drapeau, Montreal envisioned itself stepping onto the world stage. What followed, of course, was a financial fiasco, highly public, and deeply embarrassing. For those who didn’t live through the 1976 fever, the pride has largely faded, replaced by the lingering weight of a white elephant. And yet, the Olympic Village still stands tall over Sherbrooke Street East. With the Games now a distant backdrop, I returned to this iconic complex to explore what remains and to meet the people who call it home.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

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