When singer, songwriter, poet, novelist and painter Leonard Cohen passed away a few weeks ago, he left behind a rich legacy that helped put his native Montreal on the map as a hub for aspiring artists. Cohen did for Montreal what The Beatles did for Liverpool, Picasso for Barcelona, Michael Jordan for Chicago, and so on. He was larger than life and he will be sorely missed. To Montrealers, his presence in the city is both immortal and ubiquitous, yet like many of us in our own respective home towns, he had numerous haunts. If you're a big Cohen fan, here are 5 'classic Cohen' spots to visit during your Montreal class trip:
1. His Home In the heart of the Plateau neighbourhood - tucked away behind Parc du Portugal and a stone's throw from the iconic Schwartz's Deli - is 28 Rue Vallieres, where Cohen lived until his last breath. It's as much a part of the community as any other home: it isn't fenced in or impounded by endless security. Cohen took part in the surrounding community like virtually anyone else. Today, it's become a pilgrimage of sorts for mourning fans. The memorial that swells on his doorstep is really something.
2. Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Built in 1771, this church sits in the southeast quadrant of Old Montreal. It was once a pilgrimage site for ships arriving in the adjacent port (now know as the Old Port). He alludes to the church - or at least the inspiration behind the church - in one of his most celebrated songs, Suzanne, about his relationship with Suzanne Verdal. When he sings "Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river", he's referring to her apartment in the Old Port, near the church; there's also a running nautical theme. Suzanne is portrayed as a beacon, much like the church's statue of the Virgin Mary that became a symbol for the travel-weary sailors passing through.
3. Montreal Pool Room
