Museums, Montreal

Travel back in time to experience the life of Montréal's first inhabitants and settlers at Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex. The birthplace of Montréal and a National Historic and Archaeological Site, Pointe-à-Callière presents centuries of history, from Indigenous settlements to the present day. The experience begins with an avant-garde multimedia show on the city’s history. Projected onto an incredible, immersive set space created especially for the show, Generations MTL will dazzle you with its technological wizardry and artistic sensibility. From seats overlooking impressive archaeological remains, get wrapped up in this captivating narrative and learn how, over the centuries, borrowings and exchanges helped forge the city’s identity, making it a true hub at the crossroads of Europe and North America. In addition to the permanent exhibitions where history comes to life through the innovative use of multimedia technologies, the museum presents temporary exhibits on the world's great civilizations, near and far, and a full calendar of cultural activities for the whole family. When it’s time to take a break, L’Arrivage Bistro on the second floor of the main building offers a delicious menu with an exceptional view of the Old Port. https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/museums-and-culture/pointe-calliere

At over a hundred years old and still going strong, the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is more avant-garde and relevant than ever before. Driven by a daring and innovative approach, it has developed into a venerable museum complex revered by lovers of art, music and cinema from here and abroad. Founded in 1860, it was one of the first museums in North America to establish an encyclopedic collection. Today, it comprises over 43 000 works from Antiquity to modern day. Its five pavilions, each with a distinct vocation and architectural style, meld beautifully into the city’s urban fabric. The oldest of them all, the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion, dates back to 1912. Its majestic marble staircase takes you to the Museum’s temporary exhibitions. https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/museums-and-culture/montreal-museum-fine-arts

Walk in the steps of important historical figures the likes of Benjamin Franklin and cross the threshold of the Château Ramezay, a prestigious residence from the 18th century that recounts over 500 years of history through numerous exhibits and extensive multimedia circuits. A portal to Montréal’s past and the first building in Québec classified as an historic monument, the Château Ramezay offers insight into the events of the pre-contact Amerindian era to the 20th century and demonstrates how our history was shaped by the Native People, the French, the British, and the Americans. A permanent collection of over 30,000 objects and an array of temporary exhibitions, intermingled with multimedia portrayals of historical figures telling fabulous tales about this centuries-old manor, bring 18th century New France to life for a modern audience. https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/museums-and-culture/chateau-ramezay-museum

Rising majestically above the cityscape is Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal. It is the largest sanctuary dedicated to Saint Joseph and one of the world’s most visited pilgrimage sites with over 2 million visitors per year. In 1904, Brother André, a simple porter renowned for his miracle cures (which he attributed to Saint Joseph), set out to construct a small wooden chapel, which would ultimately become one of the city’s most impressive religious buildings. It wasn’t until 1967, thirty years after his death, that the immense sanctuary was completed. The shrine includes a majestic basilica for close to 2,000 worshippers, with a dome that reaches a soaring 97 metres, the original chapel, a votive chapel, and a crypt. Here lies Brother André, canonized in 2010 as Saint André of Montréal by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. The Museum of Saint Joseph’s Oratory, primarily dedicated to sacred art, houses an exceptional collection of crèches, a must-see during the holidays. https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/heritage-and-architecture/saint-joseph-s-oratory-mount-royal

The museum first opened in November 1998 and was renovated in 2016. Its permanent exhibition, located in the lower level of the Co-Cathedral of Saint-Antoine, houses nine separate sections highlighting our rich historical and religious heritage. Certain objects on display date back to the earliest days of the Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Parish, which was founded in 1698. The museum’s 1998 inauguration was the culmination of a nearly three-year effort to seek funding, inventory objects, conduct research, produce a catalogue, and organize the opening. In 2016, committed to make the Co-Cathedral known to future generations, the fabrique decided to renovate the museum and the crypt. Museologists and the Longueuil Historical Society combined their talents and skills to ensure the successful completion of the project. https://www.cocathedrale.ca/museum/