DK Travel : Montréal and Québec City

Situated on the mighty St Lawrence River, the sights of these two cities captivate visitors with their history, culture and festivity. Not only were they both major players in the foundation of Canada but their portside locations have kept them at the heart of international commerce, resulting in a harmonious blend of heritage architecture and exciting modern venues that charm all those who come to Canada’s “belle province.”

Montréal Marathon

Every September hundreds of runners take part in this race through the city.
Monument George-Étienne Cartier

Montréal’s largest monument is the setting for the popular Tam-Tam Festival (see Tam-Tam Festival).
Mordecai Richler

The Montréal novelist, essayist and critic (1931–2001) was known for his sarcastic wit and biting opposition to Québec’s separatist elements. His most popular book, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1959), was adapted for film, launching Richard Dreyfuss to Hollywood stardom in 1974. Richler is best known for writing about greed and the human condition, as in St Urbain’s Horseman (1971) and Barney’s Version (1998) but he also wrote a number of humorous essays.
Musée Bon-Pasteur

Highlighting the activities of the Soeurs du Bon-Pasteur religious order.
Musée Château Ramezay

This elegant stone home was originally constructed to house the Governor of Montréal, Claude de Ramezay (1657–1724) and his 16 children. Once the Ramezay family departed it was thereafter known as the Maison des Castors (beavers) because it was home to the Compagnie des Indes (West Indies Company) and their burgeoning fur trade with Europe. In 1775 General Richard Montgomery lived here with his band of rebellious Americans while they made a failed attempt to capture the city for the US. It has been a museum since 1895, with artifacts illustrating the early settlement of Québec, from tools to uniforms to historic documents. Of particular note is the Nantes Salon, lavishly decorated by 18th-century French architect, Germain Boffrand (see Château Ramezay, Montréal).
Musée de cire de Québec

Life-size wax figures welcome you at this 17th-century house – historical personalities are on the ground floor, with contemporary stars upstairs.
Musée de la civilisation de Québec

Architect Moishe Safdie mirrored the surrounding neighborhood by incorporating the French Regime style in his design for this interesting building. Inside, however, it is another story – a futuristic world complete with a range of interactive exhibitions, as well as displays of folk art, religious icons, antique furniture in period settings, and everyday items that illustrate life in the city during its 400-year history. There are also collaborative exhibitions at Place Royale and the Musée de l’Amérique française, the additional space allowing for a more comprehensive program covering multiple themes and generations (see Musée de la Civilisation de Québec).
Musée de la Civilisation de Québec

The MCQ’s exhibits include artifacts from the First Nations, Chinese objets d’art , and items relating to everyday life in Québec during its 400-year history (see Musée de la Civilisation de Québec).
Musée des Beaux-Arts

One of the oldest Canadian bastions of visual and decorative arts. The museum houses vast permanent collections and visiting exhibitions heralding the accomplishments of contemporary artists, as well as creative works by masters from other eras (see Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal).
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal

The oldest and largest Québec museum contains works dating from antiquity to contemporary masters (see Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal).