DK Travel : Montréal and Québec City : Musée de la Civilisation de Québec

Musée de la Civilisation de Québec

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Few museums in the world receive the kind of rave reviews given to the MCQ. The exhibitions (two of which are permanent) cover history, culture, sports, science, and intellectual and esoteric themes in a range of interactive ways that entertain and educate visitors. Designed by the celebrated architect Moshe Safdie, creator of Ottawa’s National Gallery, the MCQ incorporates the Musée de l’Amérique Française, the Maison Chevalier, the Séminaire de Québec, as well as the Place-Royale Interpretation Center, to produce this vibrant look at local life in all its facets. The main entrance is the rue Dalhousie site.

Top 10 Exhibitions

1. The Chapel of the Séminaire de Québec

Information about Catholic rites and church decoration can be found here.
2. Encounter with First Nations

A magnificent exhibition of First Nations’ treasures, with over 500 objects covering the history of the native Canadians.
3. Musée de l’Amérique Française

The oldest museum in Canada features over 450,000 artifacts from the earliest French communities.
4. Place-Royale, There and Back Again

Two savvy time travelers, take you back to meet five influential figures from Place-Royale. A great multi-media presentation.
5. Maison Chevalier

Jean-Baptiste Chevalier’s 17th-century home has been lovingly restored and includes the Living Heritage Workshop, a series of tutorials focusing on traditional French customs, music and dance since the days of early settlement.
6. Centre d’Interprétation de Place-Royale

Daily life as it was in Nouvelle-France comes alive at Place-Royale; historic celebrations are regularly mounted on the site of the first settlement.
7. Séminaire de Québec

Three outstanding exhibitions in the seminary form the largest religious collection in North America. The artifacts document the early religious education of the city.
8. People of Québec...Then and Now

Visitors can relive 400 years of Québec’s history, meeting figures from yesterday and connecting to a past that is still shaping events of today. Original and archival film clips from the National Film Board enliven the exhibit along the way.
9. Make Way for the Middle Ages

Based around the workings of a medieval French village, this this costume workshop explores how aspects of life in the Middle Ages have influenced how we live in the modern age.
10. Joseph the Boarder

An enchanting interactive presentation, located in the Jérome-Demers Pavilion, recalls daily life in Le Petit Séminaire de Québec for “Joseph,” a typical waif in the early days of Nouvelle-France.

Practical Information

Good food at a reasonable price is found at the on-site cafeteria near the coat-check area. Do not try to see everything the MCQ offers at their three locations in one day. For a more enjoyable experience, plan to attend only those parts that you are most interested in. 85 rue Dalhousie, Basse-Ville, Québec City (418) 643 2158 www.mcq.org Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun; mid-June–Labor Day: 9:30am–6:30pm daily Adm $8.00 (free Tue in winter)