See city panoramas through new eyes

The season is perfect for going on walks to enjoy the fall colours and light. Why not add a museum stop to your outing to take a refreshing look at cityscapes through the prism of art and history. 

At the McCord Stewart Museum roam the island of Montreal by way of the artist James Duncan's remarkable watercolours. The bustling streets, the broad expanses seen from the mountain or from Île Sainte-Hélène: all these depictions of the city will transport you back to a colourful and lively 19th century. 

At the Musée des Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, learn all about the captivating history of Mount Royal in a temporary exhibition combining nature and culture. Appreciate the ecological, historical and symbolic wealth of the city's iconic “mountain.” 

The Montreal-based Canadian Centre for Architecture takes a unique look at the city with the installation Visibly Iroquoian by the interdisciplinary artist Ange Loft. Combining art-based research, archaeological and historical maps, and oral narratives, the installation invites us to reflect on the Indigenous realities of Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montreal. Viewing the installation from the institution's windows is an experience onto itself. 

New perspectives that are bound to surprise you 

Museums offer a wide range of activities and themes that invite you to see the world from different vantage points: an exciting program! 

At the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec in Quebec City, the exhibition Us proposes a reflection on society with a juxtaposition of 69 works selected from various periods of the Museum's collections. What do these works tell us about our identities, our migrations and our territories? On this journey, works of art share quarters, enter into dialogue and amaze us. They also hold up an astonishing mirror to these big universal questions. 

In Laval, the Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier has just reopened its doors in new facilities, where the interactive exhibition 4, 3, 2, 1... Santé! takes a multifaceted look at human health. Explore this theme from four viewpoints, ranging from the infinitely small to the immensely big: at the molecular and cellular scale, to that of individuals, entire populations and the planet. Learn about the main issues in this field, and what you can do to keep yourself and the Earth healthy! 

Do you know the legendary novel Maria Chapdelaine? In Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, the Musée Louis-Hémon, named after the book's author, presents a temporary exhibition evoking the success story of this book that was published in the early 20th century: was it a stroke of genius or just smoke and mirrors? Retrace the history of this great literary adventure and assess the novel's influence from the past to the present day. 

Explore the many dimensions of human nature  

Discover the atypical, surprising or remarkable life path of inspiring individuals or groups

Follow in the footsteps of Germaine Saint-Denis at the Musée régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges. This passionate self-taught photographer captured important events in her community, as well as everyday scenes. Moreover, her photographs were published in local newspapers for several decades in the 20th century: a genuine treasure trove of information about life back in those days! 

At Musée des Ursulines de Trois-Rivières, take a journey into the scientific world of women! This is a little-known story: back in the 19th century, Quebec nuns set up innovative programs to teach botany, chemistry, physics, astronomy and mineralogy to girls. Their goal was to offer them the same scientific training as boys. Titled Religieuses, enseignantes... et scientifiques, this temporary exhibition also features portraits of contemporary women who have made their mark in science. 

In Montreal, drop by the Musée des ondes Emile-Berliner to discover the achievements of Herbert S. Berliner, a talented engineer and savvy businessman who was the founder of the Canadian recording industry. Son of the inventor of the gramophone, for whom the Museum is named, he was at the forefront of technology in his field. Learn how his initiatives shaped the history of our domestic music industry. 

With their original creations, artists open up new perspectives on the world. At the Historic Site Marguerite-Bourgeoys, marvel at the impressive paper sculptures illustrating Noah's Ark in Noah's Ark according to Claude Lafortune. The works of the renowned artist and media figure, Claude Lafortune, feature poetic, playful animals and characters drawn from an age-old story. A delight for the eyes! 

At the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, admire the bold and powerful work of the artist Marisol. Born in Paris of Venezuelan parents, she moved to New York in the early 1950s. The retrospective exhibition devoted to this visionary artist includes life-size totemic figures, many of which highlight the social role of women.  

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