GUIDES & DISCOVERIES · QUEBEC CULTURE
The Musée de la Civilisation
One of the most innovative museums in Canada, in the heart of Old Quebec
The Musée de la Civilisation de Québec is not an ordinary museum. Since its opening in 1988, it has redefined what the museum experience can be: interactive, accessible, ambitious in its themes, rooted in the present as much as in the past. Its exhibitions attract visitors from around the world and Quebecers who return regularly.
Discover the museumIn this article
The museum
An innovative vision of the museum experience
Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the building itself is a work of art integrated into the historic fabric of the Lower Town.
Canadian architect Moshe Safdie designed the Musée de la Civilisation building as a dialogue between contemporary architecture and the heritage of the Lower Town. The facade incorporates the Estèbe House, an 18th-century residence whose stone walls were preserved and incorporated into the new building. The result is an architecture that does not choose between past and present: it layers them.
Inside, a central atrium bathed in natural light welcomes visitors and serves as orientation toward the different exhibition rooms. The museography is decidedly modern: few dusty display cases, many immersive installations, theatrical staging, and interactive devices that allow both children and adults to actively engage with the content.
One of the best museums in North America
The MCQ has received numerous international awards for the quality of its exhibitions and architecture. It regularly appears in rankings of the best museums in Canada and has hosted leading international exhibitions from major European museums.
Collections
Themes that concern everyone
The MCQ is not limited to the history of Quebec. It addresses universal questions about human civilization, cultures, languages, and contemporary challenges.
"We, the First Nations"
The permanent exhibition dedicated to the First Nations of Quebec is one of the most comprehensive and respectful of the Indigenous voice in the Canadian museum landscape. It presents the cultures, languages, traditions, and contemporary issues of eleven Indigenous nations of Quebec.
"The Time of the Quebecers"
This exhibition traces four centuries of Quebec history, from the founding of Quebec by Champlain to contemporary identity issues. The presentation avoids shortcuts and usual clichés to offer a nuanced and honest reading of the evolution of Quebec society.
Top international exhibitions
The MCQ regularly hosts temporary exhibitions from major museums around the world: the Louvre, the British Museum, the Smithsonian. These international exhibitions attract visitors from across Canada and the United States, giving Quebec a cultural stature that far exceeds its demographic size.
Practical
What you need to know before coming
Some practical information to plan your visit to the Museum of Civilization.
Access and hours
The MCQ is located on Dalhousie Street, in the Lower Town, a three-minute walk from the Carrera Café and Petit-Champlain. It is open year-round, seven days a week from June to early September, and closed on Mondays in the low season. Admission to permanent exhibitions is free on Tuesday evenings. Temporary exhibitions require paid admission.
Visit duration
Allow two to three hours for a complete visit including permanent exhibitions and a temporary exhibition. For families with children, allow a bit more time: the interactive displays invite lingering, especially in areas dedicated to young visitors.
After the visit
The café for reflection
After a visit to the MCQ, the mind is full. A coffee is essential to let what you've just seen settle.
Carrera Café after the museum
The Carrera Café is a three-minute walk from the Museum of Civilization. After a visit, settling in with an espresso or drip coffee to reflect on what you've just seen is a way to extend the cultural experience. The best exhibitions deserve time to digest, preferably in a good café.
Culture begins at the café
Before your visit to the MCQ or to extend the emotions, the Carrera Café awaits you in Petit-Champlain, just a three-minute walk away.
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