GUIDES & DISCOVERIES · QUEBEC CULTURE
The Museum of Civilization
One of Canada's most innovative museums, in the heart of Old Quebec
The Museum of Civilization in Quebec City is no 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 all over 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 Museum of Civilization building as a dialogue between contemporary architecture and the heritage of the Lower Town. The facade incorporates Maison Estèbe, 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 superimposes them.
Inside, a central atrium bathed in natural light welcomes visitors and serves as an orientation to the various exhibition halls. The museography is decidedly modern: few dusty display cases, many immersive installations, theatrical stagings, and interactive devices that allow both children and adults to actively engage with the content.
One of North America's best museums
The MCQ has received numerous international awards for the quality of its exhibitions and architecture. It regularly ranks among 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.
"This Is Our Story: First Peoples in Canada"
The permanent exhibition dedicated to Quebec's First Nations is one of the most comprehensive and respectful of Indigenous voices in the Canadian museum landscape. It presents the cultures, languages, traditions, and contemporary issues of eleven Indigenous nations in Quebec.
"The Time of the Quebecers"
This exhibition traces four centuries of Quebec's history, from Champlain's founding of Quebec City to contemporary identity issues. The presentation avoids usual shortcuts and clichés to offer a nuanced and honest reading of the evolution of Quebec society.
Leading 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 all over Canada and the United States, giving Quebec a cultural stature that far exceeds its demographic size.
Practical Info
What you need to know before coming
Some practical information to plan your visit to the Museum of Civilization.
Access and opening hours
The MCQ is located on Dalhousie Street, in the Lower Town, a three-minute walk from Carrera Café and Petit-Champlain. It is open year-round, seven days a week from June to early September, and closed on Mondays during the off-season. Admission to permanent exhibitions is free on Tuesday evenings. Temporary exhibitions are paid.
Visit duration
Allow two to three hours for a complete visit including permanent exhibitions and a temporary exhibition. For families with children, allow a little more time: interactive devices encourage lingering, especially in spaces dedicated to young visitors.
After the visit
The reflection café
After a visit to the MCQ, the mind is full. A coffee is a must, to let what you've just seen sink in.
Carrera Café after the museum
Carrera Café is a three-minute walk from the Museum of Civilization. After a visit, settling down with an espresso or a filter coffee to reflect on what you've just seen is a way to extend the cultural experience. The best exhibitions deserve to be digested, preferably in a good coffee shop.
Culture begins at the café
Before your visit to the MCQ or to extend its emotions, Carrera Café awaits you in Petit-Champlain, a three-minute walk away.
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