February 1, 2010 - Ville-Marie was Montréal’s name in 1663, the year that Marguerite Bourgeoys welcomed the first King’s Wards. The nun opened the doors of this charming farmhouse to young women who had just arrived from France, so they could adapt to the rigours of the new country before taking a husband.
A vestige of the first French colony, Maison Saint-Gabriel has long since left behind its vocation as a farm; today, it is both a museum and a recognized national historic site of Canada. In addition to the permanent exhibition, From the Cellar to the Attic, which unveils authentic furnishings and objects from the daily life of the 18th and 19th centuries, the museum will also be hosting Glass Cycle…, an exhibition that traces the history of glass in Montréal.
Year long, the museum also offers a series of activities led by storytellers and musicians dressed in period costume. But no visit would be complete without a visit to the garden, the barn and the three-hundred-year-old house to admire some traditional Québecois architecture. A centuries-old house that lets you time travel through history, indeed.
Maison Saint-Gabriel, museum and historic site
Glass Cycle
