Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Art museum on Plains of Abraham, Quebec City, Canada
The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is an art museum in Quebec City, composed of four interconnected buildings. The complex merges a former correctional facility with modern gallery spaces and contemporary glass structures designed to serve visitors.
The museum was founded in 1922 and opened to the public in 1933, initially called the Musée de la province de Québec. Over time, it shifted its focus from provincial archives and natural sciences toward art collections and exhibitions.
The name reflects its role as a showcase for artists from Quebec and across Canada. Visitors walk through galleries where works by local creators sit alongside pieces that shaped the region's artistic identity over centuries.
The museum sits on the Plains of Abraham and is accessible by public transit; parking is available on the grounds. Plan to spend several hours to comfortably explore the galleries and connected buildings without feeling rushed.
The Charles Baillairgé Pavilion contains original prison cells from when the building operated as a correctional facility until 1970. Visitors can view these preserved spaces and gain insight into how the structure once functioned.
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