Pavillon Charles-Baillairgé

Pavillon Charles-Baillairgé is a four-story art museum located on the Plains of Abraham with distinctive Renaissance Revival architectural features. The building displays carefully cut stone masonry, a copper roof, and an octagonal watchtower topped by two lanterns.

The structure was built in 1861 as a prison following British reform principles for penitentiary design. After more than a century of operation as a correctional facility, it closed in 1970 and was later transformed into a museum.

The building is named after Charles-Baillairgé, a prominent local architect whose designs shaped Quebec's built environment. It now hosts art exhibitions and creative activities that reflect the region's artistic life and heritage.

The main entrance is located on Avenue George VI, providing straightforward access to the site. Guided tours are regularly offered and help visitors understand the architectural features and history of the location.

The building preserves intact cell blocks from its time as a prison, situated directly alongside modern art exhibitions. This spatial proximity offers visitors an uncommon direct contrast between the location's dark past and its transformation into a creative space.

Location: La Cité-Limoilou

Inception: 1861

Architects: Charles Baillairgé

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

Floors above the ground: 4

Part of: Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec

Address: 1, avenue Wolfe-Montcalm, Québec (Québec) G1R 5H3

Website: https://mnbaq.org/location-de-salles/pavillon-charlesbaillairg

GPS coordinates: 46.79989,-71.22384

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:03