Quebec National Museum of Fine Arts (Musée National des Beaux-Arts)

The Basics

The museum comprises four separate buildings connected by underground tunnels. The permanent collection is contained in the Pierre Lassonde Pavilion, which displays contemporary works including Inuit and decorative arts; the Charles Baillairgé Pavilion, a former jail that now contains modern art and a small café; and the Gérard Morisset Pavilion, dedicated to historic and ancient art as well as temporary exhibits. In the Central Pavilion are the ticket office, coat check, and on-site restaurant.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The National Museum of Fine Arts is a must for art lovers.

• Guided tours are available in French.

• Dining options include Tempéra Québecor, an upscale restaurant with a seasonal outdoor patio in the Pierre Lassonde Pavilion, and a café and sandwich shop in the Charles Baillairgé Pavilion atrium.

• Coat check and Wi-Fi are free of charge.

• The museum is fully wheelchair accessible; wheelchairs and strollers are available for use at the coat check.

How to Get There

The National Museum of Fine Arts is located in National Battlefields Park on Grande Allée West, just off of Route 175. Take bus 11 to the Musée National stop, a 20-minute ride from Old Quebec. Paid parking is available behind the Charles Baillairgé Pavilion.

When to Get There

The museum is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Sunday, and to 9pm Wednesday. Be sure to check the website for holiday closures before planning a visit. Quebec City teems with visitors in the warm summer months, making the shoulder spring and fall seasons ideal, with lovely weather and thinner crowds.

Inuit Art

Be sure to spend time with the museum’s robust Inuit art collection, comprising more than 2,600 individual pieces, 2,100 of which are sculptures. A selection of these works from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, housed in the bright and spacious Lassonde Pavilion, provide a window into the rich culture of Canada’s Inuit First Nations.