Museum of Fine Arts (Musee des Beaux-Arts), Montreal (must see)
The Montr茅al Museum of Fine Arts is housed in three separate buildings on either side of Sherbrooke Street, which are connected through underground walkways. One ticket, valid for a full day, allows access to them all (except for the special exhibit which costs extra and is often not to be missed), taking you on a perfectly balanced art-history tour.
The five pavilions, with their distinct designs, speak volumes about the museum's exhibitions. The modernist Desmarais Pavilion (where the main entrance and the restaurant are located) is filled with light and houses most of the permanent collection of exquisite artworks from around the world, including treasures from Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Oceania and the Americas dating from the 4th millennium B.C.E. to today. The back of this building connects to the recent addition of the Hornstein pavilion, which hosts 750 classical-to-early-modern artworks and actually goes the length of using projectors and LCDs to create that moonlight-in-a-forest atmosphere that so many people find "romantic".
After enjoying traditional paintings and sculpture, you may transition to more modern, contemporary and Canadian exhibits, or visit the pavilion dedicated to decorative arts, featuring fun and funky stuff to delight the eye and imagination. It's all rather spread out on a very complex layout, so give yourself enough time to make the experience worthwhile.
***The RMS Titanic Walking Tour***
The frieze on the building's exterior is the work of second class passenger Leopold Weisz, 33, who drowned in the disaster. A Hungarian-born Jewish stone carver, Weisz got the job in Canada carving the frieze for the Museum of Arts building in 1911, following which he was contracted to do the stone shields which decorate the Dominion Express Building at 201 Saint Jacques Street W. He had gone back to England to fetch his wife and the couple were to have returned on another vessel, but because of the coal strike, were transferred to Titanic. Mrs Weisz survived, but was about to be deported as an indigent from Canada until her husband's body was recovered, with $15,000 worth of gold sewn into the lining. It was returned to her, and she remained in Montr茅al.
Why You Should Visit:
If you're happy to discover artists you are not already familiar with or to stop and spend time with at least one masterpiece, this place is a good choice, especially when the weather isn't great to be outside. Collections are well spaced out in appropriate themes and one can't help but be impressed by the lighting and staging of the artwork.
Tip:
Note the reduced admission fees to major exhibitions between 5鈥�9pm on Fridays.
In addition, the first Sunday of each month is free for all and sundry.
The five pavilions, with their distinct designs, speak volumes about the museum's exhibitions. The modernist Desmarais Pavilion (where the main entrance and the restaurant are located) is filled with light and houses most of the permanent collection of exquisite artworks from around the world, including treasures from Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Oceania and the Americas dating from the 4th millennium B.C.E. to today. The back of this building connects to the recent addition of the Hornstein pavilion, which hosts 750 classical-to-early-modern artworks and actually goes the length of using projectors and LCDs to create that moonlight-in-a-forest atmosphere that so many people find "romantic".
After enjoying traditional paintings and sculpture, you may transition to more modern, contemporary and Canadian exhibits, or visit the pavilion dedicated to decorative arts, featuring fun and funky stuff to delight the eye and imagination. It's all rather spread out on a very complex layout, so give yourself enough time to make the experience worthwhile.
***The RMS Titanic Walking Tour***
The frieze on the building's exterior is the work of second class passenger Leopold Weisz, 33, who drowned in the disaster. A Hungarian-born Jewish stone carver, Weisz got the job in Canada carving the frieze for the Museum of Arts building in 1911, following which he was contracted to do the stone shields which decorate the Dominion Express Building at 201 Saint Jacques Street W. He had gone back to England to fetch his wife and the couple were to have returned on another vessel, but because of the coal strike, were transferred to Titanic. Mrs Weisz survived, but was about to be deported as an indigent from Canada until her husband's body was recovered, with $15,000 worth of gold sewn into the lining. It was returned to her, and she remained in Montr茅al.
Why You Should Visit:
If you're happy to discover artists you are not already familiar with or to stop and spend time with at least one masterpiece, this place is a good choice, especially when the weather isn't great to be outside. Collections are well spaced out in appropriate themes and one can't help but be impressed by the lighting and staging of the artwork.
Tip:
Note the reduced admission fees to major exhibitions between 5鈥�9pm on Fridays.
In addition, the first Sunday of each month is free for all and sundry.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Montreal. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Museum of Fine Arts (Musee des Beaux-Arts) on Map
Sight Name: Museum of Fine Arts (Musee des Beaux-Arts)
Sight Location: Montreal, Canada (See walking tours in Montreal)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Montreal, Canada (See walking tours in Montreal)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Montreal, Canada
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Most of Montreal's earliest architecture, characterized by uniquely French influence, including grey stone... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Most of Montreal's earliest architecture, characterized by uniquely French influence, including grey stone... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
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Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
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Here, modern buildings coexist with some of the oldest and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
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Although Montreal's... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Although Montreal's... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
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