Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Quebec

"Why: Located in Côte-des-Neiges, right atop the Mount Royal, Saint Joseph's Oratory is one of Canada's largest churches and a National Historic Site of Canada. Construction was completed in 1966 and its dome is the third-largest of its kind, only after the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro in Côte d’Ivoire and Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome."

"At the end of the alley you will be on St. Joseph. Continue walking two blocks east passing St. Stanislas church until you reach Avenue Laurier. This is one of the most interesting streets on the Plateau where you will find a world of style, prestige, flavours, beauty and good food. The place to see and be seen."

"The rundown: It’s so wonderfully strange to think that the world’s largest permanent exhibit of Barbie dolls lives in the Cours Mont-Royal shopping centre. Half childhood fantasy, half current daydream, this is literally a collection of 1,000+ Barbies—but they’ve had a massive transformation from the dolls you collected as a kid. Some are dressed in tiny, perfect designer creations, everything from a replica of Dior’s Tailleur Bar to a Hervé Léger bandage dress; others are styled like beloved celebs and movie characters, or sport uniforms inspired by brands (Harley Davidson, Hard Rock Cafe) and works of art (Van Gogh’s Starry Night, a Fabergé egg)."

"Montreal is home to the Barbie Expo, the largest permanent collection of Barbie dolls in the world. Guests have the chance to see and snap pics of over 1,000 one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls, all dressed by the city’s leading fashion designers. When: Daily Time: Friday, 10 am to 9 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 5 pmWhere: 1455 Rue PeelPrice: Free admission"

"The rundown: Before Caroline Andrieux came along, the Darling Foundry was just another abandoned industrial building on the edge of Griffintown. Andrieux, who has a history of transforming unoccupied buildings into art spaces, is the founder and artistic director of the visual arts centre that launched here in 2002; before that, she spent the second half of the ’90s cultivating an artistic community in this neighbourhood. The Foundry has two rooms, but they aren’t always in use."

"At Fonderie Darling, be ready to find urban and industrial visual arts with eco-conscious undertones. Right now, the gallery is showing a series of colourful cartoon-like paintings by Vincent Larouche, as well as a huge exhibition in its main hall inspired by aquatic life in the St-Lawrence river. Oh, and don’t forget to stop by the EmballeToi!"

"The Darling Foundry Visual Arts Centre is a contemporary art space which seeks to promote art and artists within the city of Montreal. The centre is set in an iconic building that exudes the city’s industrial history. Conceived by the architects In Situ, Darling Foundry officially opened in 2002."

"Why: This historic building was erected by two French Canadian brothers whose corporate empire throughout the war helped build the economy of the area and allowed them to create this tandem mansion, with each brother owning and designing his half of the residence."

"Many historical buildings in Vieux-Montreal are still standing in their original form, even if they're now being used as something other than what they were built for — or turned into a museum. Consider this little tour if you're looking to feel as if you've stepped back in time... or, Europe, at least."

"This historic home commemorates the accomplishments of Cartier, an important Father of Confederation. It is the only Victorian-style interior open to the public in Montréal."

"This Saint-Henri establishment made a name for itself first as one of its neighbourhood’s premier pastry shops, a small shop with a heavy focus on country-style pies with crumbling crusts and fruit-heavy fillings. They unfortunately don’t sell by the slice, instead opting to serve mini two-bite pies whose flavours range from classics like key lime and blueberry to the bonfire, a take on smores that’s topped with a torched marshmallow. Come to try one and leave with a box of six."

"Love this place I have known the family for years always served with a smile and the food well it's to die for you must go there."

"Au Festin de Babette specializes in hot chocolate and crèpes, but they’re mostly known for their ice cream. They serve Bilboquet flavours or their famous soft serve created using their own concoctions. They start with a base or either vanilla or chocolate and then add spices, fruits, and other notes to create their own in-house flavours."

"One of the city’s oldest Japanese establishments, this homey downtown spot is closer to a casual eatery than an izakaya, although izakaya-style items are firmly on the menu. Regulars come for simple comfort food: donburi (rice bowls), sukiyaki, hot and cold udon, and more. On a rainy evening, with soft music playing in the background and a carafe of warm sake, there are few better places to be."