Montreal’s Château Ramezay is a museum and historic building on Notre-Dame Street in Old Montreal. With a history of more than 300 years, the Château Ramezay has been preserving Montreal’s heritage since 1895, when it was converted into a museum. Château Ramezay is one of the first buildings in the province of Québec to be declared a historic monument. It is also Québec’s oldest private history museum.
History of Château Ramezay
The museum is named after Claude de Ramezay, Governor of Montreal, who had it built as his home in 1705. The Château has had many owners since Claude de Ramezay. It was sold to the Compagnie des Indes, which held a monopoly on fur exports, and was remodeled and expanded in 1756. It was then re-used as a Governor’s residence again and later as a military headquarters and courthouse, and finally was turned into a museum in 1895. General Richard Montgomery and Benjamin Franklin, among other personalities, are known to have visited the Château.
The Château Ramezay Museum
The Château Ramezay has been a part of Montreal’s history for over a century. The Château houses a rich collection of artifacts that provide a view into Montreal’s unique history. Visitors can relive Montreal’s history through the various artifacts that are present in the permanent exhibition and the Château’s garden. The artifacts found at the Château range from AmerIndian prehistory to the days of when Montreal was a fortified town to the 1900s. There are over 30,000 objects in the museum’s collection.
Activities at the Château Ramezay
Regardless of your age, the Château Ramezay has an activity for you. There are many educational and cultural activities that take place at this historic site. The Château Ramezay has gone through extensive restorations to its indoor and outdoor areas, particularly the Governor’s Garden. More than a million people have visited Montreal’s Château Ramezay.
Images of Château Ramezay
