Battle of the Châteauguay
National Historic Site

Beauharnois Generating Station

Biophare

Blockhaus de la rivière-Lacolle

Chambly Canal
National Historic Site

Coteau-du-Lac
National Historic Site

Électrium, the Hydro-Québec Electricity Interpretation Centre

Exporail, The Canadian Railway Museum

Expression, Centre d’exposition de Saint-Hyacinthe

Fort Chambly
National Historic Site

Fort Lennox
National Historic Site

La Maison amérindienne

Maison Lenoblet-du-Plessis

Maison LePailleur

Maison nationale des Patriotes

Missisquoi Museum

Musée des beaux-arts
de Mont-Saint-Hilaire

Musée du costume
et du textile du Québec

Musée du Haut-Richelieu

Musée régional
de Vaudreuil-Soulanges

Muséobus,
the Children’s Museum

MUSO – Musée de société
des Deux-Rives

Plein sud, Centre d’exposition en art actuel

Quebec Museum of Archaeology

Saint-Ours Canal
National Historic Site

“The (seigneurial) house is very prettily situated on a sloping bank, close to the river, which is so broad that it looks more like a large Lake. It is called Lac St. Louis. The Ottawa & the St. Lawrence join here & both are splendid rivers. …We drove to the fishing cottage at the Pointe du Buisson which commands a beautiful view of the rapids & some pretty Islands. …Landed on the point opposite the house where some Indians were fishing, One spoke French. …The priest told them I was their Seigneuresse.”

Extract from the diary of Katherine Jane Ellice,
seigneuresse of Beauharnois (1838)

 

Let us tell you a story, the story of our past.

Did you know that the Richelieu River was explored by Champlain and was known at the time as the Iroquois River?

The Amerindians’ presence in the Montérégie region dates back to prehistoric times. Archaeological research in the St. Lawrence Valley – from Pointe-du-Buisson (Beauharnois) to Sorel – sheds light on this occupation. In Jacques Cartier’s travel accounts, he mentions the existence of three Amerindian provinces, called Canada, Hochelaga and Maisouna, the latter corresponding to the Sorel region. The river now known as the Richelieu was baptised the Iroquois River by Champlain because Amerindians of that name travelled along it to hunt, fish and gather fruit. The Quebec Museum of Archaeology, the Biophare and La Maison amérindienne bear witness to this Amerindian presence.

Did you know that Sorel is the 4th oldest town in Canada?

In 1642, the French constructed a fort on the Richelieu River to keep the Iroquois at bay. The Sorel seigneury was granted to Captain Pierre de Saurel and his soldiers in the Carignan-Salières regiment in 1665. The Richelieu was later the site of many battles between the French, Iroquois, British and Americans. In 1836, the first Canadian railroad was built between La Prairie and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a town that would come to be known as Canada’s capital of pottery. The Musée du Haut-Richelieu presents various highpoints of this history.

As settlement grew and the seigneurial system took root, the Montérégie region underwent a population explosion. The early settlers’ experience is brought to life for visitors at the Musée régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, the Maison LePailleur and the Musée Missisquoi.

In 1837-1838, a group known as the Patriotes fought battles in the name of democratic rights. Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu was the site of their only victory. While the more spectacular events of this time happened in the Richelieu Valley and the county of Deux-Montagnes, many of the Patriotes’ assemblies took place in Vaudreuil, in the seigneury founded in 1702. In 1838, the Patriotes attacked the Ellice manor house in Beauharnois, taking its occupants, including seigneuresse Jane Ellice, hostage. The Maison nationale des Patriotes relates the momentous events that accompanied this struggle for democracy.

In about the same period, the advent of the railway stimulated the country’s social, economic and demographic development. Exporail, The Canadian Railway Museum, presents the story of this important activity.

Canadian society underwent further changes with the arrival of the industrial age. The Montreal Cotton Company, established in Valleyfield in 1875, is a notable example of the industries that sprang up. At its peak, this large textile company employed over 2000 workers. The MUSO - Musée de société des Deux-Rives is devoted to this water-powered industrial activity.

Today, the Montérégie region is known for its farmlands, and sampling its agricultural products is one of the pleasures enjoyed by visitors.

To learn more, click on the museum of your choice.

Battle of the Châteauguay National Historic Site, Howick

Biophare, Sorel-Tracy
Regional history and natural heritage; guided nature tours of the Sorel Islands and Lake Saint-Pierre

Blockhaus de la  rivière-Lacolle, Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix

Chambly Canal National Historic Site, Chambly et Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site, Coteau-du-Lac

Exporail, The Canadian Railway Museum, Saint-Constant
Rail transportation technology and history

Fort Chambly National Historic Site, Chambly

Fort Lennox National Historic Site, Saint-Paul-de-l'île-aux-Noix

La Maison amérindienne, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Amerindian art and culture, maple sugaring traditions

Maison Lenoblet-du-Plessis, Contrecœur

Maison LePailleur, Châteauguay
Presentation of Châteauguay’s heritage, life in seigneurial times and exhibitions at the LePailleur house (1792)

Maison nationale des Patriotes, Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu
The Patriote movement (1837-1838) and guided visits to a heritage village

Missisquoi Museum, Stanbridge East
History of Missisquoi County from the time of the first settlement in 1794

Musée du Haut-Richelieu, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
History of the Haut-Richelieu area, hot-air balloons and Québec pottery, both new and old

Musée régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Vaudreuil-Dorion
Lifestyles (daily life), life in seigneurial times and heritage tours

MUSO - Musée de société des Deux-Rives, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
Regional art and industrial heritage

Quebec Museum of Archaeology, Melocheville (Beauharnois)
5000 years of history and archaeological discoveries

Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site, Saint-Ours