Musée de l'Amérique Française

Description:

• Located at the Québec Seminary, which dates from 1663, the "Museum of French America" focuses on, as one might guess from the name, the evolution of French culture in North America. Its collections include paintings by European and Canadian artists, engravings from the early French regime, rare books, early scientific instruments, even mounted animals and an Egyptian mummy. The mix makes for a mostly engrossing visit, though parts of the museum can be rather dry. The museum is in three parts of the large seminary complex, and the beautiful François-Ranvoyze section has extensive trompe l'oeil ornamentation and served as a chapel for the seminary priests and students. Concerts are often given in the chapel, which Pope Jean-Paul II visited in 1984.

• © Frommer's 2012