Pointe-a-Calliere, Montreal Archaeology and History Complex
Pointe-a-Calliere, Montreal Archaeology and History Complex
Pointe-a-Calliere, Montreal Archaeology and History Complex
4.4
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Pointe-a-Calliere, the birthplace of Montreal and a National Historic Site, offers visitors the opportunity to explore history through an original underground circuit leading through archaeological excavations. At the start of their visit, an immersive multimedia show presents a high-speed view of the city's history, the remains come to life and the count down begins! The museum also offers year-round temporary local and international exhibitions. For Montreal's 375th anniversary in May 2017, Pointe-a-Calliere inaugurated a new pavilion highlighting Fort Ville-Marie.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Ville-Marie
How to get there
- Place-d'Armes • 7 min walk
- Square-Victoria-OACI • 10 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.4
2,064 reviews
Excellent
1,195
Very good
627
Average
157
Poor
61
Terrible
25
Kates1228
Chicago, IL162 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
This is one of the best museums I’ve ever visited. A hidden gem in Old Montreal, the Pointe a Calliere really brings the city’s history and archaeology to life via brilliant multimedia and interactive storytelling amongst the ruins of Ville Marie, the marketplace and other historic sites. I highly recommend starting your visit off with the 17-minute video at the start and then head down to the exhibits with the archaeological remnants. It’s really mind-blowing to be walking on glass on top of what’s left of the first fort from 1642. I also enjoyed sitting outside and admiring Vieux Port and the St. Lawrence during lunch at the bistro. I learned so much during my visit there and already want to return!
Written June 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hannah
Baden, Austria60 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
I visited the museum already twice and if you are interested in the history of Montreal, I would definitely recommend going there. You’ll need a few hours, because it is really big and has a lot to offer. Also some interactive things, so it’s interesting for kids and grown-ups. They also have a small restaurant at the top floor which serves great food. Also the gift shop is very cute!
Written July 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GregK1239
Contoocook, NH147 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
My family came here on a trip to Montreal. The kids range in age from 14 years old to 4 years, so we have a wide variety of ages. Everyone really enjoyed their experience. There were enough exhibits to keep the kids happy. The museum itself is a great concept of building a museum over actual historic ruins. We will definitely come back on future visits, as the museum will age well with the kids.
Written July 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sanju_222323
New Jersey17,974 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
The real reason for coming here is to hop in the elevator and head underground. We can look through a glass floor that sits on top of the remains of Fort Ville-Marie, which were unearthed during archaeological digs overseen by the museum from 2002 to 2015.
The route through the city's history begins underground, where you can walk among the original stone-paved streets, drainage channels, and ground floors of 17th-century buildings. As you climb through the museum, the story unfolds in layers of history told through artifacts, maps, and exhibits.
You can also follow the development of Montréal from its days as a fledgling colony and on up through the present day with a 17-minute multimedia program called "Generations MTL" that’s projected onto the archeological site and narrated by six historical characters. it's near to famous Notre Dame Basilica
Fee: Admission costs CA$27 (around $20 for adults)
The route through the city's history begins underground, where you can walk among the original stone-paved streets, drainage channels, and ground floors of 17th-century buildings. As you climb through the museum, the story unfolds in layers of history told through artifacts, maps, and exhibits.
You can also follow the development of Montréal from its days as a fledgling colony and on up through the present day with a 17-minute multimedia program called "Generations MTL" that’s projected onto the archeological site and narrated by six historical characters. it's near to famous Notre Dame Basilica
Fee: Admission costs CA$27 (around $20 for adults)
Written October 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuxTravelExpert
New York City, NY191 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
What a beautiful and unusual museum built on top of the foundations of hundreds of years of history. We spent about 3 hours touring each section, please sure to go to the top for the view of the city. Highly recommend. It’s a treasure for local Canadians
Written August 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheLeongOhana
United States7,875 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
We were surprised with this mainly underground way of seeing and learning about the history of Montreal.
If you start with the introductory video in the Reception Pavilion lobby then the exit from the theatre will lead you down stairs to the start of the museum. The exhibits were divided across six sections (A through E) and they were well signed, interactive and educational. A was the Reception Pavilion that included the Bistro, souvenir display, balcony views of the surrounding area and Crossroads of Montreal exhibit. B was the First Collector Sewer with ever changing colored lighting that connected us to the Fort Ville Marie (C) exhibits. The Fort Ville Marie was where Montreal first began and you can see the remains of the fort underneath and the various indigenous tribes. D was the Marketplace and mapped out the growth of Montreal over time. E was the Old Custom House exhibit and led to F which was the Mariner's House and contained the temporary exhibit.
The temporary exhibit this time was about the Mexican Olmec culture. I enjoyed leaning more as well as seeing the very large stone heads for which they were well known for.
We spent almost 2 hours here as there was a lot to see. One of the museum highlights of this trip to Montreal.
If you start with the introductory video in the Reception Pavilion lobby then the exit from the theatre will lead you down stairs to the start of the museum. The exhibits were divided across six sections (A through E) and they were well signed, interactive and educational. A was the Reception Pavilion that included the Bistro, souvenir display, balcony views of the surrounding area and Crossroads of Montreal exhibit. B was the First Collector Sewer with ever changing colored lighting that connected us to the Fort Ville Marie (C) exhibits. The Fort Ville Marie was where Montreal first began and you can see the remains of the fort underneath and the various indigenous tribes. D was the Marketplace and mapped out the growth of Montreal over time. E was the Old Custom House exhibit and led to F which was the Mariner's House and contained the temporary exhibit.
The temporary exhibit this time was about the Mexican Olmec culture. I enjoyed leaning more as well as seeing the very large stone heads for which they were well known for.
We spent almost 2 hours here as there was a lot to see. One of the museum highlights of this trip to Montreal.
Written April 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gecarson
Picton, Canada112 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
We had seen this museum on several previous visits and finally made it there on Wednesday (April 17th).
What a great destination - extremely interesting and educational without a hint of boredom.
The way they have incorporated the remains of previous buildings into the current museum site is awesome. Also the use of technology in the film and in displays like the "Google Earth" tour of 1703 Old Montreal are something I haven't seen before and do a great job of showing the history of the site and the city.
This museum definitely qualifies as a "hidden gem" and I think it should be a much higher profile attraction!
Plan to spend 3+ hours to really explore and appreciate this museum..
Finally, we had a great lunch experience at the Cafe on the 2nd floor. Amazing views, food and service!
What a great destination - extremely interesting and educational without a hint of boredom.
The way they have incorporated the remains of previous buildings into the current museum site is awesome. Also the use of technology in the film and in displays like the "Google Earth" tour of 1703 Old Montreal are something I haven't seen before and do a great job of showing the history of the site and the city.
This museum definitely qualifies as a "hidden gem" and I think it should be a much higher profile attraction!
Plan to spend 3+ hours to really explore and appreciate this museum..
Finally, we had a great lunch experience at the Cafe on the 2nd floor. Amazing views, food and service!
Written April 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine L
Toronto, Canada12 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
Despite being in a prime location, I had not heard much about this museum. However, it was one of the most impactful museum experiences I've ever had. The layout was definitely confusing at first, but once you understand that you're following the path of the archeological digs it begins to make more sense. Also the staff will gladly assist if you need. Standing in the exact spot that the events described took place was quite an experience, and the museum uses music very effectively. I walked away feeling like I had learned about the history of Montreal in a way that would stay with me for a long time. I recommend exploring every bit of this museum if you have the time. I spent about 2 and half hours here but could have spent longer if I didn't have a time constraint.
Written June 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EducatedandTravelled
Antarctic Peninsula87 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
This was an unexpectedly cool museum experience tracing the history of Montréal from founding through today. Actual ruins in place, diorama and media were reverently done. Other than the shear beauty of the Basilica, this was the highlight of my trip. I learned a lot.
Written December 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Theodore M
Boston, MA50 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
This is a great museums if you get the self-guided tour so you can explore the ruins of old Montreal. There are also some great artifacts to look at.
We got the guided tour however and it was somewhat underwhelming. Our guide took forever to explain things and we stayed in the museums for two hours! It was a small museums… Her explanations were not very good and she was reading off of the room explanations. Highly do not suggest this type of tour…
Good museum for an understanding of Ville Marie, the old Montreal.
We got the guided tour however and it was somewhat underwhelming. Our guide took forever to explain things and we stayed in the museums for two hours! It was a small museums… Her explanations were not very good and she was reading off of the room explanations. Highly do not suggest this type of tour…
Good museum for an understanding of Ville Marie, the old Montreal.
Written June 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does it approach the view of the first nations?
Written October 17, 2019
RetireeVancouver gave a good overview of how the First Nations are included. The history also covers the Great Peace signing with each of the symbols the individual leaders signed the document.
Written October 18, 2019
Good for kids ages 5-8? Or better for older kids and adults?
Written April 18, 2018
Most of it works for that age. There is a variety of interactive options in each of the areas.
Written April 19, 2018
What is the dates of operation for this Museum ....is it seasonal or a year round museum ...what is the cost and it's hours of operation
Written March 30, 2018
10:00am - 5:00pm most days (call if you're going this weekend -- Easter will mean Holiday Hours of some sort). Tickets were reasonable $24.00(ish) for adults.
Written March 31, 2018
Do they provide wheelchairs to borrow?
Written July 24, 2017
I phoned them and Yes they do supply Wheelchairs for free now the Fee is 20 dollars and 65 and over 18 i hope you enjoy it this is their phone number 5148729150
Written July 24, 2017
Approximately how long is the walking tour of this museum?
Written August 24, 2016
I would give it at least 2 hours. They have group tours available which are recommended for more insightful information. After the tour, you can linger at your leisure.
Written August 25, 2016
The Museum has a single admission rate that provides access to the Museum as a whole, which includes several exhibitions. First off, the Yours Truly, Montréal multimedia show and two permanent exhibitions, Where Montréal Was Born, which examines the city’s history, and Pirates or Privateers?, a discovery-exhibition for children and families. The rate also includes access one temporary exhibition; currently, The Greeks – Agamemnon to Alexander the Great; the largest Exhibition on Ancient Greece Ever Produced in North America ! And in two weeks, we will present another temporary exhibition, Snow, the first major exhibition of its kind in the country.
Written February 9, 2015
What is on at the museum
Written February 6, 2015
The Museum has a single admission rate that provides access to the Museum as a whole, which includes several exhibitions. First off, the Yours Truly, Montréal multimedia show and two permanent exhibitions, Where Montréal Was Born, which examines the city’s history, and Pirates or Privateers?, a discovery-exhibition for children and families. The rate also includes access one temporary exhibition; currently, The Greeks – Agamemnon to Alexander the Great; the largest Exhibition on Ancient Greece Ever Produced in North America ! And in two weeks, we will present another temporary exhibition, Snow, the first major exhibition of its kind in the country.
Written February 9, 2015
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