Maison Saint-Gabriel

Maison Saint-Gabriel is one of Montreal's best-kept secrets for families, and at $20 CAD for a family of five, it is also one of the most affordable museum experiences in the city. Tucked away in the Pointe-Saint-Charles neighborhood, this beautifully preserved 1668 farmhouse is one of the oldest buildings in Montreal and operates as a living history museum that brings New France to life.

The house itself is the main attraction. Built with thick stone walls, massive wooden beams, and a central fireplace that heated the entire structure, it has been carefully restored and furnished to reflect life in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Kids are immediately struck by how different daily life was — the tiny communal bedrooms, the kitchen where everything was cooked over fire, the root cellar where food was preserved, and the tools and objects that served as the technology of the era.

The museum tells the story of the Filles du Roy (King's Daughters) — young women sponsored by King Louis XIV to travel from France to New France to help populate the colony. The women who arrived at Maison Saint-Gabriel were cared for and prepared for their new lives. It is a compelling and surprising piece of Canadian history that older kids and teens find genuinely interesting.

On summer weekends, the experience comes alive with craft demonstrations on the grounds. Skilled artisans demonstrate traditional trades — rope making, pottery, weaving, spinning, and shoe cobbling — using techniques from the 1600s. Kids can watch, ask questions, and sometimes participate. These demonstrations transform the visit from a museum tour into an immersive, sensory experience.

The heritage gardens, recreating a 17th-century vegetable garden with period-appropriate plants, herbs, and flowers, are beautiful in their own right and free to enjoy year-round. The grounds are peaceful and well-maintained, offering a surprisingly tranquil escape in the middle of the city.

Practically, Maison Saint-Gabriel is open Wednesday through Sunday (afternoons on weekdays, full days on weekends). The first Sunday of each month offers free admission. The Pointe-Saint-Charles neighborhood is walkable from the Atwater Market and the Lachine Canal, making it easy to combine visits.

This is not a blockbuster, crowds-and-lines attraction. It is a quiet, authentic, deeply Canadian experience that gives families a genuine window into how people lived 350 years ago.