Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in history and heritage or awaken your senses, the possibilities are endless. Check out our selections below to explore the wide range of unique activities offered by QRSTA* members. Be sure to mark your winter calendar!

Learn about religious art through the work of Guido Nincheri

To commemorate the man often referred to as “Quebec’s Michelangelo,” the Château Dufresne presents Nincheri. Du profane au sacré (“Nincheri. From the profane to the sacred”), a new experience celebrating the work of Guido Nincheri, one of the most influential master-glassmakers, painter-decorators and fresco painters of his time in the realm of religious art. An audio tour enhances the visit and brings this prolific artist’s work to life. A temporary exhibition also features some 40 original works, archival documents and artifacts reflecting Nincheri’s remarkable creative process.

Where: Château Dufresne, Montréal
When: Until June 30, 2024
Good to know: Château Dufresne is easily accessible by public transit (a 4-minute walk from the Montreal metro’s Pie-IX station). Free parking is also available for visitors.

Travel back in time to experience winter in New France

Interested in catching a glimpse of what winters were like back in North America’s first French colony? At Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum and Historic Site, the Winter in New France guided tour explores how settlers adapted to the winter climate in their new country. As your guide takes you through the house’s various rooms, you’ll also learn about the lifestyle and traditions surrounding this unique season.

Where: Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum and Historic Site, Montréal
When: Until March 2024
Good to know: The 1-hour guided tour in English is offered Wednesday through Sunday, at 2 p.m. If you’re looking to practice your French and truly feel like you’re in New France, join the guided tour in French at 1 p.m. Get your tickets online before your visit!

Discover new flavours, from forest to plate

At the Val-Notre-Dame Abbey, treat yourself to a winter gourmet experience all about the bounty of Quebec’s forests. From a cocktail reception serving forest-inspired hors-d’oeuvres to a flavour-packed barbecue meal with fir-tree mustard sauce and boreal ketchup – and even a culinary workshop in the heart of a forest that will reveal the secrets of wood-fired cooking – there’s something for every foodie out there! To celebrate romance, don’t miss the Valentine’s Day dinner featuring some of the best ingredients sourced from the forest! And make sure to stop by the boutique to bring a taste of the forest home with you!

Where: Val-Notre-Dame Abbey, Saint-Jean-de-Matha (Lanaudière)
When: Various dates: Barbecue (February 24); Cocktail reception (January 27 and March 9); Valentine’s Day dinner (February 10); Culinary workshop (February 14 and March 13)
Good to know: For the barbecue and culinary workshop, bring your snowshoes to get to the site, as these are held in the forest.

Attend a Candlelight concert

Have you ever heard of the Candlelight concert series? These intimate performances held all over the world in candlelit venues are the perfect opportunity to rediscover music in a whole new way, from classical and jazz to pop, rock and rap. In Montréal, the Christ Church Cathedral, with its impressive neo-Gothic architecture that takes on a magical aura under the soft lighting, is among the best places for this unique experience! Our top pick? Candlelight: From Bach to the Beatles, a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the melodies of these musical giants, performed by a string quartet!

Where: Christ Church Cathedral, Montréal
When: Friday, February 2, at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Friday, March 22, at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Good to know: Looking to heat up your winter? The Cathedral also presents a tribute to the Latin rhythms of Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny on February 6.

Visit the first Anglican cathedral outside the British Isles

Still an active place of worship, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is also an important heritage, cultural and social site in Old Québec. On a self-guided tour, you’ll discover some of the finest examples of Georgian silver ever made, as well as colourful stained-glass windows featuring the work of famous artists. Music lovers, don’t miss the chance to see (and hear!) two organs under one roof, as well as the impressive choir that accompanies religious services.

Where: Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Old Québec (Québec City)
When: You can take a self-guided tour Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on Sundays, between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Good to know: The Cathedral presents concerts throughout the year, the next of which – an interpretation of 18th-century pieces by Les Concerts Couperin – will be held on February 25, at 2:30 p.m.

*The Quebec Religious and Spiritual Tourism Association (QRSTA) is proud to contribute to the development and promotion of Quebec’s RICH and DIVERSE religious and spiritual tourism and heritage.