MUSÉE DE LA MÉMOIRE VIVANTE

A panoramic view can be enjoyed from the lookout located opposite the Living Memory Museum, south of Avenue de Gaspé Ouest (Route 132). A strip of land still bearing the shape of the first settlers' concessions, the St. Lawrence River, part of the Île aux Grues archipelago, Les Piliers and its lighthouse, as well as the Roche à Veillon are easy to spot.

From the lookout, a staircase leads to forest trails. Depending on the season, these can be explored on foot or on snowshoes.

The old bakery stands just off Avenue de Gaspé Ouest (Route 132). According to oral tradition, it was built around 1764, just after the Conquest. The bakehouse is believed to be one of the oldest still standing in Quebec. It houses not only the still-functioning bread oven, but also a well. This beautiful ensemble is one of the few examples of such buildings, a tangible testimony to our know-how and traditions.

Archaeological digs have uncovered the foundations of the Aubert de Gaspé manor house, built around 1763, as well as the remains of a cellar dating from before 1759. The discovery of the cellar is extremely interesting, as it is a rare example of a way of preserving foodstuffs in the 17th and 18th centuries. The foundations of the manor house and cellar can be traced on the ground. Photos of the excavations and artifacts, as well as an interpretation of the interior architecture and life in the manor, are presented on explanatory panels.

The Living Memory Museum is a faithful reconstruction of the Aubert de Gaspé manor's exterior appearance and volumetry. The building was inaugurated in 2008, revealing a modern interior adapted to its museum functions.

The artifacts presented in the Museum's exhibitions are "memory triggers". The designers of the Garden of Memories hope that plants will play the same role for visitors. Visitors are invited to share their knowledge and memories by leaving a testimonial.

Between the St. Lawrence River and the Aubert de Gaspé manor house once stood a building whose roof appears to have been covered by earth, as shown by a photograph taken at the turn of the 20th century. Remains of the building have been found, including four sections of stone wall and part of the structure on the north side, providing information on the roof pitch.

In 2005, Serge Saint-Pierre and Robert Côté carried out an ethnohistorical study to determine the building's function: icehouse or root cellar? It would appear that the complex was built during the first half of the 19th century.

At the end of the ethnohistorical study, the two researchers came to the conclusion that the building must indeed have been a vegetable cellar, as oral tradition has always conveyed. In 2006, the cellar was restored as closely as possible to the techniques used in the 19th century to construct this particular type of building. The interior of the vault is an interpretation of the descriptions and architecture of similar buildings.

The shallow configuration of the riverbanks adjacent to the Museum site has made it part of the Route Bleue of the southern St. Lawrence estuary. Kayakers can not only launch their kayaks, but also use the Museum's parking lot and amenities before or after a trip on the river.

At Christmas and New Year's Day, when memories are rekindled and bonds are strengthened, the tradition of greeting cards resurfaces. From the first cards imported from Europe to those meticulously thought out and handcrafted, we take a look at a practice that's still alive and kicking.

In writing Les anciens Canadiens et Mémoires, Philippe Aubert de Gaspé sought to preserve the knowledge and traditions of his contemporaries from oblivion. Not only did he paint a portrait of the periods before and after Confederation, he also had an undeniable influence on the generations that followed. The author, his works and his contemporaries are just some of the themes presented in the exhibition.

From the end of the 1950s to the 1970s, boîtes à chansons proliferated in Quebec. They took root in a variety of often unusual buildings.

They were the mainstay of a new style: Quebecois chanson with identity-based lyrics.

Let us take you back in time to the emergence of Quebec on the artistic and cultural scene. Singer-songwriters, owners and audiences tell their stories.

A selection of bas-reliefs from the Musée de la mémoire vivante collection is presented in the space Regards sur la collection. This exhibition highlights the practice of direct wood carving in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, a municipality known as the "Capital of Sculpture". Come and discover these artistic works, the diversity of their themes and their links with our indoor exhibitions.

This exhibition, installed along the ascent of the Innovation Tower, invites visitors to discover the stories of local men and women whose community involvement and spirit of innovation have helped shape our society.

This exhibition can also be viewed inside the Museum.