A lecture by Benoît Grenier
Friday, May 10th - 1:30pm
On associe volontiers le régime seigneurial à la période de la Nouvelle-France. On oublie souvent qu'il a été maintenu après la Conquête et officiellement aboli seulement en 1854. Mais sait-on que la seigneurie, la plus ancienne institution de l'histoire du Québec, a partiellement survécu bien longtemps après cette date? Les seigneurs sont indemnisés pour la perte de leurs droits et consevent la pleine propriété des terres non condédées. Les censitaires, pour leur part, devront continuer à verser des rentes... La situation ne sera toujours pas réglée en 1835, lorsque le gouvernement du Québec adopte la Loi abolissant les rentes seigneuriales. Il faudra attendre les années 1970 pour que disparaissent les derniers vestiges des rentes seigneuriales.
La conférence présentera l'historique de ce processus d'abolition et montrera que l'histoire du régime seigneurial est plus près de nous qu'on le croît!
Biography
Benoît Grenier est professeur au département d'histoire de l'Université de Sherbrooke. Ses travaux portent sur l'histoire du Québec préindustriel, plus particulièrement sur le monde seigneurial dans la longue durée (17e-20e siècles). Il a publié aux éditions du Boréal la première synthèse sur la question intitulée Brève histoire du régime seigneurial (2012). Il est aussi l'auteur de Marie-Catherine Peuvret. Veuve et seigneuresse en Nouvelle-France (Septentrion, 2005), de Seigneurs campagnards de la nouvelle France (Presses universitaires de Rennes, 2007). Il a publié avec Catherine Ferland, Femmes, Culture et Pouvoir. Relectures de l'histoire au féminin, XVe-XXe siècles (Presses de l'Université Laval, 2010). Sa plus récente publication intitulée Persistances seigneuriales au Québec, parue aux éditions du Septentrion en 2023 marque l'aboutissement d'une recherche qui se sera étendue sur plus de dix ans.
A lecture by Gilbert Desmarais
Saturday, May 11th- 1:30pm
Actuellement, la situation s'améliore quant à la place des Premières Nations dans notre histoire. En plus de diminuer les préjugés provenant des auteurs du début du 20e siècle longtemps demeurés dans l'enseignement, les Autochtones sont de plus en plus présentés comme des membres actifs de notre passé commun. C'est le cas, par exemple, sur la participation des Premières Nations aux rébellions patriotes.
Dans la conférence Les Premières Nations et les Rébellions de 1837-1838, il sera question de la place des Autochtones dans les rébellions patriotes. Souvent oubliés dans l'histoire de cette période ou automatiquement associées aux Britanniques et Loyaux, les Premières Nations y ont pourtant tenu un rôle important et complexe. Cette conférence se fera en trois volets : d'abord, un court résumé de l'histoire des Autochtones du Québec ; ensuite, une présentation de la situation dans les années 1830 ; et, finalement, leur participation aux événements des Rébellions de 1837-1838.
Gilbert Desmarais est un historien avec une maîtrise en histoire de l'Université du Québec à Montréal. Il est co-auteur des livres Montréal : 375 ans d'histoire (2026), Les enfants de la Nouvelle-France (2020), Les enfants de la Conquête (2023) et Les enfants de la Confédération (2024) publiés aux Éditions Bayard Canada. Depuis une vingtaine d'années, il anime des sites patrimoniaux avec divers groupes de reconstitution historique et travaille comme consultant pour de nombreux musées.
Lectures within the framework of the Festival d'Histoire de Montréal are free. They will be followed by a Q&A and chat session where cookies, coffee, and tea will be served.
Please arrive approximately 15 minutes in advance.
Required profile
You don’t need to be a historian or even bilingual, as long as you’re comfortable with others, love learning and sharing your knowledge with a diverse clientele, a few hours per week. If, in addition, you’re interested in the history of Quebec and/or of Montreal, you’d be an ideal candidate! Complete training is available. Teamed with an experienced guide, you’ll learn the ropes of our programs and master the pleasures of guiding, at your own pace.
A Risky Business?!
Yes indeed! By becoming a volunteer at the Chateau, you risk making new friends! In addition to the Friends of the Governor’s Garden, volunteer guides are divided into two associations, the French-speaking guides and the English-speaking ones, near 100 members in all. Each group organizes continuing training, outings, and various events over the year. Some volunteers have been with the Chateau for over 25 years!
I want to learn more about our volunteers
From Monday, March 4th, to Sunday, March 10th
Come lend a hand with bread making! You're invited to make your own bread at our old-time culinary workshop. Churn your butter, add sourdough and flour and voilà! This workshop is offered continuously from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. Children can also have fun exploring our exhibitions with our "Let's play Museum Curator" booklet, or dress up for a photo in the family zone.
No reservations are required, just show up at the Museum!
This activity is offered all year long
The Château Ramezay invites children off all ages to discover its exhibition through a new lens! While browsing through the rooms, they will make discoveries and, like our curator, choose their favourite pieces to create their own exhibition on the history of Montreal. Making choices isn't easy, but it's a great way to learn while having fun!
Download and print your activity booklet before coming, or pick up a copy at the Museum's welcome desk upon arrival.
Recommendation: print back-to-back.
Download
During your visit in the vaults, take a break in the family zone where there are many costumes for all ages to put on. Imagine yourself in the 18th-century Château and take a picture in front of New France landscape backdrops!
Prices: These activities are included in the price of your admission ticket to the Museum!
Please note: Children must be accompanied by an adult. These activities are suitable for all ages.
Saturday, March 2nd, from 7 p.m. to midnight.
As part of Montreal's Nuit Blanche, come for a free consultation with genealogists from la Société généalogique canadienne-française. You can start some preliminary research and get a five-generation family tree as a souvenir!
No reservation are required, just show up at the Museum!
From December 2, 2023 to January 7, 2024!
Around the Fireplace...Holiday Traditions
Starting the first weekend of December and until the end of the holiday school break, the Château Ramezay offers visitors a variety of fun during the festive season! Get the family together and re-acquaint yourselves with old-fashioned holiday traditions thanks to our entertaining exhibits and activities! Stock up on memories and stories you can share with family and friends!
Only the Château Ramezay offers this activity! Children who hang a stocking by the fireplace can come back in the New Year to see what Santa has left them - but they’d better be good!
Children are offered a free activity booklet to help orient them at the Museum. The hunt for curiosities from the past, the quest for information tidbits, and discussion prompts will keep them busy throughout their visit.
"What was Christmas like when you were little, Mum?"
The Château Ramezay provides everything you need to make your own Christmas card! Bring your family up to our attic to create an old-time card inspired by the landscape in our exhibitions (including the temporary Québec City Landscapes - Power Corporation of Canada Art Collection). If you prefer, create an e-card with a photo taken against the wintry backdrop of our in-house studio! Grab a pair of snowshoes and pose in a Hudson's Bay coat,a voyageur sash and woolen tuque, just as Montrealers did in the photo studios of the period. This activity is offered December 16 and 17 and December 26 to January 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (The Château is closed December 31 and January 1).
Will be back in summer 2023!
In Claude de Ramezay’s lifetime, Montréal was a military town. To help you get a feel for the period, the Anciennes troupes militaires de Montréal recreate the Compagnies franches de la Marine and the 78th Fraser Highlanders during the summer season.
You can meet them at the Château Ramezay, watch them drill and even take photos with them!
The Troop are present from June 24 to September 3, from Wednesday to Sunday.
All summer long, our garden introduces visitors to the world of 18th century horticulture. Take a leisurely stroll through the vegetable garden, the ornamental garden and the orchard. It’s free!
On summer afternoons, between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m until September 3, Friends of the Governor’s Garden are happy to help you explore our splendid oasis. Do you recognize the medicinal herbs? Where are the pear trees? Or the artichoke plants? If you’ve got time, they’ll answer your questions and tell you their favourite historical gardening anecdotes. For families, they have games and challenges!
Volunteers are present depending on the weather and their availability but you can always take advantage of our audio guide in 6 languages and the self-guided tour pamphlet which you’ll find in the Garden.
Old Montréal is steeped in history.
Accompanied by our Voyageur, explore a past that is still visibly present today!
Choose any time of day or night to retrace the well-trodden paths of centuries ago. Each stop highlights historical figures and features interesting anecdotes.
You can download your self-guided tour especially created for the Festival d’Histoire de Montréal.
Bon voyage!
Download here!
Do you have an eye for nature?
Discover beautiful 18th century green corners and reflect on the environmental challenges of today!
Nature Hunt Booklet
Will be back in September 2024!
The Château invites you to discover the fascinating world of squash.
Meet Reddy, the friendly red pumpkin! In a tour specially designed for families, Reddy and his friends will help you understand the characteristics and multiple uses of their many relatives. Download and print your game booklet before you visit the museum. Complete the activities to claim a small prize at the reception desk!
It’s outdoors and it’s free!
Download and print the 4 to 7 years old game booklet
Download and print the challenge for 8-12 year-olds
education@chateauramezay.qc.ca
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