Maison Chevalier

As you exit the charming rue du Cul-de-Sac—also known as Umbrella Alley, thanks to the colourful umbrellas overhead—you’ll find the entrance to the home of Jean-Baptiste Chevalier, a shipowner and merchant. It’s the house you just passed, with red shutters. The entrance is just a little farther along on your left. Back in the day, this house opened directly onto the river—an ideal location for someone working in import-export, like Jean-Baptiste. Small boats would dock in front of his home to unload goods from larger ships that couldn’t approach the shore. Maison Chevalier was the first building to be restored during the large-scale renovation of Place Royale in the 1950s. Today, it’s part of a beautifully preserved complex that includes several neighbouring houses, all designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. The site is managed by the Musée de la Civilisation and offers an immersive look at French colonial architecture—complete with period furnishings and historical exhibitions.