Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Laval

"Start your day at the beautiful St. Joseph’s Oratory near the south end of the Park du Mont-Royal, located a short walk from the Côte-des-Neiges metro. If you want, you’re close to Montreal’s largest cemetery. I’m a weirdo and enjoy visiting cemeteries when I travel (I find them quite peaceful and a lovely place to walk)."

"If you’re up for a little history and culture, St Joseph’s Oratory is on the far side of Mount Royal. This beautiful basilica is Canada’s largest church, and it has one of the largest domes in the entire world. Don’t walk here from Mount Royal’s chalet, it’s far. Go back down, then bike or walk over."

"Why: This historic building was erected by two French Canadian brothers whose corporate empire throughout the war helped build the economy of the area and allowed them to create this tandem mansion, with each brother owning and designing his half of the residence."

"The aim of the SBC Gallery of Contemporary Art is to educate the public about the current issues and discourses in contemporary art and culture. With its diverse programme in visual and media arts, the gallery presents a wide range of exhibitions and projects. SBC offers unique opportunities of exchanges and interactions between various artistic organizations, cultural producers, artists and the public, and places specific emphasis on research, exhibition curator-ship, and printed and electronic publications."

"The rundown: Before Caroline Andrieux came along, the Darling Foundry was just another abandoned industrial building on the edge of Griffintown. Andrieux, who has a history of transforming unoccupied buildings into art spaces, is the founder and artistic director of the visual arts centre that launched here in 2002; before that, she spent the second half of the ’90s cultivating an artistic community in this neighbourhood. The Foundry has two rooms, but they aren’t always in use."

"Fonderie Darling is a unique visual arts centre under the umbrella of Montreal’s Quarter Ephemere, a group which reclaims abandoned industrial buildings in the city and converts the spaces into art venues. Their mission is to increase awareness of local art while at the same time drawing attention to these desolate urban spaces. Fonderie Darling is part art gallery, part artists studio block, and all heart."

"At Fonderie Darling, be ready to find urban and industrial visual arts with eco-conscious undertones. Right now, the gallery is showing a series of colourful cartoon-like paintings by Vincent Larouche, as well as a huge exhibition in its main hall inspired by aquatic life in the St-Lawrence river. Oh, and don’t forget to stop by the EmballeToi!"

"Many historical buildings in Vieux-Montreal are still standing in their original form, even if they're now being used as something other than what they were built for — or turned into a museum. Consider this little tour if you're looking to feel as if you've stepped back in time... or, Europe, at least."

"This historic home commemorates the accomplishments of Cartier, an important Father of Confederation. It is the only Victorian-style interior open to the public in Montréal."

"835 Decarie Blvd., St. Laurent, H4L 3M3 (see map) 514-744-9518. Homemade hard ice cream with rotating daily flavours. Homemade soft vanilla & chocolate ice cream with the option to have it dipped in eight different Belgian chocolate coatings."

"What you're getting: Squash and poppy seed gnocchi (or any brunch dish)Mile EndFit for Mile End (read: hip), Barcola is a small resto-bar that prides itself on making dishes reminiscent of of meals made in Northern Italy. Each and every day, Head Chef Fabrizio Caprioli creates a menu featuring just three appetizers and three mains. A large part of Barcola's culinary reputation stems from the restaurant's original creation of squash and poppy seed gnocchi topped with butter, sage, and smoked ricotta."

"Chef Fabrizio Caprioli serves up the flavours of northern Italy, including eggplant pizza and seafood tagliatelle that tastes like a trip to the Adriatic. It’s a charming modern Mile End spot, with daily specials changing throughout the week, special events such as aperitivo night, and dishes that feel positively luxurious for the (mostly under $20) price tag. Catering is available as well."

"And as can happen when putting together lists, one or two places are forgotten – voluntarily or not. When someone suggested « What about Barcola?. » Jean-Philippe replied that this was a restaurant not to bring up because «  We like to keep Barcola to ourselves »."

"Deville Dinerbar is a fun retro spot serving up delicious burgers and milkshakes. While the burgers didn’t beat Burger Bar for us, we still really loved the food here!. As you can tell, it’s also got some pretty Instagram-worthy decor."

"The Best Comfort Food in Montreal : where to treat yourself We all like to warm our souls with great comfort food. Here at Tastet, we’ve put together a list […]"

"Deville is the place to go if you want a limited and over priced menu. Everything in there is very generic and not tasty. My friend order a salad and got..."

"The Stewart Museum is housed in Montreal’s biggest military history site: the arsenal of the British military depot located in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène. Built in the 19th century, the fort is now home to a comprehensive collection of some 27,000 artifacts, archival documents and rare books related to the European history of North America, from the establishment of New France to the present day. The museum also offers a superb view of the city, from the top of its glass tower and from the fort’s inner courtyard."

"Here you can find the La Ronde amusement park, Stewart museum and the Biosphere as well as more great views of the city. As you head back to Montreal over the Jacques Cartier bridge, take some pictures of the city and the St. Lawrence from this great vantage point."