Experience Québec
Antiques
It's a treasure hunt, maties!
There's always treasure to be found just around the corner on Quebec’s highways and byways. Second-hand shops and antique shops abound, be it in the heart of the city or alongside a country road. Who knows what rare and unusual object you might unearth when you go poking around? Let the treasure hunt begin!
Antique buccaneers and curio privateers, here are the clues to lead you to your booty! Whether you’re cruising along Highway 20 or through the Eastern Townships, on hot asphalt in the city or country roads, you’re bound to find a friendly antiques dealer along the way.Nothing new in town
Montreal is a Mecca for anyone who loves thrift shops and antique stores. Bargain-hunters will rejoice, because two areas of the city appeal to two different kinds of shopper. Collectors of 50s and 60s memorabilia will find good pickings on Amherst Street at the corner of Ontario. Chrome and plastic rub shoulders with teak, and savvy buyers will find that kitschy lamp or piece of furniture straight off the set of Bewitched!The second prime area for antiques is Notre-Dame West. The grand dame of antique stores (start at des Seigneurs and head west) has a wealth of fascinating shops that will take you back to the 19th century.
Quebec City has its share of finds, as well. In the lower part of town, at the foot of Cape Diamond, lies charming Saint-Paul Street, which has several shops where traditional furnishings, either locally made or from abroad, are masters of their domains.
Set sail
Let’s leave the big cities for now and scour two regions on the treasure hunt map. Centre-du-Québec, with Sainte-Eulalie as the embarkation point, is a boon for anyone looking for antique furniture. Some 15 or so merchants and artisans display their wares near Highway 20 between Montreal and Quebec City.
In the Eastern Townships, just an hour’s drive from Montreal, Lac Brome (Knowlton), Bromont, Eastman and North Hatley are your ports of call. In these former Loyalist enclaves, whose residents swore fealty to the British crown at the moment of American independence, you’ll find many gems from colonial times. Setting sail for new horizons has never been such an enjoyable adventure. And you’re sure to come back with a brimming treasure chest!| Sites to see: |
Flea markets are also great places to find amazing bargains: |
André Quenneville
Photos: André Quenneville
2008-04-16
