Château Dufresne

Lonely Planet review

Brothers Oscar and Marius Dufresne made their fortunes in shoes and cement manufacturing in the early 20th century. They commissioned this beautiful beaux-arts mansion, along the lines of the Versailles Palace in France, in 1916 and moved in with their families - Oscar on one side and Marius on the other.

The interiors are stunning - with tiled marble floors, coffered ceilings in Italian Renaissance style and stained-glass windows - and are open for the public to explore. Italian artist Guido Nincheri was in charge of interior decoration and painted many murals, including one of dainty nymphs in the Petit Salon. Marius' side of the building is furnished in a more masculine style, with a smoking room fitted to look like a Turkish lounge with hookah pipes. The furniture, art and other objects reflect the tastes of Montréal's bourgeoisie of the period, and the building has been declared a national monument.

The frequent temporary exhibits explore all aspects of early-20th-century culture from art to life style.