En Prison

Leaving from Musée Québécois de Culture Populaire are the highly recommended 90-minute tours of the former Trois-Rivières prison, En Prison (Tel: 819-372-0406; www.enprison.com; 200 Rue Laviolette; adult/child/student $9/5/7; first tour 10am, last tour 4:45pm Jun-Aug).

When it closed in 1986 it was the oldest continually in-use jail in Canada. The tours are led by former convicts – perhaps the only job in Canada where a criminal record is a prerequisite. The tours cover not only the history of this particular prison but life in Canada’s prisons in general. It’s fascinating but at times rather disturbing stuff, and guides try to lighten things up a bit by throwing in a few jokes now and again. Only a few of the guides speak English, so call ahead to make sure they’ll be available when you drop by. Combined tickets are also available.