Pointe-à-Callière - Canada, Quebec

Montréal's award-winning museum of archaeology and history is built, quite literally, on the remains of the city's birthplace. The building itself was designed by Romanian-Canadian architect Dan Hanganu and opened in 1992 to mark the 350th anniversary of the founding of the city. The experience begins with an 18-minute video recounting the history of Montréal right from the time it was the native land of the Iroquoians up until the present day when it is one of the largest metropolises in North America. The cinema is built right above part of the ruins of one of the many buildings that used to stand on the site of the museum. The main permanent exhibition, 'Where Montréal was Born', takes visitors underground to discover a real archaeological site where they can again trace the history of the city, but this time up close. You'll be able to see artefacts spanning over three centuries such as pipes, weaponry and pottery as well as see how the city evolved in terms of everyday life for its residents. The interactive marketplace installation shows how locals would have gone about their daily business in 1750. On a completely separate subject, the 'Montréal Love Stories' exhibition explores the relationships of people from different cultures living and loving in the city through videos, letters and visual displays. A well conceived, informative museum, great for families. Visit the website for more information.