Château Dufresne, a striking Beaux-Arts mansion across from Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, is a lush glimpse into early 20th-century French bourgeois life. Built between 1915 to 1918, it was inspired by the Petit Trianon of Versailles and originally served as the home of influential Dufresne brothers, Marius and Oscar, who played pivotal roles in Montreal’s eastern sector. Each brother resided in a separate wing of the mansion, with interiors decorated by famed muralist Guido Nincheri—a rare secular undertaking for the devout artist—and Belgian-born Alfred Faniel, who adorned the walls with stunning scenes that continue to captivate visitors.
Declared a historic monument in 1976, Château Dufresne has evolved from a private home to a hub for arts and culture, hosting Montreal’s first decorative arts museum and later the Musée national d’art contemporain. Today, as the Dufresne-Nincheri Museum, it immerses guests in Montreal’s rich cultural history through exhibitions, community programs, and the meticulously recreated Governor’s Garden.
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