There are lots of things I saw during my trip to the province of Quebec that reminded me of Europe, specifically France.
Last week I showed you the Jean-Talon Market. Today, my selection has to do with art.
We all know that some of the most famous artists were from or spent time in France. Monet, Manet, Toulouse-Latrec, Renoir, Cezanne- the list goes on and on.
But, the lesser known amateur artists still frequent a spot in Montmartre where they come to paint portraits of tourists and the picturesque storefronts surrounding Place du Tertre in Paris. It is a fun, lively and yes, *touristy* place. One that I am so glad I didn’t skip over.
Here are some examples of what local artists create and sell on a daily basis.
So, as I was strolling along Old Quebec City, I was so surprised to stumble across what looked just like a local open-air artwork gallery on a tiny alley called rue du Trésor. Immediately my mind raced back to the memories of the Place du Tertre.
The resemblance was uncanny. Well, except for the fact that it was only one small street, as opposed to a huge square, and there were not hoards of tourists lining the rue du Trésor. But the fact that we were there in the off-season could have something to do with it.
And what a perfect little name for this street. Trésor means treasure in French, so it seems very fitting that you could stop by and pick up a hand-painted treasure as a souvenir from Quebec City.
Rue du Trésor was founded in the 1960’s by two artists who displayed their wares hoping to attract tourists passing by on the way to the local monuments. Currently, there are 36 artists who display their wares on this little alley.
You can get more info, including the contact information for all the artists, here.
If you are planning a trip to QC, make sure you take the time to stroll down La rue du Trésor. You might just find that it reminds you of the Place du Tertre. Or better yet- you might find that one-of-a-kind treasure to hang on your wall back home.
Have you ever been somewhere that reminded you of another place you have visited? Where is your favorite open-air art gallery ?
