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Place des spectacles, Montréal © TQ/J.-F. Hamelin

Shopping

Take advantage of your stay in Québec to do a little shopping—magasinage, as we say here—and bring home classic souvenirs, useful items or… something more original!

With sustainable development and respect for the environment on everyone’s mind, many Québec designers are creating unique pieces by recycling fabrics and other garments. An original and eco-friendly idea!

Let your taste buds be tempted by the countless edible specialties and terroir products, each more delectable than the last. It’s the best way to offer your nearest and dearest a taste of Québec!

Maple products

Once the sugar maple has been tapped, its sap is collected and boiled down to a thick syrup. Prized for its taste, colour and transparency, this syrup is used to flavour desserts and make a variety of confectioneries such as candy and sweets.

Where to go: grocery stores, delicatessens, pastry shops

Ice cider

Known for its fine bouquet, this sweet beverage is made by fermenting the juice of apples picked late in the fall after they've been exposed to the frost. The alcohol content of ice cider is usually between 8% and 13%. Enjoy it chilled as an aperitif or after dinner.

Where to go: grocery stores, SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec) outlets, cider producers

Berry jams and jellies

Blueberries, cloudberries and cranberries are appreciated for their delightful flavour and nutritional properties. Blueberries are found mainly in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Lac-Saint-Jean; the cloudberry (or bakeapple) grows mainly on the Côte-Nord, while the cranberry is produced in Centre-du-Québec.

Where to go: grocery stores, delicatessens

Also try

Berry liqueurs, mead

Wines, microbrewery beers

Smoked salmon, deli meats

Microbrewery, Québec © TQ/J.-F. Hamelin
Maple products, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean © TQ/J.-F. Hamelin
Blackcurrant jam, Québec © TQ/J.-F. Hamelin

Useful links

Québec’s designers enjoy an enviable reputation and Montréal is North America’s second-largest clothing production centre, after Los Angeles. Whatever the season, you can pick up some great fashions for your friends and family!

Sports apparel and accessories

A land of adventure and wide-open spaces, Québec has a wide selection of practical, light and comfortable sports wear—some warm, some waterproof—designed for a range of outdoor activities. You’ll also find top-notch gear and accessories.

Where to go: specialty stores, department stores

Winter clothing

To brave the harsh climate, you need to bundle up—without sacrificing your freedom of movement. Fur, down, natural and synthetic fibres: in Québec, they’re all put to good use to let you partake fully in the joys of winter!

Where to go: specialty stores, department stores

Ready-to-wear and contemporary jewellery

There’s no shortage of talent and imagination among Québec’s artists. The same goes for jewellers: drawing on regional landscapes for inspiration, they often use materials found in their proverbial backyards. Impeccable quality, with something for every budget!

Where to go: department stores, fashion boutiques, tourist areas

Other wearables

Pins, clothing and accessories bearing the Québec Original trademark or national symbols

Fragrances, essential oils and natural aromatic products

 

Vieux-Québec © TQ/P. Gouyou Beauchamps
Vieux-Montréal ©TQ/D.Lafond
Vieux-Montréal ©TQ/D.Lafond

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From Outaouais to Gaspésie, Québec’s regions continue to inspire generations of artists. Whether they reflect the latest trends or draw on tradition, the art and crafts created here offer a glimpse of the world as seen though a unique lens: that of Québec in North America.

Art

Why not make gallery hopping a part of your stay? Wildlife paintings, folk art, genre scenes sculpted in wood or decidedly contemporary creations: the choice is endless and the prices, often excellent!

Where to go: art galleries, museum shops

Crafts

Craft artists are masters in their field, marrying technique and expertise with boundless creativity. You’ll appreciate the quality of woven pieces, objects made of glass or metal (bronze, iron), sand sculptures and tableware.

Where to go: art galleries, economuseums, craft fairs (Salon des métiers d’art de Montréal, Salon des artisans et des métiers d’art de Québec)

Native arts and crafts

Soapstone sculptures and lithographs from the Far North have long been held in high esteem. Clothing accessories produced by Amerindians and Inuit as well as items inspired by their daily life also captivate the curious.

Where to go: art galleries, souvenir shops

 

Also for the eyes and ears

Colour posters of Québec

Coffee-table books

DVDs, CDs (music, songs)

 

Art gallery, Montréal © TQ/M.- L. Leclerc
Sculpture by Sammy Angnatuk, Nunavik © TQ/H. Wittenborn
Wooden spoons, Québec © TQ/A. Quenneville

Useful links