Chateau Dufresne

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The former residence of Marius Dufresne and Oscar Dufresne, the Chateau Dufresne was originally divided into two separate households, one for each brother. The founding fathers of the city of Maisonneuve - now incorporated with the city of Montreal - the famous Dufresne brothers were wealthy twentieth century French Canadian entrepreneurs who played a major role in the history of Montreal. Now used as an historical museum showcasing the Beaux-Arts style architecture and antique furnishings of the former Dufresne residences, the Chateau Dufresne was declared an historic monument by the provincial government in 1976.

Designed by the Parisian architect Jules Renard who based his plans on the Petit Trianon in Versailles, France, the Dufresne mansion was an ambitious project from the get-go. Constructed from 1915 to 1918, the interior of this Gothic-inspired mansion was decorated with a series of beautiful murals and ceiling paintings by Guido Nincheri in the 1920's. Known for his piety and devout religious leanings, the secular subject matter of the Chateau Dufresne's interior decor is an amazing exception to the rest of Nincheri's artistic career. Having served as the Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts from 1979 to 1997, the Chateau Dufresne now offers tours of the mansion and also plays host to various temporary art and history exhibitions.