The mansion at number 575 Grande Allée captures attention day and night.
In the light of day, you notice an eclectic combination of architectural features: on one side, a Tudor gable, with dark wooden timbers; on the other, a squat, conical tower, held up by Corinthian columns. The main entrance is sheltered by a recessed Gothic portico, its lancet arch taking you back to the Middles Ages. You can feel the moneyed, Victorian spirit of the house’s first owner – Sir William Price – as he sought to build a residence befitting his station.
At night, Sir William’s mansion reveals its new vocation as one of Québec’s trendiest nightclubs: Hard pounding music throbs from the interior, inviting the interest of passersby, while multicolored spotlights illuminate both the front façade and the cascade of terraces that flow from the main entrance. Drawn to this festive scene, the young and chic strut to and fro, hoping to draw some attention of their own.
Hi Neil,
Absolutely eclectic! It’s a delightful mix of material and design and I would think it would have been wonderful to come home to it everyday.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Deborah Slater
I didn’t know William Price was a Sir. Thanks again for the post and happy new year!
Allo Neil, what a nice exemple of what we learned from the cours of achitectural styles. Very interesting. Happy new year to you and wish your dreams become true.
See you in january,
Martine Lambert
Love this description! Where did you learn to write like that? Bonne année et bonne santé!
Always enjoy your pictures and posts. Happy New Year!!
Wish we had gone there when we visited as it looks like fun – Happy New Year!
Thank you for the beautiful pictures, Happy New Year.
I never knew ! Happy New Year and Thank You for everything XXX
Thanks, Neil, and Happy New Year. The Prices still live in the area and may be the last of the Timber Baron families to do so. And check out the Art Deco Edifice Price in the old town – it is quite something!
Happy New Year Neil! With each blog, I learn more interesting facts about Quebec. It’s an intriguing city. I can’t wait to return.
The building is amazing and I love all the things you write.What is the weather like there?
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Happy New Year to you, to Maggie and Caroline.
Happy new year! Quebec must be enchanting in the winter.
Hello,
It’s true that our local “Avenue des Champs Élysées” is the best place for admiring many of the richest houses of the Capitale. Most of them were built by the very wealthy English elite of Québec, between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, and remind us what was the Québec society before our Quiet Revolution and the French people affirmation.
Happy New Year to Neil and every users of “Québec and Me” DL
Je ne savais pas tout cela!
Caroline
Thanks for the pictures with descriptions. Happy New Year
Thanks Neil, I always enjoy the pictures and posts! Keep them coming! Happy New Year to you and yours!
When I studied at Laval this was Chez Dagobert I think.
Actually, the Dagobert is right across the street from this house, at 600, Grande-Allée.