The Cité de l'Or ("The City of Gold") is an attraction located in Val-d'Or, in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec, Canada. It has been operating since 1995 as a place where people can see what gold mining was like by touring the underground Lamaque gold mine and the Bourlamaque historic mining village. Bourlamaque was declared a provincial historic site in 1979[1] and a National Historic Site in 2012.[2]

Cité de l'Or
Bourlamaque mining village
Map
Established1995
LocationVal-d'Or, Abitibi region of Quebec, Canada
Coordinates48°05′38″N 77°45′54″W / 48.094°N 77.765°W / 48.094; -77.765
TypeGold mining
Websitewww.citedelor.com
Official nameFormer Lamaque Mine and the Bourlamaque Mining Village National Historic Site
Designated2012
TypeSite historique classé
Designated1979
Underground stage of the Tour de l'Abitibi

In 1923, the gold deposit was discovered and in 1935, the mine came in operation. In 1985, it was exhausted and closed.

Since 2000, one stage of the Tour de l'Abitibi takes place in the underground mine, some 300 feet (91 m) below ground. Cyclists must ride through the tunnels and up the access ramp (a 17% slope) before they race through the streets of Val-d'Or.

Since 2007, Cité de l'Or also became a training location for new miners.

Affiliations edit

The Museum is affiliated with: CMA, CHIN and Virtual Museum of Canada.

See also edit

References edit