La Cité de l'Or

The history of the Cité de l'Or begins around 1923 with the discovery of a gold deposit by American prospector Robert C. Clark, who benefited from the invaluable assistance of Anishinaabe guide Gabriel Commanda, a native of Kitigan Zibi, in locating the vein that would become one of Quebec's most prolific mines. The Lamaque Gold Mine corporation, founded in 1932, erected all necessary mining facilities between 1934 and 1938, marking the opening of Val-d'Or's first mine and the beginning of continuous operations from 1935 to 1985, employing up to 700 workers in 1941 before World War II created a labor shortage later filled by the arrival of immigrant workers. Today transformed into Canada's unique tourist attraction, the Cité de l'Or allows visitors to become a miner for a day by descending 91 meters (300 feet) underground in authentic mining vehicles, experiencing the striking darkness characteristic of underground galleries before discovering the drilling methods used at the time. The Bourlamaque mining village, designated a historic site yet still residential today, complements the visit by offering exceptional architectural testimony to 1930s construction methods, with its residences and industrial infrastructure preserved with remarkable care compared to many other abandoned Quebec mines whose equipment has disappeared with technological advancement.