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QUEBEC CITY
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History of Quebec City
Quebec City is one of the oldest European settlements in North America. Quebec
City was founded by the French explorer and navigator Samuel de Champlain in
1608. Prior to the arrival of the French, the location that would become Quebec was
the home of a small Iroquois village called "Stadacona".
Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, was the first
European to ascend the St. Lawrence Gulf, claiming for
France the land that later became "New France"; he and
his crew spent a harsh winter near Stadacona during his
second voyage in 1535. The word "Kebec" is an Algonquin
word meaning "where the river narrows."
By the time Champlain came to this site, the Iroquois
population had disappeared and been replaced by
Montagnais and Algonquins. Champlain and his crew
built a wooden fort which they called "l'habitation" within only a few days of their
arrival. This early fort and trading post exists today as a historic site in Old Quebec.
Quebec City's maritime position and the presence of cliffs overlooking the St.
Lawrence River made it an important location for economic exchanges between the
Amerindians and the French. In 1620, Champlain built Fort Saint-Louis on the top
of Cape Diamond, near the present location of the Chateau Frontenac in the Upper
Town.
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Demographics and Population
After the settlement of Port Royal in Acadia (1605), the next colonization effort by
the French occurred in 1608. Samuel de Champlain built "l'Habitation" to house 28
people. However, the first winter proved formidable, and 20 of 28 men died. By
1615, the first four missionaries arrived in Quebec.
Among the first successful French settlers were Marie Rollet and her husband,
Louis Hebert, credited as "les premier agriculteurs du Canada" by 1617. The first
French child born in Quebec was Helene Desportes, in 1620, to Pierre Desportes
and Francoise Langlois, whose father was a member of the Hundred Associates. The
population of Quebec City arrived at 100 in 1627, less than a dozen of whom were
women. However, with the invasion of Quebec by David Kirke and his brothers in
1628, Champlain returned to France with approximately 60 out of 80 settlers.
Sir David Kirke and other proprietary
colonists settled on the island of
Newfoundland during the 17th century.
In 1627 Kirke’s father and several
London merchants formed the Company
of Adventurers to Canada to encourage
trade and settlement on the St.
Lawrence. When the 30 Years War broke
out later that year, the company financed
an expedition commissioned by Charles I
of England to displace the French from
Canada.
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Champlain’s Habitation of Quebec
When the French returned to Quebec in 1632, they constructed a city based on the
framework of a traditional French "ville" in which "the 17th century city was a
reflection of its society."
Plan of Quebec City by Jean Bourdon, 1640
Quebec remained an outpost until well into the 1650s. As in other locations
throughout New France, the population could be split into the colonial elites,
including clergy and government officials, the craftsmen and artisans, and the
engagés (indentured servants). Quebec was designed so that the inhabitants of
better quality lived in the upper city, closer to the centers of power such as the
government and Jesuit college, whereas the lower town was primarily populated by
merchants, sailors and artisans. The city only contained about thirty homes in
1650, and one hundred by 1663, with a population of over 500.
Jean Bourdon, the first engineer and surveyor of New France, helped plan the city,
almost from his arrival in 1634. However, despite attempts to utilize urban
planning, the city quickly outgrew its planned area. Population continually
increased, with the city boasting 1300 inhabitants by 1681. The city quickly
experienced overcrowding, especially in the lower town, which contained two-thirds
of the population of the city by 1700. The numbers became more evenly distributed
by 1744, with the lower town housing only a third of the population, and the upper
town containing almost half the inhabitants.
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Palisades of Quebec City, 1693
By the 18th century, Quebec also saw a rise in the number of rental dwellings, to
help accommodate a mobile population of seamen, sailors, and merchants, aptly
described by historian Yvon Desloges as "a town of tenants." Thus, Quebec followed
a pattern common throughout New France, of immigrants arriving for several
years, before returning home to France. As a whole, approximately 27,000
immigrants came to New France during the French regime, only 31.6% of whom
remained. Despite this, by the time of British occupation in 1759, New France had
evolved to a colony of over 60,000 with Quebec as the principal city.
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Military and Warfare
In 1620, the construction of a wooden fort called Fort Saint-Louis started under the
orders of Samuel de Champlain; it was completed in 1626.
Model of Fort St. Louis in 1635
Samuel de Champlain built Fort Saint-Louis at the summit of cap Diamant in 1620.
This location offered excellent natural defences on three sides. However, the small
wooden fort soon became inadequate and Champlain had to order the construction
of new defences in 1626. Consequently, stone housing was built inside the inner
walls of this second fort.
In 1629, the Kirke brothers under English order took
control of Quebec City, holding the town until 1632
when the French resumed possession.
In 1662, to save the colony from frequent Iroquois
attacks during the Beaver Wars, Louis XIV
dispatched one hundred regulars to the colony. Three
years later, in 1665, Lieutenant-General de Tracy
arrived at Quebec City with four companies of
regular troops. Before long, troop strength had risen
to 1,300. In 1690, Admiral Phipps' Anglo-American
invasion force failed to capture Quebec City during
King William's War. Under heavy French artillery
fire, the English fleet was considerably damaged and
an open battle never took place. After having used
most of their ammunition, the British became
discouraged and retreated.
Champlain leaves Quebec a
prisoner on Kirke’s ship after a
bloodless siege in 1629.
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In 1691, Governor Louis de Buade de Frontenac constructed the Royal Battery.
Defence of Quebec by Frontenac, 1690
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In 1711, during Queen Anne's War, Admiral Walker's fleet also failed in its attempt
to besiege Quebec City, in this case due to a navigational accident. Walker's initial
report stated that 884 soldiers perished. This number was later revised to 740.
In Canada, raid warfare continued. The largest raids took place in
Massachusetts against Deerfield in 1704 and Haverhill in 1708. Unable to
defend themselves adequately against this type of attack, the exasperated
American colonists sought and obtained help from the mother country. Canada
would be invaded by land and sea. The naval expedition was prepared in
England. Admiral Hovenden Walker sailed first to Boston, and then, on the
morning of July 30, 1711, weighed anchor for Quebec. The fleet he had
assembled included nine warships, two bomb ketches, and 60 other vessels
carrying some 7,500 soldiers and 4,500 sailors. In all, there were eight British
infantry regiments and two militia regiments from New England. How can
Canada possibly resist such a force? Was the question asked in Boston with
some satisfaction, and in Quebec with considerable disquiet.
But chance often plays a large part in the fortunes of war. On the night of
August 22, as the fleet sailed north of Anticosti Island, the weather was bad
with visibility reduced to practically nil. Suddenly, the admiral was alerted by
highly excited young officers: reefs dead ahead. Too late! The hulls of the eight
transport vessels carrying soldiers broke on the reefs of Egg Island. Around two
o'clock in the morning, the wind turned, making it possible to save the rest of
the fleet. Only at dawn was the extent of the disaster clear: 29 officers and 705
soldiers belonging to four of the eight regiments of regular troops were missing,
as well as 35 soldiers' wives. As shaken as his men, Walker decided to return
home.
In the meantime, the British general Nicholson had proceeded to Albany to take
command of an American army of 2,300 men that was to invade Canada from
the south. Although sickness had broken out among the troops, Nicholson was
preparing to move up Lake Champlain when news arrived on September 19 of
the disaster befalling Walker's fleet. Nicholson, in a rage, allegedly threw his wig
on the floor and stamped on it! Calmed by his officers, he ordered a retreat to
Albany, where the army was disbanded in October.
In Canada, jubilation reigned. After public prayers of thanksgiving, festivities
were given free rein and revellers were everywhere. As a result of the failed
invasion of 1711, the church situated in the Place Royale in the lower town of
Quebec was renamed Notre-Dame-des-Victoires.
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During the Seven years War, in 1759, the British, under the command of General
James Wolfe, besieged Quebec City for three months. The city was defended by the
French general, the Marquis de Montcalm. The very short battle of the Plains of
Abraham lasted approximately 15 minutes and culminated in a British victory and
the surrender of Quebec.
James Wolfe
Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon
Ruins of Quebec City, September 1, 1761
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Seat of Government
Quebec City served as the hub of religious and government authority throughout
the French period. From 1608 until 1663, Quebec City was the main administrative
center of the Company of New France (see Company of One Hundred Associates).
During this period, Quebec City was the home of the company's official
representative, the Governor, along with his lieutenant and other administrative
officials, and small number of soldiers.
Following the Royal Takeover of 1663 by King Louis XIV and his minister Jean
Baptiste Colbert, Quebec City became the seat of a reformed colonial government
which included the Governor General of New France, responsible for military and
diplomatic matters, and an Intendant responsible for administrative functions
involving law and finance. Both the Governor and the Intendant were directly
answerable to the Minister of the Navy (Ministres Francais de la Marine et des
Colonies) and were appointed by the King of France. The first Governor to arrive in
Quebec City directly appointed by the King was Augustin de Saffray de Mésy in
1663.
Augustin de Saffray de Mésy
Moreover, Quebec City became the seat of Sovereign Council which served
legislative and legal functions in the colony through its role in the ratification of
royal edicts and as final court of appeal. The Council contained the twin heads of
the colonial government: the Governor and the Intendant (also the chair), along
with the Bishop of Quebec. Moreover, the council contained a number of colonial
elites, usually merchants from Quebec City. Noteworthy is the fact that, under the
French regime, Quebec did not have a municipal government; the centralizing
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Bourbon monarchy was determined to prevent the emergence of autonomous
centers of power in the colony, even local city councils.
Quebec City was also the focal point of religious authority in New France and had
been since the arrival of the first Recollets missionaries in the city in 1615. Working
closely with the State, the Church ensured that the colony remained a wellregulated Catholic colony.
Quebec City became seat of the bishop in the colony
upon the creation of the Diocese of Quebec in 1674,
with François de Laval as the first bishop.
Moreover, Quebec City was home to the Seminaire
de Quebec, founded by Laval in 1663 when he was
Vicar apostolic before becoming bishop. Laval's
experience in the role of Vicar Apostolic highlights
the complex nature of relationship between Church
and State in New France; while allied with the
authority of Rome and the Jesuits because of his
position as Vicar Apostolic, Laval also required the
approval from a royal government suspicious of
Papal power. Although the State and Church based
in Quebec City worked closely together, the dominance of the Crown was retained
through the responsibility of the Crown of nominating the bishop and of supplying a
large portion of Church funds.
Economics
As Quebec was settled for its location on the St. Lawrence River with a deep-water
harbor, shipping and import/exports dominated the economy. As a port city, Quebec
ran a flourishing trade with the French West Indies and with ports in France.
However, trade was restricted to French vessels only trading in officially French
ports. In trade with France, Quebec received wine, textiles and cloth, metal
products such as guns and knives, salt, and other small consumer and luxury goods
not manufactured in the colony. From the French West Indies, Quebec received
sugar, molasses, and coffee.
In order to offset their debts, Quebec City exported furs to France, as well as lumber
and fish to the West Indies. From 1612 to 1638, 15,000 to 20,000 beaver pelts were
shipped to France, valued at 75,000 livres.
The peace experienced in the early 1720s caused a spike in shipping, with 20 to 80
ships arriving annually at the port of Quebec, with an average of 40 a year.
However, Quebec was constantly faced with a trade imbalance, debt, and a certain
amount of financial insecurity. As with other colonial societies, there was little hard
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money throughout the colony. To merchants in Quebec, such a situation proved a
particular challenge, as they lacked hard specie, or currency, with which to trade.
At one point, the colony began the use of playing cards as money in order to
reimburse soldiers and other government employees for services rendered when
shipments of hard currency failed to arrive.
Front
Back
Contentions that the residents of Quebec were poor merchants have, in recent
years, been refuted, as historians describe a sharp business acumen, severely
circumscribed by a lack of finances and excessive distance from external markets.
Religion
The Catholic faith played a significant role in the settling and development of
Quebec City. With the first missionaries arriving in 1615, Quebec was, almost from
its founding, a Catholic city. Although those of other faiths were permitted to
practice their faith in private, the city embraced Catholicism as an integral part of
daily life.
The Recollets were the first religious order to arrive in 1614, followed by the Jesuits
in 1625, who would found a college in Quebec City by 1635.
Recollets – 1614 arrival in Quebec
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Female religious orders arrived by 1639, with the Ursulines providing education,
and the Augustinians servicing the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec. The granting of
seigneuries to religious orders helped solidify their place as a facet of society.
Indeed, much of the upper town of Quebec came to be held by religious orders. The
arrival of Francois de Laval as the vicar apostolic to Quebec in 1658 cemented the
place of religion in Quebec City. The city would become a formal parish in 1664, and
a diocese by 1674.
The Catholic faith not only played a large role in the government and legislation,
but also in the social lives of residents. As Quebec City was the seat of religion
throughout New France, inhabitants followed the strict schedule of fasting, holy
days, and celebrating sacraments, in addition to the censorship of books, dancing,
and theatre.
Cathedrale – College Jesuites – Eglise Recollets - 1761
After the English invasion of Quebec, the residents were permitted to continue
practicing Catholicism under the Act of Quebec in 1774.
British Rule
The British and French had co-existed in North America, but the threat of French
expansion into the Ohio Valley caused the British to attempt to eradicate New
France from the map completely. In the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759,
the city was permanently lost by the French.
In 1763, France formally ceded its claims to Canada, and Quebec City's Frenchspeaking Catholic population came under the rule of Protestant Britain.
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The Quebec Act, passed in 1774, allowed the Québécois to have religious freedom.
Therefore, the French Canadians were not unhappy with British rule and chose not
to participate in the American Revolution.
Without Canadian cooperation against the British, the 13 colonies instead
attempted to invade Canada. The city was once again under siege when the Battle
of Quebec occurred in 1775. The initial attack was a failure due to American
inexperience with the extreme cold temperatures of the city in December. Benedict
Arnold refused to accept the defeat in the Battle of Quebec and a siege against the
city continued until May 6, 1776, when the American army finally retreated.
The Constitutional Act of 1791
divided Canada into an "Upper",
English-speaking colony, and a
"Lower", French-speaking colony.
Quebec City was made the capital of
Lower Canada and enjoyed more selfrule following the passage of this act.
The city's industry began to grow,
and by the early 19th century, it was
the third largest port city in North
America. Lumber was the largest
export of the city at this time. The
business boom continued for most of
the century and Quebec City began
welcoming thousands of immigrants.
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20th Century
In 1917, the construction of the Quebec Bridge, connecting the north and south
banks of the St. Lawrence River, was finished. To this day, it is the longest
cantilever bridge in the world, though two collapses of the centre of the bridge
during construction led to the death of over 80 workers.
During World War II, two Allied Forces conferences were held in the city. The first,
held in 1943, assembled Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president of the United States
of America; Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; William
Lyon Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada and T.V. Soong, Chinese Minister
of Foreign Affairs. The second conference was held in 1944 and Churchill and
Roosevelt participated. The conferences were held at the Citadel and nearby
Château Frontenac.
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Quebec’s Upper Town
In 1620, Samuel de Champlain chose Upper Town as the site of the Saint-Louis
Fort. Ever since it was founded, it has remained the military and administrative
centre of the city, which was determined by the strategic heights of the promontory.
The Upper Town was mostly populated by government officials and clergy members
while merchants and artisans lived in Lower Town.
The strong military presence in this area has long limited its expansion. By the end
of the 19th century, some wanted the city’s fortifications to be demolished as they
were deemed unnecessary and they interfered with urban development. Lord
Dufferin successfully persuaded officials to conserve the city’s fortified appearance
by adapting it to meet the needs of a modern-day city.
The area was subjected to some deterioration during the 1950s but it since gained
impetus in the 1970s.
With its ramparts, citadel, century-old houses, historic sites and landmarks,
Québec’s Upper Town has a rich heritage of several generations with beautiful,
unique surroundings.
Most of the buildings date back to the 19th century with the construction of some
dating as far back as the 17th and 18th centuries. The area has several commercial
roads like Saint-Jean, Sainte-Anne and De Buade streets. Some public
administration and other institutions found at the heart of the city include the
Québec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the
Augustinian Monastery and l'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec. It also has a vast choice of
accommodations including the famous Château Frontenac since Old Québec is
among the most popular tourist destinations.
The area also has many well-maintained parks. Among some are the Esplanade,
Artillerie, Des Gouverneurs and Montmorency parks along with the gardens of
l’Hotel-de-Ville. People can also take advantage of the great view of the St.
Lawrence River from place D'Youville and the Dufferin Terrace.
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Basilique-cathédrale de Notre-Dame-de-Québec, 1647
The Cathedral-minor basilica of Notre-Dame de Quebec (our Lady of Quebec City),
located at 20 rue de Buade, is the primate church of Canada and seat of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec, the oldest see in the New World north of Mexico. It
is also the parish church of the oldest parish in North America and the first church
in North America to be elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Pius IX in
1874. It is a National Historic Site of Canada, and located within the UNESCO
World Heritage Site of Historic Districts of Old Quebec.
Located on its original site since 1647, the Cathedral has twice been destroyed by
fire. A previous iteration of the church was destroyed during the Seige of Quebec in
1759. It was rebuilt from plans by Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry drafted in
1743. The belltower was designed by Jean Baillairgé and his son, François, from
1786 to 1822. In 1843, François’s son, Thomas, suggested a reconstruction of the
façade to resemble the church of Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, resulting in the neoclassic façade in Quebec. The cathedral was richly decorated with works of art,
stained glass windows, paintings and a chancel lamp which was a gift from Louis
XIV.
In 1922 the church was again gutted by fire, and was restored by architects Maxime
Roisin and Raoul Chenevert. Chenevert added a presbytery beside the Cathedral in
1931-1932.
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Four governors of New France and the
bishops of Quebec are buried in the
crypt, including François de Laval
(right), Quebec’s first bishop.
Interior View, towards altar with golden Baldaquin
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Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
This church is located just across the street from
our hotel which is at 32 Rue St-Anne.
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (French: Cathédrale
Holy Trinity) is the cathedral of the Diocese of Quebec,
and home to two parishes: the Parish of Quebec and la
Paroisse de Tous les Saints. The Diocese of Quebec was
founded in 1793 and its first bishop, Dr. Jacob
Mountain, gave his early attention to the erection of a
cathedral. The completed building was consecrated on
August 28, 1804. It was the first Anglican cathedral to
be built outside of the British Isles.
Designed in the neoclassic Palladian style, the
Cathedral was modeled after the St Martin-in-theFields Church in Trafalgar Square, London, and the Marylebone Chapel (now
known as St. Peter, Vere St.). King George III paid for the construction of the
Cathedral and provided a folio Bible, communion silverware and large prayer books
to be used for worship.
The bell-tower is home to 8 bells, founded by Whitechapel in 1830, and are the
oldest change-ringing peal in Canada. Due to deterioration, they were brought down
in 2006, sent to Whitechapel in London for retuning, and reinstalled in April 2007.
Interior of the Cathedral
When it was formed the Diocese of Quebec
covered both Upper and Lower Canada.
Today, its territory covers 720,000 km2 in
the central and eastern parts of the
province of Quebec but does not include
the area around Montreal. It has 7,817
Anglicans on the parish rolls in 93
congregations. The Cathedral of the Holy
Trinity was designated a National Historic
Site of Canada in 1989 and plaqued in
1993. It has also been designated under
provincial heritage legislation.
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Chapelle des Ursulines
Located in Old Quebec City, the Chapelle & Musée de Ursulines (Ursuline Chapel
& Museum) showcases the work of the Ursuline nuns in Quebec, who arrived in
New France in 1639 and founded the first North American school for girls. The
museum contains an incredible collection of religious art and embroideries, and the
chapel next door houses magnificent French and Italian paintings as well as the
tomb of the blessed Marie de l’Incarnation, the spiritual founder of the Ursuline
community.
The Community
Founded in Italy in 1535, the Ursuline order was once known as the La Compagnie
de Saint-Ursule. In 1639, three Ursulines arrived in Québec City at the request of
the Jesuits, including the 40-year-old widowed Marie de l’Incarnation, born Marie
Guyart. Together in 1642, they founded the first school in North America devoted
entirely to the education of young Amerindian and French girls. Their educational
mission led them to become the first female Order of teachers within the Canadian
Church.
The Chapel
The Ursuline chapel was constructed in 1902, but the beautiful and treasured art
and objects within it date back two centuries. The rich interior is adorned with 17th
and 18th century paintings, a stunning collection of wood sculptures, and lavishly
decorated altarpieces. Located just off the chapel’s entrance is the tomb of Marie de
l'Incarnation, who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980. This small oratory
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was erected for the founder of the community in 1972, on the 300 year anniversary
of her death. Also located within the Ursuline complex is an Information Centre on
the life of the Marie de l'Incarnation, which displays portraits, documents and
memoirs.
The Museum
Located next door to the chapel is the Ursuline museum, which chronicles the
arrival of the nuns in New France in 1639. The exhibits give visitors a glimpse into
the daily life in the 17th and 18th centuries of these women who sought to pioneer
education for girls and spread their spiritual message. On display are personal
objects, furniture and teaching materials used by the nuns, which help tell the story
of their journey and lifestyle. In addition to being educators, they were also artists
and master embroiderers. Visitors will be amazed by the incredible displays of
vestments intricately woven with gold, silver and silk threads. Some of the
museum’s docents are nuns of the Ursuline order, which is still active. The Ursuline
convent, housed within a building created originally as a girls' school in 1642, is the
oldest in North America.
The Artifacts
Some highlights of the treasures on display in the Ursuline complex include several
Amerindian crafts and musical instruments, and a cape woven from the drapes of
Anne of Austria’s bedroom, given to Marie de l'Incarnation in 1639 when she
embarked on her journey to New France. A pair of Marie de l'Incarnation’s rosary
beads can be viewed in the Information Centre. The objects created by Pierre-Noël
Levasseur between 1723 and 1739 on display in the chapel are said to be the most
beautiful wooden sculptures in Quebec, and were gilded by the Ursulines
themselves. The L’ange à la trompette and the retable are noted as the two most
important pieces within the chapel.
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Edifice Price
Styled after the Empire State Building, the 15-story, art deco structure was the
city's first skyscraper. Today it's one of the Premier's official residences—he uses
the top two floors. Built in 1929, it served as headquarters of the Price Brothers
Company, a lumber firm founded by Sir William Price. Don't miss the interior:
exquisite copper plaques depict scenes of the company's early pulp and paper
activities, and the two maple-wood elevators are '30s classics.
Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
The Chateau was designated a National Historic Site in 1980.
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Fortifications (Ramparts) of Quebec City
The Ramparts of Quebec City are the only remaining fortified city walls in North
America north of Mexico. The English began fortifying the existing walls after they
took Quebec City from the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.
The wall surrounds most of Old Quebec, and was declared a World Heritage site by
UNESCO in 1985. The fortifications were designated a National Historic Site of
Canada in 1948.
Surviving gates
The first gates were built in the seventeenth century, at the time of the French
regime. Others were added at the time of British rule that followed; in the 18th
century, British authorities were anxious to be able to block access to the city from
all sides. Guarded by soldiers, the doors were closed at night, thus isolating the
upper town of Quebec from the surrounding areas.
Most doors have been demolished and rebuilt several times. Since they constitute a
serious obstacle to urban traffic, many of the doors were finally demolished after the
departure in 1871 of the British garrison. However, three gates still exist today,
which have been rebuilt based on a different model.
The Ramparts’ four surviving gates:
Port St. Jean (St. Jean Gate)
The St. John Gate dates from at least 1694. It was demolished in 1791 because of its
poor condition but it was rebuilt. This gate lasted until 1865 when it was
demolished and rebuilt again. The present gate was built in 1939.
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Porte St. Louis (Saint Louis Gate)
The Gate of Saint Louis was built in 1694 under Governor Frontenac. It was
demolished in 1791 by the British because of its poor condition but was rebuilt. It
was replaced in 1823 and eventually removed altogether in 1871 before being
replaced in 1880 by the gate we see today.
Saint-Louis Gate in about 1876
St. Louis Gate, 2008
Porte Prescott (Prescott Gate)
The Prescott Gate was erected in 1797 by, and named for Robert Prescott. It was
demolished in 1871 and the current gate was built in 1983.
View of the Cote de la Montagne, below the Prescott Gate, Quebec
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Prescott Gate Today
Porte Kent (Kent Gate)
The Kent Gate was built in 1879 and was named after Queen Victoria’s father, The
Duke of Kent.
The Tramway under the Kent Gate, rue Dauphine, in 1907.
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The Kent Gate Today
The fortifications of Quebec City have undergone many changes. Commencing with
Champlain and Montmagny, the fortifications were improved. They were added to
by Frontenac in 1690, and continued by DeLéry, Le Mercier and Fontleroy. The
massive gate leading to the Citadel was built by Lord Dalhousie, and is called
Dalhousie gate. Hope, or Canoterie gate was built about 1784 by General Hope. The
martello towers date from 1805. The Citadel itself and the Esplanade walls, which
are a continuation of it, took the place of detached bastions which existed at the
time of the French. This construction project, which was completed in about 1823,
entailed a vast outlay of Imperial capital, and was carried out according to plans
approved by the Duke of Wellington. These other gates are:
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Dalhousie Gate
The Dalhousie Gate dates from 1827. It is the main entrance to the Citadelle.
Dalhousie Gate, 1829, shortly after its construction.
Dalhousie Gate Today
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Palace Gate
The door of the Palace, also called the St. Nicolas Gate, was built in 1690 under
French rule. It was replaced in 1748 and again in 1830-1831. It was located in the
Côte du Palais. On the outside, it looked north to what was called the Faubourg
Saint-Nicolas. Being narrow, it constituted an obstacle to traffic. Because it had lost
its raison d'être, it was finally demolished in 1873.
Looking up the Hill
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Hope Gate
This door was also called Door Canoterie. It was built in 1786 and was located at
the top of the Coast Canoterie. It looked off to the north, and down the coast of
Canoterie which led at that time almost to the St. Charles River. On one side, it was
flanked by a guard overlooking the cliff. Towards the inside of the city, it was on the
axis of Sainte-Famille, sometimes called Hope Street by the English. The door was
named after Henry Hope, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec. It was finally demolished
after 1871.
Hope Gate 1870
Hope Gate Today
The following inscription on Hope Gate describes when it was erected:
HENRICO HOPE
Copiarum Duce et provinciae sub prefecto
Protegente et adjuvante
Extructa,
Georgio III, Regi nostro,
Anno XXVI et salutis, 1786
According to the diary of James Thompson, overseer of Military Public Works in
1786, the Hope Gate inscription came about as a result of the actions of the French
Canadian citizens of Quebec in appreciation of General Hope’s granting them a city
gate at this spot.
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Grosse Isle National Park
Grosse Isle (French: Grosse Île, "big island", is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
It is one of the islands of the 21-island Isle-aux-Grues archipelago. It is part of the
municipality of Saint-Antoine-de-l'Isle-aux-Grues, located in the ChaudièreAppalaches region of the province.
Also known as Grosse Isle and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site, the island
was the site of an immigration depot which predominantly housed Irish immigrants
coming to Canada to escape the Great Famine, 1845-1849. In 1832, the Lower
Canadian Government had previously set up this depot to contain an earlier cholera
epidemic that was believed to be caused by the large influx of European
immigrants, and the station was reopened in the mid-Nineteenth Century to
accommodate Irish migrants who had contracted typhus during their voyages.
Thousands of Irish were quarantined
on Grosse Isle from 1832 to 1848.
It is believed that over 3000 Irish
died on the island and over 5000 are
currently buried in the cemetery
there; many died en route. Most who
died on the island were infected with
typhus, which sprang up from the
conditions there in 1847. Grosse Isle
is the largest Irish potato famine
burial ground outside Ireland. After
Canadian Confederation in 1867, the buildings and equipment were modernized to
meet the standards of the new Canadian government's immigration policies. The
island is sometimes called Canada's Ellis Island, although this term is also used to
describe the Pier 21 immigration facility in Halifax.
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It is estimated that in total, from when it was set up in 1832 to the closing in 1932,
almost 500,000 Irish immigrants passed through Grosse Isle on their way to
Canada.
Cholera Wharf
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Henry Stuart House, 1849
82, Grande Allée Ouest
Built in the English cottage style, this house dates from 1849. In accordance with
the preferences of the times, the landscaping is as impressive as the residence itself.
A visit to the rose garden is an absolute must.
Henry-Stuart House was designated a national historic site in 1999 because:
- it is a remarkable example of the Québec ''cottage orné'', a type of small house
associated with the picturesque movement,
- the furnishings and objects associated with the house comprise part of its value
and its authenticity because they provide witness to the bourgeois lifestyle in
Quebec into the 20th century,
- despite its present urban environment, its location on a wooded site replete with
gardens continues to evoke its 19th-century picturesque character.
The heritage value of Henry-Stuart House lies in its illustration of 19th and early
20th-century bourgeois aesthetics and lifestyle in urban Quebec. In this case, the
aesthetic reflects the picturesque sensibilities favoured by British settlers. These
values are characterized by specific elements of the grounds, house, and furnishings
that have survived from the 19th century.
The Henry-Stuart House was built by a Quebec entrepreneur for his daughter,
Mary (or Maria) Curry Henry in 1849. In 1918, it was purchased by the sisters
Adèle-Maud and Mary-Lauretta Stuart who continued to own the house until
Adèle's death in 1987. In the almost 70 years they owned the property, the Stuart
sisters restored and supported its 19th-century picturesque character. In 1997, the
Conseil des monuments et sites du Québec purchased the property in 1997 in order
to preserve it as a public resource.
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Citadelle of Quebec (1820 and 1831)
1 Côte de la Citadelle
The Citadelle is a military installation and official residence located atop Cap
Diamant, adjoining the Plains of Abraham. This citadel is part of the fortifications
of Quebec City.
The Citadelle is a National Historic Site of Canada, and also forms part of the
Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site of Canada. The fortress is located
within the "Historic District of Old Québec", which was designated a World
Heritage Site in 1985.
Main Gate of La Citadelle
The first protective wall (enceinte) was built in the 17th century under Louis de
Buade, sieur de Frontenac. A plan of fortifications was developed by the French
military engineer Jacques Levasseur de Néré (1662–1723) and approved by Louis
XIV's commissary general of fortifications Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban in 1701.
Considerable work took place on the fortifications after the fall of Louisbourg in
1745 under the direction of military engineer Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry.
The existing star-shaped fortifications were built by the United Kingdom between
1820 and 1831 under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Elias Walker Durnford of
the Royal Engineers, and incorporated a section of the French enceinte (enclosure)
of 1745. Their purpose was to secure the strategic heights of Cap Diamant against
the Americans and to serve as a refuge for the British garrison in the event of
attack or rebellion. The preservation of much of the fortifications and defences of
Quebec is due to the intervention of Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st
Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, Governor General of Canada 1872–1878, who also
established the Citadelle as a vice-regal residence.
The Quebec Conferences of 1943 and 1944, in which Winston Churchill, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, and William Lyon Mackenzie King discussed strategy for World War II,
were held at the Citadelle of Quebec.
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The Citadelle has been the home station of the Royal 22e Régiment of the Canadian
Forces since 1920. In addition to its use as a military installation, it has been also
an official residence of the Queen in Right of Canada and the Governor General of
Canada since 1872, who by tradition resides there for several weeks out of the year.
The Governor General's primary official residence is Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
Citadelle of Quebec
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Louis St. Laurent Heritage House
Louis St-Laurent (1882-1973) was Canada's prime minister from 1948 to 1957. He
spent most of his life in Québec City at this address and the house is 'alive' with his
life story. Each room is hooked up to motion detectors - just walk in and prepare to
have family photos start talking to you or phones ring with urgent messages for you
to pass on to Mr. Laurent. It is all brilliantly done; interactive history at its best.
Fluently bilingual due to his Irish mother and Québécois father, St. Laurent was
one of Canada's most distinguished leaders. Under his watch, Newfoundland joined
Canada as its 10th province and important social benefits were established for all
Canadians.
Wolfe-Montcalm Monument
The Wolfe-Montcalm Monument is an
obelisk more than 20 metres in height. It
was unveiled in 1828 in memory of the
generals on both sides who died during the
famous Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
The monument stands behind the Château
Frontenac hotel in Parc des Gouverneurs, a
great place to unwind. The park is
surrounded by beautiful homes, almost all of
which have been transformed into attractive
inns. From there, visitors can also admire the St. Lawrence River in all its glory.
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Morrin Center
44, chaussée des Ėcossais
Housing the Québec City English-speaking community’s cultural center, this
historic site features many vestiges of a highly colorful past. Guided tours take
visitors through the dark cells of Québec City’s common jail (1813–1868), the
Morrin College lecture room and scientific laboratory (1868–1900), as well as the
library of the Literary and Historical Society of Québec (1824 to the present).
American Museum
The Musée de l'Amérique française is situated in old Quebec City, Quebec. Its
mission is for the development and promotion of the French culture in North
America. The museum collection is managed by the Musée de la civilisation since
1995.
Founded by Monseigneur François de Montmorency-Laval in 1663, the Séminare de
Québec now houses the muse de l’Amérique français, which gives it the distinction
of being the oldest museum in Canada.
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Musee du Fort
In the heart of Old Québec, a sound and light show recounts the military history of
Québec. In just 30 minutes, by way of a giant model, you'll understand the strategic
challenges that made Québec City such a highly coveted city. Alone or as part of a
group, it's the perfect start to your visit to Québec City.
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Artillery Park Heritage Site
2, rue d’Auteuil
Located near Saint-Jean Gate in the very heart of
Old Québec, Artillery Park bears witness to the
importance that military presence had in forming
the character of the city. The French built various
fortifications in the 17th and 18th centuries, a fact
that underscores the importance of the site in the
history of the city.
Around 1750, the site was used for military
barracks. The British Royal Artillery Regiment set up its quarters in the area. A
cartridge factory was established in 1879 to manufacture ammunition for the
Canadian Army, an activity that continued until the factory was closed in 1964.
Like the Citadelle, Artillery Park is a national historic site.
Battlefields Park
Multimedia presentation on the Battles of the Plains of Abraham and the
foundation of the Park : exhibitions, visit of the Martello Tower and the Jeanne
d'Arc gardens. Guided tours are offered with historical figures, audio-guides or by
bus.
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Parc Jean d’Arc
An equestrian statue of Joan of Arc is the focus of this park, which is bright with
colorful flowers in summer. A symbol of military courage and of France itself, the
statue stands in tribute to the heroes of 1759 near the place where New France was
lost to the British. The park also commemorates the Canadian national anthem, "O
Canada"; it was played here for the first time on June 24, 1880.
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Place d’Armes
For centuries, this square has been used for
parades and military events. It's bordered by
government buildings; at its west side stands the
majestic Ancien Palais de Justice (Old
Courthouse), a Renaissance-style building from
1887. The plaza is on land that was occupied by a
church and convent of the Récollet missionaries
(Franciscan monks), who in 1615 were the first
order of priests to arrive in New France. The
Gothic-style fountain at the center of Place
d'Armes pays tribute to their arrival.
“Place d’Armes, Quebec, 1829”, with Chateau Haldimand,
watercolor by James Pattison Cockburn, 1829
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Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, (Bataille
des Plaines d'Abraham or Première bataille de Québec in French) was a pivotal
battle in the Seven Years' War (referred to as the French and Indian War in the
United States). The battle, which began on 13 September 1759, was fought between
the British Army and Navy, and the French Army, on a plateau just outside the
walls of Quebec City, on land that was originally owned by a farmer named
Abraham Martin, hence the name of the battle.
Battle of the Plains of Abraham –
drawing by a soldier of Wolfe’s army
depicting the easy climbing of Wolfe’s soldiers.
The battle involved fewer than 10,000 troops between both sides, but proved to be a
deciding moment in the conflict between France and Britain over the fate of New
France, influencing the later creation of Canada.
The culmination of a three-month siege by the British, the battle lasted about 15
minutes. British troops commanded by General James Wolfe successfully resisted
the column advance of French troops and Canadian militia under Louis-Joseph,
Marquis de Montcalm, using new tactics that proved extremely effective against
standard military formations used in most large European conflicts. Both generals
were mortally wounded during the battle; Wolfe received a blow that would end his
life within only a few minutes of engagement and Montcalm died the next morning
after receiving a musket ball wound just below his ribs. In the wake of the battle,
France's remaining military force in Canada and the rest of North America came
under increasing pressure from British forces.
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Montcalm leading his forces
While the French forces continued to fight and prevailed in several battles after
Quebec was captured, the British did not relinquish their hold on the fortress. That
tenacity carried over to other areas in North America; within four years, with the
Treaty of Paris, most of France's possessions in eastern North America would be
ceded to Great Britain.
Legacy of the Plains
Today, while much of the foreshore along the base of the cliffs that were scaled by
William Howe's men the morning of the battle has been taken over by industry, the
Plains of Abraham themselves are preserved within one of Canada's National
Urban Parks. There is a monument on the site of the Battle of Sainte-Foy.
In 2009, a number of activities were proposed to commemorate the 250th
anniversary of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. A plan to hold a reenactment of
the battle itself (as well as a reenactment of the subsequent French victory of 1760
at the Battle of Sainte-Foy) was cancelled due to threats of public disorder. Leaders
of separatist parties described the event as a slap in the face for Quebecers of
French ancestry and as an insult for the francophone majority. Some sovereigntist
groups threatened or made indirect threats by stating that if the event took place,
there could be violence. The movement against re-enactment and these threats of
violence led the National Battlefields Commission to cancel the event.
Another commemorative event was proposed for the anniversary, the Moulin à
paroles. Thousands gathered on the Plains of Abraham to listen to recitations of 140
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significant texts from Quebec history, including the 1970 FLQ Manifesto. The
inclusion of that document in the event led to condemnations and a boycott from
federalist politicians and the withdrawal of some government funding for the event.
The Moulin à paroles took place without incident.
Quebec Martello Towers
Three Martello towers are some distance from one another, also forming part of the
Fortifications of Quebec NHSC; the towers symbolize the importance of Quebec City
and its fortifications to the defence of British North America in the early 19th
century.
1812 (completed)
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Quebec City’s Lower Town
The Lower Town is a historic district located at the foot of Cap Diamant. In 1608,
Samuel de Champlain built a habitation where its remains can be found with Place
Royale as its centre. It was restored with the goal of reconstructing the French flair
from its origins. Construction of the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church started in
1687 at this location and was completed in 1723.The Musée de la civilisation, the
Musée naval de Québec, the caserne Dalhousie and the Théâtre Petit Champlain
are among some of the museums, performance halls, theatres and exhibition venues
in Lower Town.
Places such as the Louise Basin, Brown Basin, La–Pointe-à-Carcy, the Gare du
Palais and the Marche du Vieux-Port can be seen from the Port of Québec.
Other places of interest include:
· - Place de Paris
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· - Parc Ulric-Joseph-Tessier
· - Saint-Pierre Street:
· - Saint-Paul Street:
· - Sault-au-Matelot Street
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· - Saint-Vallier Est Street, previously called Saint-Charles Street, the first paved
road in Quebec.
· - Typical streets:
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A funicular car allows for easy transportation up Cap Diamant connecting to Upper
Town from the narrow Petit-Champlain road at the foot of the Cape to the top with
a marvelous view of the city. Côte de la Montagne is another option for hikers.
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Quebec City’s Historic District
The Old Québec heritage site is located in Québec City although it is
administratively recognized as a part of the La Cité-Limoilou Borough. It has
gained recognition as a part of Quebec’s cultural heritage and is also among
UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
History
The district was established by the National Assembly of Quebec on July 10, 1963
after an amendment to the Historic Sites and Monuments Act. The protected
perimeter of the area was delimited in two stages. The initial layout included the
fortified area as well as its periphery. The second and final layout added other
surrounding areas to the plan on May 6, 1964. The whole district covers a total area
of 1.4 km².
As of December 3, 1985, UNESCO declared the Historic District of Old Québec a
World Heritage Site.
Establishment
The historic district was established following public debates from 1945 to 1965,
concerning the preservation of Old Québec and the restoration of Place Royale.
In 1956, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada was given the
authority to acquire or expropriate any “site, building or other place of national
historic interest or significance.”
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Quebec’s Oldest Buildings
The native inhabitants in Quebec were generally nomadic and did not create any
permanent structures. The first Europeans were settlers from France, who founded
Quebec City in 1608 and erected there the first foundations such as the Habitation
made of wood and set up by Samuel de Champlain. Despite the founding of other
significant settlements in New France in the 17th century, notably Trois-Rivières in
1634 and Montreal in 1642, there are only a few 17th century buildings that still
survive outside the Capitale-Nationale region. Therefore, the oldest buildings that
still remain standing in Quebec are found heavily in and around Quebec City. All
such buildings date from the French regime and are protected as historical
monuments under the law enforced by the Ministry of Culture and Communication
of Quebec.
Maison des Jésuites-de-Sillery, 1637, Sillery, Quebec City
Built in 1730 on a site whose settlement goes back some 3,500 years, the Maison
des Jésuites, home to the first Jesuit mission, presents the history of the site and of
Sillery. Discover an Amerindian encampment, archaeological artefacts and a garden
featuring a wealth of indigenous flora.
2320, ch. Du Foulon, Quebec
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Maison de Madame de La Peltrie, 1644
Born from the union of William and Jeanne Chauvigny du Bouchet, Marie
Madeleine de la Peltrie was married against her will at age 17, to Charles Gruel,
lord of Peltrie (died July 1628). Marie Madeleine was left a widow and childless at
the age of 22, having lost her young daughter in the cradle. Her initial desire had
been to enter a religious order and in 1635 she experienced a burning desire to go
on a mission to New France despite the opposition of her father who again forced
her into yet another marriage. The death of her father allowed this free and
unconventional woman to annul her marriage, and in 1639 she embarked from
Normandy for New France, together with Marie de l’Incarnation, the religious
founder of the Order of Ursulines, a number of Ursuline sisters and a young wife,
Charlotte Barre, who later also became a nun. Marie Madeleine was a rich woman
at this time.
Upon her arrival in Quebec on August 1,
1639, she undertook to convert the people of
the Huron nation as well as other Indian
nations. She also taught them French,
reading and how to make calculations.
Returning from a trip to Montreal, she
decided to devote her life and fortune to the
work of Marie de l'Incarnation and founded
an Ursuline convent. Although she was never
formally admitted to the novitiate, she joined
the order of St. Ursula in 1646, but it was
short-lived. Marie-Madeleine de la Peltrie
nevertheless led a humble and truly religious
life, scrupulously observing the rules of the
Order for the remainder of her life. She died
of pleurisy on 12 November 1671, and is
buried in the chapel of the Ursulines.
Quebec City owes its origin to the
establishment of the first French settlers’ families around the monastery she
founded.
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Maison du Duc-de-Kent, 1648
The home of the Duke of Kent, at number 25, rue Saint-Louis, on the corner of
Haldimand street, is one of the oldest, and perhaps the oldest house in the city of
Quebec.
The house was built by Louis Ailleboust, governor of New France from 1648 to 1651.
The wife of Louis Ailleboust lived in the house until 1670, when it became the
property of the Hospitaller Sisters of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec.
It was in this house that Jean-Baptiste-Nicolas-Roch de Ramezay, responsible for
the defense of the Upper Town, signed the capitulation of Quebec after the Battle of
the Plains of Abraham.
The house is named after the Duke of Kent because it was the official residence of
Prince Edward (Edward-August), Duke of Kent, the future father of Queen Victoria,
who lived there from 1791 to 1794.
The house is listed as a historic monument. Over the years, the building has
undergone a transformation, but the first floor has remained unchanged. Today, the
house is the Consulate of France.
French Consulate
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Maison Joseph-Canac-dit-Marquis, 1620
66, 64 Côte de la Montagne
From 1620, a redoubt stood here to protect Habitation Champlain. The first home
appears here in 1679. At this point, it was a path that connected the house to the
street Sous-le-Fort. Thereafter, the house was rebuilt but badly damaged during the
siege of Quebec in 1759. The current name of the house comes from its owner in
1768, Joseph Canac Marquis, who rebuilt the house. It was around 1867 that
enlargement was done on the rocky peak, east, to give the house its present form.
La Batterie Royale, 1691
Rue St. Pierre
In 1974, archaeological excavations lead to a recreation on the foothills of the
military structure built in 1691, according to the specifications of the architect
Claude Bailiff. It was in existence at the time of Governor Louis Buade Frontenac
and was the fourth generation of batteries built to defend Quebec in the area. After
the Treaty of Paris (1763), the battery lost its military function and became a
platform for trade.
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La Maison Barbel
5, 7 Place-Royale, 29, rue Saint-Pierre
This house was restored at the location where the house was
built in 1754-1755 by Marie-Anne Barbel, widow of Louis Fornel.
Marie-Anne Barbel was recognized in this region of Quebec as a
knowledgeable businesswoman.
La Maison Bruneau-Rageot-Drapeu
33, 37, rue Saint-Pierre; 3A, 3B, 3C, Place-Royale
There were three buildings that were heavily damaged by bombing in 1759 and few
remains of the property were discovered. Gilles Rageot was a notary and clerk of the
manor court of Quebec City in the second half of the 17th century.
Gilles Rageot sailed to New Franch from Rouen when he was 21, in 1663. He was a
clerk of the registry of the conseil souverain. In 1666, he acquired more important
duties. The Companie des Indes Occidentales granted him two commissions in rapid
succession, that of clerk of the seigneural jurisdiction of the town of Quebec on May
5, 1666, and that of notary in the jurisdiction of Quebec. Having been appointed by
the company, Gilles had no right to take the title of royal notary. Intendant Jean
Talon, however, who disputed the company’s right to appoint notaries, issued a
warrant dated November 7, 1666, whereby Gilles could practice as a royal notary.
In 1667, Gilles worked with the Lieutenant-General of Trois-Rivieres on creating
the jurisdictional documents for the town. He was later joined by Talon. In 1669,
Gilles worked on territorial jurisdiction documents with Chartier de Lotbiniere,
where he gained great praise. When the Company finally withdrew from Canadian
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affairs in 1674, Gilles decided to make sure of the validity of his Notary’s
Commission, and asked the King of France himself for permission to continue in his
office. This was granted by a commission signed by King Louis XIV on May 17,
1675. That same day the King also renewed his commission as clerk of the court.
Gilles Rageot thus became the first notary of New France to receive a royal
commission. This letter is preserved in Quebec City to this day.
Gilles lost his first home to fire, and he erected a two-story, half-timbered building
with rubblework and a gable roof. This house was passed on to his wife, who
purchased the vacant lot next door and built a mansard-roofed stone house with on
estory facing the square and two stories on rue Sainte-Pierre. After the Seige of
Quebec in 1759, one of the houses on the property was destroyed. In 1983 the house
was restored to its 18th century appearance, as were other houses in the area. These
houses were designated by the names of their owners who built them or undertook
major renovations at that time and are open to the public in the major historical
area of lower Quebec City called Place Royale a Quebec.
La Maison Dumont-Le-Picart
1, 3, Place-Royale, 38, rue Notre-Dame)
The Dumont home was restored according to the
description taken from the inventory of goods
produced after the death of Eustache Lambert
Dumont. We learned that he had it built in 1689, a
year after the church, using the architect Claude
Bailiff. Previously, the house belonged to Talon.
As for the house The Picart, it was restored by
referring to the style of construction of a building in
1763 by John Mayer. Previously two buildings
occupied this location. One of the two owners was
Jean Le Picart. Before his death in 1700, he became
one of the leading merchants of Quebec.
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La Maison Parent
11, rue Saint-Pierre; 20, 22, rue Sous-Le-Frot, 17, rue des Petitt pains
This building was restored according to the design of the remains found at the
location. It was occupied by Louis Parent, merchant and shipownever, in 1761.
La Maison Duroy-Leduc
39, 41 rue Sous-le-Fort, 7, rue Notre-Dame
The restoration of this house is based on the original designs of 1725. Originally it
belonged to Pierre Duroy, butcher, and his wife, Marguerite Levasseur. As for the
Leduc home, the trapezoid shape of the roof is unusual. It was also built in 1725.
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La Maison Jean-Baptiste-Mâsse
610, chemin des Patriotes, Saint Denis sur Richelieu
Built around 1810 by Jean-Baptiste Masse, the house was used as both a residence,
inn and general store. Today, it houses an interpretive center.
La Maison Sourmande
29, rue Notre-Dame, 86, 88, Côte de la Montagne
This site was occupied by the merchant and capital, Pierre Sourmande Sieur de
Lorne in 1650.
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La Maison Robert-Paré
19, 21, rue Notre-Dame, 72 Cote de la Montagne
Robert Paré built his first home at this location in 1653. The facade of the building
on Mountain Hill is a Castle style facade and was the work of architect JosephFerdinand Peachy.
La Maison Jean-Renaud, des Jésuites
2 to 20, rue Saint-Pierre, 25, 27 Place de Paris
Originally owned by the Jesuits (1683), the location was sold to Charles Guillemin
in 1713. The restoration was carried out during the 1970s, and has reproduced the
appearance of the building at the end of French rule.
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La Maison Paradis
42 rue Notre-Dame
The chronology of the occupation of this site tells us that the Jesuits were building a
basement or cellar between 1637 and 1640. In 1655, the land concession was made
to the Jesuits. In 1667-1668, in the burough paper, the West India Company was
reported as owning a store, a house and a bakery here. The house was destroyed by
the great fire of 1682. In 1761, after the siege of Quebec, Joseph Paradis, French
merchant, acquired the site. The house underwent several transformations until its
restoration by the General Society of Cultural Industries (SOGIC) in 1991.
La Maison Milot
40 rue Notre-Dame
Until 1687, the history of this property was intertwined with that of its neighbor,
the Dumont home. Intendant Jean Talon was owner of the land from 1667 to 1687.
In 1691, Jean Milot, merchant, erected a house on this site. This house had a
vaulted stone cellar. Its restoration is a typical example of a townhouse of Quebec in
the late seventeenth century.
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La Maison l’Archevêque
40 rue Notre-Dame
At the corner of rue Sous-le-Fort, at the staircase of Daredevil and the Côte de la
Montagne, several buildings followed the two buildings at this site since the
seventeenth century. In the nineteenth century, the site included a stone house
with three and a half floors with a shingled roof. The construction of Notre-Damedes-Victoires, in the twentieth century, resulting in its demolition. The stone wall at
the corner of the staircase of Daredevil and the location of the school were classified
as historic monuments in 1962.
La Maison La Gorgendière
13. 15, Place-Royal, 19, 21, Rue Saint-Pierre
The Gorgendière home is located just east of the site of the second home of
Champlain. This house overlapped part of the courtyard of the house, also known as
King's Store, as well as part of its defense system. The first building was erected in
1687. In 1721, when sold to Joseph Fleury, the Gorgendière timbered house was
completely rotten and falling apart. The new owner demolished it and in 1722 built
a masonry house that occupied the entire field. The home became the property of
the Government of Quebec in 1966 and was restored in 1991.
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La Maison Louis et Gervais-Beaudoin
35, 41, Place-de-Paris; 26, 28, rue Saint-Pierre
The house of Louis Beaudoin seems to have been built in 1764 and 1766 by Peter
Stuart and Louis Lizot, using the ancient walls of a building constructed in 1710 by
Louis Beaudoin. This house was preceded by two others built in 1667 and 1710.
Louis Beaudoin, eleventh child of the surgeon Gervais Beaudoin, was born in
Quebec City on October 1, 1694. All historical records date the construction of this
house to 1734-1735. The conquest would have severely damaged this home, even on
the inside.
La Maison Leber-Charest-Saint-Amand
36 ½, 38, 40, rue Saint-Pierre, 7, rue Thibodeau
Maison Saint-Amand was built in 1665. It was razed in 1682 and rebuilt in 1684.
The ground floor consisted of stone walls and floors and wood-framed timber. The
house was rebuilt by the merchant Jacques Leber in 1685-1686. Another house was
built for Joseph Charest in 1757-1758. These houses were destroyed in 1759 during
the siege of Quebec and rebuilt in 1972-1973 by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs
based on historical documents and relics found during the archaeological
excavations.
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La Maison Morin-Quessy-Grenon
4 to 8, rue Notre-Dame, 38, rue Marche-Champlain
The first concession on the location of the Morin house dates from 1657. Henry
Morin was the fourth to build a house in 1754, and was preceded by Gabriel
Gosselin in 1657, Pierre Duquet, notary in 1683 and Pierre Du Roy in 1705.
Another house was built on the site of the house by Armand Quessy in 1775. It was
two centuries later that the foundations were excavated by archaeologists.
The cottage Grenon was built around 1761 by a master carpenter named Charles
Grenon, "... after a ruette leaving the Rue Sous-le-Fort and led to the strike of Cul
de Sac ..."
Good descriptions in archival documents have allowed the reconstruction of the
houses by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
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La Maison Majeu-Couillard
27, 29, rue Sous-le-Fort
This site was granted in 1655 to René Maheu
who built a wooden house that was destroyed by
fire in 1682. In 1683, a stone house was built at
this location. In a drawing by Robert de
Villeneuve, Royal Engineer, dated 1685, the
house was located right next to a vacant lot
marked "build up".
This house has been restored based on archival
material from 1973 by the Ministry of Cultural
Affairs.
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Maison Domptail, 1655
(15, 17, rue Notre-Dame
This house is currently being restored. The timing of this house dates back to 1655
when a concession was granted to Toussaint Toupin. The house probably burned in
the fire of the lower town in 1682, but was subsequently rebuilt. The next owner,
Domptail, gave his name to the house. Indeed, the site belonged to Hubert Joseph
Cross, surgeon, and Anne-Madeleine Dontaille. We also find the latter name on
records pertaining to the home - Madeleine Domptail.
The house was badly damaged during the siege of Quebec in 1759, as suggested by
an etching by Richard Short, an officer in the British Army. Deep in the heart of
this property was the old path leading to the side of the mountain.
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Maison Marcoux, 1670
Pierre Marcoux was born in 1631 in Champagne,
France. It was probably through a three-year work
contract (indenture) that Pierre came to New France
where he is recorded as living in Beauport in 1655.
He owned land north of the village of Fargy (part of
Beauport).
In 1670, the ancestral “mason Marcoux” was built,
which has been passed down through the generations
up to 1990. It is an historic site in Beauport, a
borough of Quebec City.
Maison François-Jacquet-dit-Langevin, 1675
This house is located at 34 rue Saint-Louis, Québec, and was classified in 1957 as
an historic site. The architecture is French-inspired. The stone building is composed
of two contiguous homes. The first, built in 1675 and rebuilt in 1690, has a ground
floor with two sharp roofs sloping right. A stone annex built in 1795 rises at right
angles to the rear. The second two and a half floors were built between 1818 and
1820 and renovated in 1898. This feature has a more advanced front and the slope
of the roof gable to the right is less pronounced. The heritage designation also
includes the land on which the home
stands.
The historical value of this home
reflects the residential styles of New
France at the end of the 17th century.
This home is located in the heart of
the historic district of Quebec, on the
edge of one of the oldest streets of the
Upper Town, near the Chateau
Frontenac.
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Ėphraïm-Bédard House, 1828
7655, chemin Samuel
Located southeast of the Trait-Carré, the Éphraïm-Bédard House was built in about
1828 using the log construction method. Restoration work has uncovered evidence of
different modifications the house has undergone, notably the addition of overhangs
and dormers and the replacement of the summer kitchen by a shed.
The descendants of pioneer families from Charlesbourg: the Lefebvre, the Paradis,
the Bédard families, have lived in the house in succession. It is an example of what
was, in Charlesbourg in the 18th century, the average farmer's dwelling. Restored
to its original state in 1988, today, the house is used as a historic interpretation
centre and houses the "Société historique de Charlesbourg".
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François-Xavier Garneau House, 1828
14, rue Saint-Flavien
Visitors cannot walk by François-Xavier Garneau House without noticing the
distinctive features of this old 19th century bourgeois residence. Among other
things, visitors can view rich private collections that reflect the intellectual activity
of an era that was profoundly influenced by this famous historian.
Garneau was a notary, civil servant, poet, and historian
(born at Québec City on the 15th of June 1809; died there on
the 3rd of February 1866). The greatest writer of 19thcentury French Canada, and its most important historian, he
had a major influence on the thinking and letters of his time.
The son of an unschooled, poor father, young François-Xavier
was known for his keen intelligence.
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Girardin House, 1675
600, avenue Royale
Girardin House exemplifies the beauties of Beauport’s historic district. Built in
1675, the house contains furniture and a large number of objects that bear witness
to the way of life of New France’s first inhabitants. Visiting the Girardin House
takes you to the heart of the area’s heritage and architecture.
Hamel-Bruneau House, 1857
2608, chemin Saint-Louis
This building reflects the romantic spirit of the 19th century, and allows visitors to
admire an historical home built around 1857 as well as discovering a center for the
promotion of culture that is unique to Québec City.
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Léon-Provancher House
1435, rue Provancher
Léon-Provancher House is an interpretation center for natural and historic
environments. It recalls the life and work of priest and naturalist Léon Provancher,
who lived here from 1870 until his death in 1892.
Magella-Paradis House
7970, rue Trait-Carré East
The typical Québec-style house appeared in the early 19th century. A raised central
portion, the symmetric distribution of doors and windows, porches, and the gradual
slope of the roof are among its distinctive features. The Magella-Paradis House,
built in 1833, is a fine example of this architectural type.
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Maison des Jésuites de Sillery
2320, chemin du Foulon
Built in the first third of the 18th century, Maison des Jésuites de Sillery was
leased to British merchants at the end of the Seven Years War (1756–1763). In 1929
the home was classified as a historic monument. Managed and developed by the
Borough of Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge, it houses a collection of hundreds of
archeological and ethnological objects of aboriginal, French, and English origin. It
also features a permanent exhibition, Mission en Nouvelle-France, that tells the
story of the arrival of Jesuit missionaries, the ways of life of the aboriginals, and the
upheaval brought on by their encounter with Europeans.
Pierre-Lefebvre House
7985, Trait-Carré Est
The Pierre-Lefebvre House, built in 1824 on land
belonging to one of the first inhabitants of the TraitCarré, shows the first signs of adapting the country
house to Québec climatic conditions.
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Villa Bagatelle
1563, chemin Saint-Louis
A visit to Villa Bagatelle is a journey back in time to the 19th century, when
wealthy Québec V.I.P.s were making their homes on the cliff at Sillery and
installing magnificent English-style gardens. The choice of rare plants and
undergrowth highlight the potential of indigenous plants. Various thematic exhibits
will captivate visitors.
Moulin des Jésuites
7960, boulevard Henri-Bourassa
Built by the Jesuits around 1740, this water mill is located to the east of the
Charlesbourg district. Traditional in appearance, the mill measures 10 by 18 meters
and comprises two levels, each with attic space, as well as two chimneys. The mill is
city-owned property and has been open to the public since 1991. It offers various
cultural and artistic activities.
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Musée Bon-Pasteur
14, rue Couillard
Occupying a magnificent building dating back to
1878, Musée Bon-Pasteur tells the fascinating story
of the first religious community founded in Québec
City, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, whose
mission was to help women in difficulty and
abandoned children. In an elegant setting adorned
with art work and period furniture, educational
activities and sometimes moving experiences round
out a visit to this unique museum.
Musée de l’Amérique française
2, Côte de la Fabrique
Considered to be the oldest museum in Canada,
this building tells the story of the introduction,
establishment, and dynamism of French
culture in North America. Taking an
essentially historical approach, the museum
features exhibits and activities dedicated to the
arrival and the development of French culture
on the North American continent. It also
reflects a new openness to other peoples and
early exchanges between North American
French speakers and those of other cultures.
The development and preservation of its
heritage has made it one of the finest museums
in the province.
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Musée de la Civilisation
85, rue Dalhousie
Inaugurated in 1988, Musée de la civilisation is a modern state-run museum located
in Québec City near the Place Royale historic site. Known as one of the most
popular museums in Canada, it is distinguished from others by its innovative and
bold museology (study of museums and how they have established and developed in
their role as an educational mechanism under social and political pressures) dealing
with current, historical, esoteric, or even controversial subjects. Its thematic
programming using the latest interactive technologies and multimedia projections
invites the visitor to discover and explore through interactive workshops and some
ten exhibits, two of which are permanent: Encounter with the First Nations and
People of Québec… Then and Now. Musée de la civilisation appeals to all the senses
and to hearts and minds of all ages.
Amerindian Creche
Canoe
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Musée des Augustines de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec
2, rue Charlevoix
Located in the vaulted cellars of the old monastery of the Augustinian Sisters of
Québec City’s Hôtel-Dieu (hospital), this small museum recounts the lives of nuns
who came from France in 1639 to found the first hospital in America north of
Mexico. The exhibit covers a period of three and a half centuries and features a
collection of medical instruments from the 17th century to the present day,
furniture that typifies the sisters’ way of life, as well as religious and ethnological
art objects bearing witness to their continuous ties with the community: paintings,
tin, gold and silver ware, waxes, furniture, coppers, waxes, embroidery, household
objects, and more.
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Musée du Fort
10, rue Sainte-Anne
The one-of-a-kind Musée du Fort is a good starting point for any guided tour of the
city. Its original sound and light reenactment—recounting the rich civil and
military history of Québec City from the time of its founding—takes place on a vast
36 square meter model of the city as it was around 1750. Visitors will better
understand how Québec City earned its reputation as an impregnable site.
Among the exhibits are:
The Destiny of New France – this exhibit in the form of a timeline is enriched by
old illustrations and artefacts. It is the perfect complement to what is presented in
the sound and light show.
Once upon a Diorama – In this exhibit, wooden panels depict the evolution of the
show since the beginning as well as the history of our 200 year old building.
ABC’s of New France – You can rummage through this glossary in the form of an
ancient book to learn more about lesser known facts related to New France.
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Naval Museum of Québec
170, rue Dalhousie
The Naval Museum of Québec relates the military history of the St. Lawrence River
and the Canadian Naval Reserve in an unusual way through historic accounts and
little-known stories. Visitors will marvel at the large collection of unusual objects
and photos allowing them to learn about the traditions of the Canadian Navy and
the naval history of the river, and better understand the lives of sailors then and
now.
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Séminaire de Québec, 1675
The Séminaire de Québec is a Society of Diocesan priests founded on March 26,
1663 by Bishop François de Laval, first bishop of New France, in order to sustain
the mission of the Church in North America. In 1665, he joined this community to
that of the Seminary of Foreign Missions of Paris under the name of the Seminary
of Foreign Missions of Quebec, hence the old acronym still in use today: SME.
In 1668, at the request of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV's top minister, who
wished the aboriginals to be gallicized, Bishop de Laval entrusted his Seminary to
open its doors to young Indians and to the children of the first settlers who had a
disposition for studies and eventually the priesthood. That was the foundation of
the Minor Seminary (Petit Séminaire de Québec).
Séminaire de Québec Today
Maison Amiot, 1679
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Maison Chavigny-Gosselin, 1683
The present house was built on stone foundations updated during archaeological
excavations in 1973. Gabriel Gosselin built the first stone house in 1676. In 1683,
the architect Claude Bailiff drew a second house, which was built by the mason
Jean Le Rouge. The Ursulines were owners of this house between 1849 and 1901.
Maison Louis-Fornel, 1683
With the restoration of the house in 1964, the Quebec government began the
extensive restoration work of Place-Royale. The second owner of the lot, Jean-Louis
Fornel, did enlarge the house in 1724 and built two arches in Place Royale ten years
later. Jean-Louis Fornel was involved in commercial activity, especially with the
Labrador fishery.
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Maison Louis-Jolliet, 1683
Louis Jolliet was a Canadian explorer known for his discoveries in North America.
Jolliet and Jesuit Father Jacques Marquette, a Catholic priest and missionary, were
the first Europeans to explore and map much of the Mississippi River in 1673.
Jolliet was born in 1645 in a French settlement near Quebec City. When he was
seven years old, his father died but his mother remarried a successful merchant.
Jolliet's stepfather owned land on the Ile d'Orleans, an island in the Saint Lawrence
River in Quebec that was home to First Nations. Jolliet spent much time on Ile
d'Orleans, so it was likely that he began speaking Aboriginal languages at a young
age. During his childhood, Quebec was the center of the French fur trade. The
Natives were part of day-to-day life in Quebec, and Jolliet grew up knowing a lot
about them.
Jolliet attended a Jesuit school in Quebec and received minor orders in 1662, but
abandoned his plans to become a priest in 1667. He spoke English, Spanish, and
French.
Louis Jolliet and Father Marquette
Maison Jolliet
Jolliet’s legacy is most tangible in the Midwestern United States and Quebec,
mostly through geographical names, including the cities of Joliet, Illinois; Joliet,
Montana; and Joliette, Quebec (founded by one of Jolliet’s descendents, Barthelemy
Joliette).
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Maison Chevalier, Frérot, Chesnay, 1683
Chevalier House, restored in 1959, is part of the historical Place-Royale and is
composed of three buildings: the house Chesnay, the Frérot home and Knight house
itself, which occupies a special place in the Quebec architectural heritage due to the
presence of firewalls, tall chimneys and vaults.
The Chevalier House was built in 1752 as a home and place of business for JeanBaptiste Chevalier, a wealthy merchant and ship builder. Its location in the PlaceRoyale commercial district, which runs along the St. Lawrence River, was chosen
for its easy access to the river and port operations. It was restored in 1762 after
being destroyed by fire during the 1759 Siege of Quebec. Wealthy land owner,
George Pozer, bought the house in 1807 as an investment property and rented it to
an innkeeper who engraved the name “London Coffee House” on the facade of the
building. Also known as the Hotel Chevalier, it was run as an inn throughout the
19th century. After restoration by the Quebec government, it became a museum in
1965.
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Maison Maheu-Couillard, 1683
This site was granted in 1655 to René Maheu who built
a wooden house that was destroyed by fire in 1682. In
1683, a stone house was built at this location. In a
drawing by Robert de Villeneuve, Royal Engineer,
dated 1685, the house can be seen next to a vacant spot
marked "build up".
This house was restored in 1973 by the Ministry of
Cultural Affairs.
Charlesbourg in 1685-1686
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Maison Hazeur, 1684
The second house built on this site by François Hazeur in 1684 and 1685 was the
most beautiful house in Quebec. The lot on which the house stood was the property
of François Hazeur in 1686. A century later, Charles Smith became the owner. The
ground floor has been commercial space since 1866. The façade was designed by the
architect Joseph Ferdinand Peachy.
Gare du Palais (1915)
450 Rue de la Gare du Palais
Gare du Palais (‘Palace Station’) is a train and bus station in Quebec City, Canada.
Its name comes from its proximity to the Palace of the Intendant of New France. It
is served by Via Rail, Canada’s national passenger railway, and by the private
coach company Orléans Express.
Built in 1915 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the two-storey châteauesque station
is similar in design to the Château Frontenac. The station had no passenger rail
service from 1976 to 1985, although it once again hosts regular daily services west
to Montreal's Central Station via Drummondville. It was designated a Heritage
Railway Station in 1992.
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Maison Jacquet (16th Century)
34, rue Saint-Louis
The historic Maison Jacquet, one of the largest construction projects at the time of
Upper Canada and the oldest in Quebec, was built between 1675 and 1676. The
land had been granted to Francois Jacquet on November 30, 1674, by the nuns of
the Convent of the Ursulines in the region.
The house’s thick walls, solid seals, wonderful paneling and cabinets embedded in
the walls are typical of houses built at that time. The property consists of two
buildings. The one to the west is the most recent; the other a building that dates
back to the eastern French Regime.
Several notable figures resided in the house with Jacquet, among them the author
of the novel "Les Anciens Canadiens", Philippe Aubert de Gaspé, from 1815 to 1824.
The myth that General Montcalm also lived and died in this famous house still
remains, although it is contradicted by history.
Since 1966 the restaurant, Aux Anciens Canadiens, has occupied the building.
What a cute house!
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Notre-Dame-des-Victoires (1687-1723)
Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is a small Roman Catholic stone church in the Lower
Town of Quebec City. Construction was started in 1687 on site of Champlain's
habitation and was completed in 1723.
Originally dedicated to l'Enfant Jésus, it received the name Notre-Dame-de-laVictoire following the Battle of Quebec of 1690, in which an English expedition
commanded by William Phipps was forced to retreat. In 1711, its name was changed
again, to the plural Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, after bad weather had sunk a British
fleet commanded by Hovenden Walker.
The church was largely destroyed by the British bombardment that preceded the
Battle of the Plains of Abraham in September 1759. A complete restoration of the
church was completed in 1816.
François Baillairgé, architect, remodeled the facade of the church in 1916-17. The
church, which was listed as a historic monument in 1929, remains a popular tourist
attraction within the city, as well as a place of worship. It has undergone extensive
restoration in recent decades to restore its colonial French character. It was
designated a National Historic Sites of Canada in 1988 and plaqued in 1992.
Notre-Dame-des-Victoires 1759
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Saint-John-Baptiste Church (1885)
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church is a church located at 410, rue Saint-Jean. The original
church structure was completed in 1847 but was destroyed in the disastrous fire of
1881 which leveled a significant portion of the city. The current church was built in
1884 out of seven types of Italian marble. Designed by architect Joseph-Ferdinand
Peachy in the Second Empire style, the church was inspired by the facade of the
Église de la Sainte-Trinité in Paris. It features a 240 foot spire, 36 stained-glass
windows, and dozens of statues and paintings among other ornate decorations. The
Gagnon brothers were both organists at the church; Ernest Gagnon from 1853-1864
and Gustave Gagnon from 1864-1876.
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St. Andrew’s Church (1810)
5 Cook Street
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation
in the Upper Town of Quebec City. Our hotel is located a block from the
church.
The congregation's roots began with the British conquest of Quebec at the Plains of
Abraham in 1759. Under the leadership of Church of Scotland Chaplain Robert
MacPherson and soldiers of the famous 78th Fraser Highlanders of James Wolfe's
Army in 1759 a congregation evolved. After his death in 1765, MacPherson was
succeeded by another former Chaplain, George Henry.
After the 1763 Treaty, and the coming of merchants from Scotland and New
England, the congregation soon assumed civilian status and was known as the
Scotch Congregation - in connection with the Church of Scotland.
During the 1802 ministry of Alexander Spark, in response to a petition signed by
148 persons, the present Church site was granted by His Majesty George III,
although it was not until 1807 that construction began.
The long-contemplated Church was dedicated on November 30th, 1810, on St.
Andrew's Day, and appropriately named after the apostle. The building remains
virtually unchanged except for the addition of the Vestry in 1900.
On the same triangular site with the church is the Kirk Hall, first erected in 1829
as a Protestant School which continued as a flourishing scholastic institution for
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many years, and the magnificent Manse erected in 1837, which has been the
residence of the ministers to the present time.
William Reed was notably the church's organist from 1900-1913. The small church
directly in front of the Literary and Historical Society was designed for Quebec’s
Presbyterian community in 1809-1810 by architect John Bryson. The church hall
(Kirk Hall) behind it was added in 1836 and served as a school for parishioners’
children.
Kirk Hall
The Manse & Church grounds
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Château Frontenac
The Château Frontenac is a grand hotel in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, which is
operated as Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. It was designated a National Historic
Site of Canada in 1980. Prior to the building of the hotel, the site was occupied by
the Chateau Haldimand, residence of the British colonial governors of Lower
Canada and Quebec.
The Château Frontenac was designed by American architect Bruce Price, as one of a
series of "château" style hotels built for the Canadian Pacific Railway company (aka
CPR) during the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the newer portions of the
hotel—including the central tower—were designed by William Sutherland Maxwell.
CPR's policy was to promote luxury tourism by appealing to wealthy travelers. The
Château Frontenac opened in 1893, six years after the Banff Springs Hotel, which
was owned by the same company and similar in style.
An early postcard of the hotel, circa 1910,
before later expansions and the construction of the central tower
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The Château Frontenac was named after Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac, who
was governor of the colony of New France from 1672 to 1682 and 1689 to 1698. The
Château was built near the historic Citadelle, the construction of which Frontenac
had begun at the end of the 17th century. The Quebec Conference of 1943, at which
Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Mackenzie King discussed strategy
for World War II, was held at the Château Frontenac while much of the staff stayed
nearby at the Citadel. In 1944, the Château became the action center of the Quebec
Conferences of World War II.
Although several of Quebec City's buildings are taller, the landmark hotel is
perched atop a tall cape overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, affording a
spectacular view for several kilometers. The building is the most prominent feature
of the Quebec City skyline as seen from across the St. Lawrence.
In 1953, this hotel was used as filming location for Alfred Hitchcock's film “I
Confess”, featuring Montgomery Clift and Anne Baxter.
In 2001 the hotel was sold to Legacy REIT, which is partially owned by Fairmont,
for $185 million. When Canadian Pacific Hotels was renamed Fairmont Hotels and
Resorts in 2001, the hotel became Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.
In 2011, work began on replacement of the main tower's copper roof, at the cost of
$7.5 million. An image of the roof was printed on polypropylene safety netting and
hung from scaffolding to hide the refurbishing project from view.
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Clarendon Hotel
The Clarendon Hotel, or Clarendon House (French: Hôtel Clarendon), is a high-end
hotel in the historic part of Quebec City. It is the oldest continuously operating hotel
in the city. Our hotel, the Hotel Ste-Anne, is located just around the corner
from the Hotel Clarendon.
The original building, on the corner of Rue SainteAnne and des Jardins, was a house built in 1858 and
designed by Charles Baillairgé. Originally built as a
4-storey house, it was almost immediately sold to
Queen's Printers George-Édouard Desbarats and
Stewart Derbishire. The building hosted the printers
(and various smaller businesses) until 1870, when it
became the Russel House Hotel, which was sold in
1894, and renamed the Clarendon Hotel. The hotel
changed hands again several times until it became
part of the Dufour Group of hotels.
Important extensions and modifications were made
to the building during the 20th century: two extra
floors with a mansard roof and a six-floor Art Deco
extension at 57 Rue Sainte-Anne where the main
entrance, originally on des Jardins, was relocated.
Soon after, another extension was built to enlarge
the hotel. The hotel boasts a fine French restaurant,
Le Charles Baillairgé, and a bar, L'Emprise.
The main architectural interest of the building is its
brick Art Deco façade, completed in 1927 and
designed by Raoul Chênevert. It also has Art Nouveau cast iron grilles and canopy,
giving it a unique combination of styles. Built a few years before the neighbouring
Édifice Price building, its decoration is more geometric than figurative. The building
still keeps its wicket entrance.
The hotel serves as a backdrop to Nicole Brossard's novel “Yesterday”, at the Hotel
Clarendon (French: Hier).
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Parliament Building
The Parliament Building (French: Hôtel du Parlement) is an eight-floor building
and home to the Parliament of Quebec (composed of the Lieutenant-Governor and
the National Assembly). The building was designed by architect Eugène-Étienne
Taché and was built from 1877 to 1886. With the frontal tower, the building stands
at 52 metres or 171 feet in height. The building is located in Place Assemblée
National and sits on top of Parliament Hill in the district of Vieux-Québec–CapBlanc–Colline Parlementaire, just outside the walls of Old Quebec; this area is part
of the borough of La Cité-Limoilou.
The architecture features the Second Empire architectural style that was popular
for prestigious buildings both in Europe (especially France where the style
originated) and the United States during the latter 19th century. Although
somewhat more sober in appearance and lacking a towering central belfry, Quebec
City's Parliament Building bears a definite resemblance to the Philadelphia City
Hall, another Second Empire edifice in North America which was built during the
same period. Even though the building's symmetrical layout with a frontal clock
tower in the middle is typical of legislative institutions of British heritage, the
architectural style is believed to be unique among parliament buildings found in
other Canadian provincial capitals. Its facade presents a pantheon representing
significant events and people of the history of Quebec.
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Chateau de la Terrasse Hotel
6 Place Terrasse Dufferin
Built in 1830, this stately Anglo-Palladian style has
long been one of the luxurious private resort hotels,
with notable owners such as Collin McCallum and
Vesey Boswell, brewers very famous at that time.
Converted into a hotel in 1967 and now owned by
Christiane Marie Bes, it has preserved its interior
architecture with a carved staircase and some
authentic stained glass. The mansion is located along
the Dufferin Terrace, between the Citadel and
Château Frontenac. From its windows you can follow
the course of Saint Lawrence River to Île d'Orléans.
Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site of Canada
175, rue de l’Espinay
The Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site of Canada, located on the north bank of
Rivière Saint-Charles, commemorates the period in 1535 and 1536 when Jacques
Cartier and his shipmates first wintered near the village that would become Québec
City. It also bears witness to the arrival of the Jesuits in 1625.
Various activities serve as a reminder of the encounter between the European and
Amerindian cultures. An exhibit on Cartier’s voyages, the reconstruction of a
longhouse (the traditional Iroquois dwelling) and a vegetable garden, as well as a
model of a merchant ship, lead the visitor back to the very beginnings of the colony.
In addition, the site is ideal for sports and outdoor activities all year round.
Longhouse
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Centre d’interprétation historique de Sainte-Foy
2825, chemin Sainte-Foy
To enter this magnificent presbytery that dates from 1698 is to relive Saint-Foy’s
three hundred years of history, from the humble beginnings of the parish to the
creation of the new Québec City. The interactive exhibit leads you through the city’s
evolution thanks to accounts by its residents as well as documents recounting the
history of the Québec Bridge, the battle of Sainte-Foy, and other milestones in its
development. The history interpretation center provides a wonderful opportunity to
discover every feature of the city: its history and the customs of its builders, the
development of its land (rural to urban), and the workings of municipal life.
Château du Domaine de Maizerets
Le Domaine de Maizerets is a part of
the la Cité-Limoilou borough of Quebec
City. The park is currently owned by
the Commission de la Capitale
Nationale du Québec and is operated
and maintained by the Société du
domaine Maizerets, a non-profit
organization that was mandated to
that effect.
The stone barn and the Château are
two of the oldest buildings in the
borough and both the barn and the
Château are classified as heritage sites
by the city of Quebec. Access to the
park is free and is regulated by the Quebec City by-laws.
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57-63 St. Louis Street
1705 to 1811 period of construction
Three early eighteenth and nineteenth century stone houses are located within the
walls of Quebec City’s Upper Town at the foot of Cavelier du Moulin Park; they are
a notable grouping of buildings from the French Regime.
Belanger-Girardin House
1735 (completed)
A one-and-a-half-storey stone house with a steep roof is located in Beauport (7 km
from our hotel), one of the first seigneuries of New France, and one of the few
remaining early French Regime houses erected in the (then) countryside near
Quebec City.
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Beth Israel Cemetery
Since the 19th century, most members of Quebec City's Jewish community have
been interred in this cemetery; its age, burial house, linear spatial arrangement,
grave marker designs and symbols make it an excellent representative example of a
burial ground in the Jewish cultural tradition. The land was acquired between 1840
and 1858.
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Bon-Pasteur Chapel
A rectangular five-storey stone-faced chapel with a gable roof that is part of the
motherhouse of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; it is prized for its interior
designed by Charles Baillargé and is recognized as an outstanding example of
religious architecture in Quebec.
1868 (completed)
Capitol Theatre / Quebec Auditorium
Remarkable Beaux-Art style theatre with a bombé (rounded) façade; evocative of
the exuberance of Belle Ėpoque theatres.
Completed in 1903.
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Cartier-Brébeuf
A 6.8-hectare (17-acre) park located on the Saint-Charles River, near the former site
of the Iroquoian village of Stadacona; commemorates the winter quarters of Jacques
Cartier in 1535-1536, and the first residence of Jesuit missionaries in Quebec
constructed in 1625-1626.
1535-1536 (Cartier’s wintering site)
Hôpital-Général de Québec Cemetery
The small central part of the hospital cemetery, containing the graves of over 1,000
French, British and aboriginal soldiers, many of whom died in the battles of the
Plains of Abraham and Sainte-Foy, the two decisive battles between France and
England for colonial supremacy of North America.
1755 (established)
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La Fabrique
The former Dominion Corset Manufacturing building; representative of female
industrial workers in Canada's textile industries.
1871 (completed)
Loyola House / National School Building
The oldest known Gothic Revival-style public building in Canada; erected in order
to educate orphans, following the model of the National Society for Promoting
Religious Education, the building housed a number of educational and charitable
works; it was renamed Loyola House when it came to be owned by the Jesuits in
1904.
1823 (completed)
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Maillou House
A two-storey stone house that served as the residence of a number of notable figures
of the French Regime and British colonial administration; served as the meeting
place for the military council that governed Quebec from 1760 to 1764 and
ultimately became the headquarters of the local militia.
1737 (1st story completed);
1767 (2nd story completed)
Manêge militaire Voltigeurs de Québec
Designed by Quebec architect Eugène-Étienne Taché, it was the precursor of the
Chateau-style in Canadian architecture; unique among armouries in Canada due to
its design, it was heavily damaged by fire in 2008.
1887 (completed)
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Montmorency Park
An urban park that forms part of the Fortifications of Quebec NHSC; a former
building on the site housed the Parliament of the Province of Canada at various
times between 1841 and 1866, and briefly accommodated the Legislative Assembly
of Quebec.
1908 (park established)
Morrin College / Former Quebec Prison
A four-storey Palladian-style stone prison, converted to a college and home of the
Literary and Historical Society of Quebec in the 19th century; the first prison in
Canada to reflect the ideas of British reformer John Howard.
1814 (completed)
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Mount Hermon Cemetery
The first rural cemetery established near Quebec City, created due to overcrowding
at the old Protestant burying ground in the city; the funerary monuments and
significance of many of the persons buried in the cemetery commemorate many
aspects of the history of Quebec City, Quebec and Canada.
1848 (established)
New Quebec Custom House
A neoclassical, stone custom house with Italianate detailing; its construction
reflected Quebec City's exceptional growth as a commercial and political centre in
the mid 19th century.
1860 (completed)
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Notre-Dame Roman Catholic Cathedral
16 Rue De Buade
The first parish church of the colony of New France; first built in 1647, the present
cathedral is the product of many reconstructions, and it has been a significant
influence on ecclesiastical architecture in Quebec. This church is about 1 block
from our hotel (west on rue de St-Anne, north on rue des Jardins, east on
rue de Buade).
1647 (first completed)
Old Quebec Custom House
150 rue Dalhousie
The grand greystone edifice with columns is the Customs House, built in 1851. The
customs office, which dates to 1762, was one of the first British civic institutions in
Quebec. Its location here greatly favoured Quebec’s development.
Britain’s colonies in North America
were given a boost by the Napoleonic
Wars. In 1796, Napoleon cut off
Britain’s timber supplies in the Baltic
region. Britain looked to her new colony
for vital ship-building material. Wood
soon overtook furs as Quebec’s main
export.
Annual port traffic in Quebec grew from
about 100 ships a year in the 1790s to
more than 650 vessels in 1810 and
2,000 in 1830.
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Trinity House (Quebec Port Authority)
150 rue Dalhousie
Trinity House was established in 1805 to maintain order at the growing port.
Quebec was then the upstream limit of sailing navigation for ocean-going ships.
Each spring when the ice thawed, wood destined for British shipyards was floated
down the St. Lawrence in great rafts for transport overseas.
Government Wharf, showing King's Bastion of the Citadel.
(Photo - Farfan Collection)
During the shipping season all manner of boats large and small plied the waters.
Fishing sloops, tugboats, barges, horse-drawn ferries, rowboats, canoes and river
steamers jostled the shores alongside great timber ships.
For decades, Trinity House wardens regulated all this traffic. They issued pilot’s
licenses, looked after lights and buoys in the St. Lawrence and dealt with criminal
matters.
In 1858, many of these duties were transferred to the Quebec Harbour Commission.
Today this body is called the Quebec Port Authority. The present building next to
the Customs House, erected in 1913-14, occupies the former site of the Great
Northern grain elevator, razed by fire.
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Bell and Taylor Shipyards
Corner of rue de la Canotèrie and rue Saint-Thomas
During the early days of the fur trade, the rue de la Côte de la Canotèrie led to a
landing spot for canoes on the shore of the St. Charles River.
Scottish entrepreneur John Bell operated a large shipyard just west of rue SaintThomas from 1810 to 1836. Located east of his property was George Taylor’s
shipyard. Taylor, an Englishmen, went into business with his son-in-law Alison
Davie here in 1825. Five years later Davie moved across the St. Lawrence to Lévis
Point, just north of the ferry terminal. Davie Shipyard remains in business today,
the oldest continuously operating shipyard in North America.
A plaque at the corner of rue Saint-Thomas and Côte de la Canotèrie marks the
spot where Benedict Arnold was wounded in November 1775 during an attempt by
American forces to capture Quebec.
Palace Station
450 rue de la Gare du Palais
Quebec’s shipbuilding heritage dates
back to the French regime. From 1739
onward, while still a French colony,
Quebec’s Royal Shipyard was located
on the St. Charles River near the
Intendant’s Palace.
Part of this site is now occupied by
the old Canadian Pacific railway
station. Built in 1915, the station was
designed in the French Château style
by architect Edward Prindle. After the Conquest, shipbuilding resumed briefly on
the St. Charles River before being interrupted by the American Revolution. Because
British law barred merchants from buying U.S.-made boats, many Scottish
shipbuilders moved to Quebec for work.
Among the first to build in the 1780s and 1790s were the brothers William, Patrick
and John Beatson, who had previously served as officers on fur-trading vessels.
They were followed by John and Alexander Munn, John Goudie, William Russell,
George Black, Charles Wood and Thomas Menzies, among others.
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Quebec shipyards turned out 1,600 wooden sailing vessels between 1763 and 1893
to meet the demand of Britain’s merchant navy. At its zenith in the 1860s, the city’s
shipbuilding industry was rivaled in British North America only by Saint John,
New Brunswick. At various times, the shipyards employed thousands of artisans
and labourers drawn from Quebec’s mixed French-Canadian, Irish, Scottish and
English communities. Many of these shipyards and the people they employed were
established in the neighbourhood of Saint-Roch, north of Palace Station. It was at
his Saint-Roch shipyard in 1818 that John Goudie built Canada’s first steampowered sawmill.
Saint Peter Street
(rue Saint-Pierre)
Quebec became one of the world’s busiest port cities thanks to demand for Canadian
wood. By 1840, Quebec ranked fifth in the world in terms of trade volume. Lumber
barons, shipping magnates and bankers controlled most of the commerce. For many
decades rue Saint-Pierre was the financial centre of Lower Canada.
In 1818, John Woolsey opened his Quebec Bank along this street to serve the timber
trade. The same year saw the birth of the Quebec Stock Exchange and the opening
of a branch of the Bank of Montreal, started by John Molson. At one time, there
were four banks at rue Saint-Pierre’s intersection with rue Saint-Jacques.
The Quebec Fire Insurance Co. erected headquarters on rue Saint-Pierre. The
British America Assurance Co., the Colonial Life Assurance Co. and State Fire
Insurance Co. of London all had offices here.
This concentration of financial institutions earned rue Saint-Pierre fame as the
“Wall Street of Quebec.”
The rue Saint-Pierre is across the river, about 5 miles from our hotel.
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Dominion Fish & Fruit Company
This is the first highrise in Quebec City.
Hochelaga Bank
This building was constructed in 1902, and first housed the Quebec Stock
Exchange. It later became a branch of the Hochelaga Bank, which later merged
with the National Bank.
Banque d’Hochelaga, St-Jerome, 1910
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Quebec Bank
The Quebec Bank was founded in 1818 and is the oldest chartered bank in Canada,
after the bank of Montreal. The bank moved to this location in 1862 and merged
with the Royal Bank of Canada. This building is now part of the Quebec Civilization
Museum.
Molson’s Bank
This building now houses a cooking school.
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Telegraph Building
The Telegraph Building was constructed in 1856 by architects Staveley & Dunlevie.
Quebec had been linked to Montreal by telegraph since 1847. The coat of arms
above the entrance is that of the Great North Western Telegraph Company, which
had its headquarters here for some time.
Quebec Assurance Company
The building was the headquarters of the Quebec Assurance Company, the first
insurance company in Canada. It was constructed in 1821 and is now the site of the
Auberge St-Pierre hotel.
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National Bank of Canada
This is the site of the ancient headquarters of the National Bank of Canada,
founded in Quebec City in 1859. The bank moved to this building in 1862. The
National Bank merged with the Hochelaga Bank in 1924 and its headquarters were
moved to Montreal. This is now a 4-star boutique hotel.
Union Bank of Canada
This is the site of the ancient headquarters of the Union Bank of Canada which was
founded in Quebec City. It building was constructed in 1865. The Union Bank of
Canada merged with the Royal Bank in 1924. This building now houses the Institut
de l’Energie et de l’Environnement de la Francophonie.
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Merchants Bank of Canada
This is the site of the Merchants Bank of Canada which was founded in 1868. It
merged with the Bank of Montreal in 1922.
Bank du Peuple
The Bank du Peuple was founded in 1880 and went bankrupt in 1895.
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Southwest Side of St-Pierre Street
The buildings on the southwest side of St-Pierre/Côte de la Montagne Street are on
average 100 years older than on the ones on the north side of the street.
The architecture on the southwest side of Rue Saint-Pierre and Côte de la
Montagne bears the mark of French craftsmen. Many of the houses are made of
limestone from Beauport or Neuville.
The day after the British Conquest, Place-Royale was in ruins. But the
neighbourhood managed to rise from the ashes and it was rebuilt in the same style
in the following years. The same craftsmen remained, and they continued to use
their own methods.
General Store of Joseph Drapeau
Construction on the store began in 1659 by the Gagnon brothers. This building was
constructed in 1782. It was the first general store in North America.
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Unesco Park, commemorating Quebec City’s status as a World
Heritage Site
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Bank of British North America
This building was originally the Bank of British North America but is now the office
of a cruise ship company.
Imperial Bank of Canada
This building was the Imperial Bank of Canada, which opened in 1875.
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Quebec Civilization Museum
84 rue Dalhousie
This building is now part of the Quebec Civilization Museum (Musée de la
civilisation) which takes up an entire block.
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Bank of Montreal
This building was the first branch of the Bank of Montreal, along with its
headquarters in Montreal. It opened in 1818.
This branch of the Bank of Montreal soon proved too small, so a larger building was
constructed on the other side of the road.
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Quebec City Hall
A town hall of the late-Victorian period, whose opulently eclectic exterior and richly
decorated interiors make it one of the most stately municipal buildings in Canada.
1896 (completed)
Quebec Court House
A Second Empire-style courthouse designed by Eugène-Étienne Taché; served as a
courthouse for almost a century, and is a symbol of the judicial system in the
province of Quebec.
1887 (completed)
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Quebec Garrison Club
First constructed as an administrative headquarters by the Royal Engineers, the
building also forms part of the Fortifications of Quebec NHSC. In 1879, officers of
the Canadian Militia established the only military club in Canada that follows the
British colonial tradition of social gatherings between military officers and
influential civilians.
1816 (building completed); 1879 (club established)
Quebec Seminary
One of the oldest educational institutions in Canada.
1663 (established)
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Saint-Louis Forts and Château
Archaeological remains of 4 forts and 3 châteaux from both the French and British
regimes; the seat of colonial executive authority for over 200 years, and the site of
the official residences of 32 of the 40 Governors General from the colonial period.
1620 (first construction on site)
Sewell House
The two-storey palladian residence of Chief Justice Jonathan Sewell; illustrative of
the early 19th-century development of Quebec City's Upper Town.
1804 (completed)
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Tétu House
A three-storey, stone townhouse designed in the Neoclassical style by Charles
Baillairgé; excellent example of the urban townhouses built for wealthy Canadian
merchants during the mid-19th century.
1854 (completed)
Maison Estébe
Built in 1751, the Estèbe House is a prime example of an urban residence of the
early 18th century. With a façade that spans 20 by 15 metres, and 21 rooms heated
by eight fireplaces, this stately home is a masterpiece of Québec’s architectural
heritage. This house is part of the Museum of Civilization.
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Ursuline Monastery
A complex of 17th, 18th and 19th century stone buildings; the old monastery is the
largest and most imposing vestige of 17th-century Canadian architecture and the
chapel altar, made in 1730, is a masterpiece of French Canadian wood sculpture.
1639 (established)
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Quebec Harbour
The Port of Quebec (French: Port de Québec) is an inland port located in Quebec
City, Quebec, Canada. It is the oldest port in Canada, and the second largest in
Quebec after the Port of Montreal.
In the 19th century, the Port of Quebec was one of the most important in the world.
It played a major role in the development of both the city and of Canada. In 1863,
more than 1,600 ships went through the port, transporting almost 25,000 sailors. It
was during this era that the shipbuilding industry grew considerably in Quebec
City.
In the 20th century, the dredging of the Saint Lawrence River between Quebec City
and Montreal moved major port activities upstream. Today cruise traffic has
replaced much of the former freight traffic.
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Petit Champlain
Petit Champlain is a neighbourhood in Quebec City, located in the district of VieuxQuébec–Cap-Blanc–Colline Parlementaire in the borough of La Cité-Limoilou, near
Place Royale. Its main street is the Rue du Petit-Champlain at the foot of Cap
Diamant. It is the oldest commercial district in North America.
Attractions
The Rue du Petit-Champlain Mural
The mural painted on the side of the house located at 102 rue du Petit-Champlain
(currently owned by Coopérative des artisans et commerçants du quartier Petit
Champlain) is a trompe-l'œil measuring 100 square metres (900 square feet). It
represents the history of the district, the bombardments of 1759, the landslides, and
the fires which have occurred in the district since its founding.
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Breakneck Stairs
The Breakneck Stairs or Breakneck Steps
(French: Escalier casse-cou), Quebec City's oldest
stairway, were built in 1635. Originally called
escalier Champlain "Champlain Stairs", escalier
du Quêteux "Beggars' Stairs", or escalier de la
Basse-Ville "Lower Town Stairs", they were
given their current name in the mid-19th
century, because of their steepness. The stairs
have been restored several times, including an
1889 renovation by Charles Baillargé.
Saint Roch District
A trendy downtown neighborhood bustling with IT workers, merchants, students,
residents, artists, and artisans, Saint-Roch was recently given a major facelift. Old
factories, plants, and buildings have been refurbished to restore the district to its
vibrant best.
St. Roche
Our hotel
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The redevelopment of the Saint-Roch Church square and rue Saint-Joseph, have
given the area a reputation for its fashionable restaurants, bars, and boutiques
which have given the area a new lease on life.
A magical toy store and a whole host of other stores selling chic clothing and furs,
kitchenware, and luxury and everyday products vie for the attention of shoppers.
The former working class neighborhood is now home to a superb garden that
regularly hosts events. Further east, you will discover huge murals on the pillars
beneath the Dufferin-Montmorency expressway.
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Faubourg Saint-Jean
The Faubourg St-Jean dates from the French Regime. It is a district where the past
and present exist side by side. In the beginning, the district of St. Jean Baptiste
consisted of two suburbs: Saint Jean, occupying the northern part of the suburb and
Saint Louis, the southern part, just outside the fortifications. The St-Jean-Baptiste
quarter is one of six neighbourhoods in Quebec City and is one of Canada’s most
densely populated neighbourhoods.
A yellow house on Faubourg St-Jean
Baptiste de Québec.
Saint-Jean Baptiste Church
(Faubourg St-Jean Baptiste de
Québec) – constructed in 1884.
Rue St-Jean – the main commercial street.
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Saint Lawrence Seaway
The St Lawrence Seaway (Great Lakes Waterway) is the system of locks, canals and
channels linking the and the St. Lawerence River with the Atlantic Ocean. The
construction of progressively larger canals along the St Lawrence began as early as
1783. By 1900, a complete network of shallow draft canals allowed uninterrupted
navigation from Lake Superior to Montréal.
Between 1913 and 1932, the
Welland Canal, between Lakes
Erie and Ontario, was rebuilt, but
the United States was reluctant to
enter into a larger scheme, that is,
to rebuild the Montréal-Lake
Ontario channels. A threat by the
Canadian government in 1951 to
build a seaway entirely within
Canadian territory resulted in a
final agreement in 1954.
Welland Canal Lock 2
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Construction on the St Lawrence Seaway and Power Project began on 10 August
1954. In addition to the building of 7 locks and deepening navigation channels to a
depth of 8.2 metres, the project also included the construction of the 2090 megawatt
Moses-Saunders Powerhouse near Cornwall, Ontario.
Iroquois Lock
The Seaway was opened to commercial traffic 25 April
1959 with the official opening on the 26 June 1959,
attended by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker,
President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth
II.
The waterway, some 3774 kilometres long from Île
d'Anticosti to the head of Lake Superior, permits
vessels of up to 225.5 metres long, 23.8 metres wide
and a maximum draft of 8.2 metres to sail from
Montréal to Duluth, Minnesota on Lake Superior.
The St Lawrence Seaway Authority, a federal Crown corporation, was established
by Act of Parliament in 1954 to construct, operate and maintain the Canadian
portion of the waterway between Montréal and Lake Ontario, including the locks in
Canadian territory (5 of the 7) and also the Welland Canal.
In 1998, an Act of Parliament allowed for the Canadian part of the Seaway to be
operated by Seaway users and other stakeholders, as a not-for-profit corporation (St
Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.) under contract to the Canadian government.
The U.S. government formed the St Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. to
operate the 2 locks near Massena, New York. The four U.S. locks on the St. Mary’s
River are operated by the U.S. Corps of Engineers.
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The Seaway System
Construction of the Seaway was a monumental engineering and construction feat.
The Montréal-Lake Ontario section, which is often thought of as the whole Seaway,
naturally divides into 4 sectors.
The Lachine section includes the 33 kilometres South Shore Canal, with the St.
Lambert and Côte Ste Catherine locks bypassing the Lachine Rapids.
St. Lambert Lock
Côte Ste Catherine locks
The two locks provide a total lift of 13.7 metres to the level of Lake St Louis. The
Soulanges section, comprising the 25.7 kilometres Beauharnois Canal, includes the
two Beauharnois locks, which provide a total lift of 25 metres to overcome the
Beauharnois hydroelectric power dam. The Lake St Francis section stretches 46.7
kilometres from the western end of the Beauharnois Canal to a point just east of
Cornwall.
Ship going through locks at Beauharnois
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The fourth section, the International Rapids Section, stretches 70.8 kilometres from
Cornwall to Prescott. It includes the 16 kilometre long Wiley-Dondero Ship Canal
and the two U.S.-owned Snell and Eisenhower locks near Massena, New York.
These two locks provide a lift of some 26 metres to the level of Lake St. Lawrence.
At the west end of this lake the Iroquois lock, located at Iroquois, Ontario, and
adjacent to the Iroquois control dam, provides for control of the level of Lake St.
Lawrence relative to that of Lake Ontario. West of the Iroquois lock, additional
dredging was required to complete the Seaway to Lake Ontario. Together, all the
locks between Lake Ontario and Montréal lift a westbound vessel about 69 metres.
Cornwall Canal
In addition to the primary works required to create the Seaway, ancillary works,
such as major bridge and tunnel construction, were carried out in Montréal,
Beauharnois, Cornwall and Massena. In addition, the creation of Lake St. Lawrence
resulted in the flooding of 15,400 hectares and necessitated the relocation of
highways, two small communities and parts of the towns of Iroquois and
Morrisburg, Ontario. In all, over 525 dwellings and 6,500 people, 64 kilometres of
railway track and 56 kilometres of highway were relocated and two new
communities in Ontario, Ingleside and Long Sault, were created.
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Between Lakes Ontario and Erie, the Welland Canal circumvents Niagara Falls. Its
eight locks lift a westbound vessel 99.4 metres over a distance of 43.5 kilometres.
Between Lakes Erie and Huron, the U.S. deepened the Detroit River, the St. Clair
River and Lake St. Clair (where our Great Grandma Julia Farly was born).
Barge stuck in the ice at Southeast Bend, St. Clair River
The Saginaw being assisted by the Salvor tug
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The St. Marys River Canal links Lakes Huron and Superior. Each of its four
parallel locks, on the U.S. side, lifts a westbound vessel the required 6.4 metres to
bypass the St. Marys rapids. A 274 metre long Canadian lock was open to
commercial navigation from 1895 to 1987, when a structural fault in the lock wall
forced its closure. This lock was reconstructed as a smaller lock (77 metres) within
the original lock structure and reopened to navigation in 1998. It is operated by
Parks Canada as part of the Sault Ste Marie Canal National Historic Site, and is
only open to small sightseeing and pleasure craft.
St Lawrence Seaway (freighter enters the canal)
(courtesy Roger Bottling)
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Soo Locks at Sault Ste Marie
Lake and ocean shipping bypass the rapids through the Soo Locks at Sault Ste
Marie, Ontario, opened in 1895, and four American locks that handle more traffic
than any comparable system in the world.
Soo Locks
Seaway Economics
The expenditure of public funds on the Seaway was not without opposition. The
construction of the Seaway was considered by the railways and East Coast ports to
be unfair subsidized competition. Shippers, although in favour of the Seaway,
opposed implementation of tolls. The original St Lawrence section of the Seaway
cost Canada $330 million and the U.S. $130 million. Canada paid a further $300
million to improve the Welland Canal.
Repayment of capital debt, interest and operating costs could not be covered under
the original financial arrangements, and in 1977 a change in legislation converted
the Canadian Seaway Authority debt to equity held by Canada but required that
revenues cover all operating and maintenance costs; this change has been
successful. An additional $600 million, spent by the two countries for hydroelectric
development, has been recovered by electricity sales.
The Seaway has a major economic impact on Canada and the U.S. It provides
economical freight rates for bulk commodities and makes an important contribution
to the basic industries of both countries. The Seaway made possible the exploitation
of the vast iron ore deposits of Québec and Labrador, and turned Canada from an
importer to an exporter of iron ore.
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Approximately 44 million tonnes of cargo moves through the Seaway annually, in
contrast with the annual average of about 11 million tonnes in the 1950s. About
27% of the cargo moving through the Seaway is grain and other agricultural
products; 47% is iron ore, coal and other mine products; and 26% is other bulk cargo
(petroleum products and cement), general cargo or finished goods (iron and steel).
Coal moving to Ontario steel mills and electric-power generating stations is
important cargo on the Welland Canal.
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