As the head of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Quebec, Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral is austerely beautiful and discreet from the outside. Inside, the parish church of old Quebec is dressed in gold and sparkling stained glass. First built in 1664 on the ruins of the church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, it was subsequently rebuilt many times. The crypt of the church building contains the graves of several governors of New France, and with them the entire history of the creation of Quebec. Today, the church can be visited for its architectural beauty, its small museum, its souvenir shop and its historic crypt. Discover Quebec's heritage, where to eat and what to do around the church
Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica.
- © Leonid Andronov / Shutterstock
The history of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec is not an easy one. While some buildings are built quickly and sometimes even simply, the construction of this basilica is made up of destruction and brief reconstruction.
Notre Dame de la Paix is the building that preceded Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica. It was built in 1647 and survived for several decades. In 1664, Notre-Dame de Québec church was built.
In the Catholic Church, a diocese is an ecclesiastical district placed under the jurisdiction of a bishop, in the name of the Pope. The creation of the diocese of Quebec, which then covered the whole of New France, led to the expansion of the parish, which became a cathedral in 1674. The cathedral was gradually embellished and enlarged, and became the head office of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Quebec.
The Basilica is a national historic monument of Quebec.
- © meunierd / ShutterstockNotre-Dame de Québec was first destroyed by English bombardment during the siege of Quebec in 1759. It was rebuilt in 1766. The architects lengthened the sanctuary and a second lantern was added to the bell tower.
From 1787 to 1793, the entire interior was renovated, a truly mammoth task.
Quebec
In 1922, fire ravaged the cathedral. A destructive fire left only the masonry bare. Restoration work began between 1923 and 1930. The architects based their work on photos and old plans.
The crypt was added to the building later, in 1959.
It contains the graves of :
Notre-Dame de Québec is built in a neo-classical style. Since 2014, it has had a holy door. This door, opened by the Pope, was donated to the cathedral in honour of the 350th anniversary of the parish of Notre-Dame de Québec.
The crypt of Notre-Dame de Québec houses François de Laval.
- © Wangkun Jia / ShutterstockAt the foot of the chapel of the Sacred Heart, in the basilica, are a number of saints. Known as the Blessed, they are grouped together in a reliquary near the Holy Door.
You can visit this site, which has been a National Historic Site of Canada since 1989. Depending on the season, you can also venture into the crypt and the Jubilee Garden. History buffs will appreciate the collection of works of art and archives. For others, the sculpted metal Holy Door is a marvel to behold in detail. A shop is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 10 am to 3 pm.
⏰ Opening times and days:
The basilica is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
👛 Admission:
Access to this historic monument is free.
👉 Accessibility for people with reduced mobility:
Accessibility for people with reduced mobility is partial.
👉 What to do around Notre-Dame de Québec?
A few steps from the basilica, you can find the UNESCO monument and the statue of Samuel Champlain.
You're just a stone's throw from the Petit-Champlain district, a real treat for a stroll, a hot chocolate or an afternoon of shopping, as the Québécois say.
👉 Who is this activity for?
Children are likely to get bored quickly during a visit to this cathedral.
