Churches and Places of Worship
An incredible wealth of religious diversity can be felt in more than 130 churches, 20 conventual chapels, two cathedrals and two basilicas, all of which bear witness to the many origins that colonized the region: Catholics, Anglicans, and other Protestants.
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Québec City’s religious heritage corporation catalogues the area’s many storied places of worship and provides a variety of tours for visitors.
Visit the side chapel in Notre-Dame de Lorette Church, dedicated to Saint Kateri (Catherine) Tekakwitha, who was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012. She is the first North American aboriginal woman to be canonized.
The Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine
This is the most popular religious site in the province. It is home to the annual Sainte Anne Novena. The experience is a deeply moving and spiritual for the thousands of pilgrims who gather here from all over the world in the hopes that their prayers will find a kind ear in the good Sainte Anne.
The Novena begins every year on July 17, and concludes with the Feast Day of Sainte Anne on July 26.
Near the Basilica, visit the Saint Anne Museum and Cyclorama de Jérusalem.
Religious Communities and Sacred Art
Religious communities played a vital role in building Québec society. Among these, Les Ursulines were committed to education, les Augustines to health, and les soeurs du Bon Pasteur were dedicated to various charitable organizations.
Many of the communities that settled here devoted themselves to the arts, having brought from their homelands knowledge and skills.
Several museums and religious sites provide an opportunity to rediscover these works and the history that surrounds them:
Sacred Treasures
For centuries, marvelous treasures were hidden away in shadowy churches or out of sight in the depths of monastic communities. Today, these beautiful objects have been brought back to light. Take part in an extraordinary treasure hunt and discover them for yourself.
Program Suggestion
Québec City’s religious heritage, both material and spiritual, is unimaginably rich. Its places of worship and museum collections tell a fascinating story. Experience “Québec City: Beautiful and Devout” and explore a world where artists surpassed themselves in service to their faith.
Festivals and Events
The High Feast of Saint Anne, celebrated every July 26 at the Sanctuary of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, is preceded by a nine days of preparation with daily preaching. This period is called a novena.
The Québec International Festival of Sacred Music features music that draws on spiritual impulses from near and far, from the distant past to the present day, and performed by artists from around the world.
2014 is a jubilee year for Québec City as it celebrates the 350th anniversary of Notre-Dame de Québec parish, the oldest Roman Catholic parish north of Mexico and cradle of the Catholic faith in Canada and the United States. It’s a historical milestone with deep meaning!
Our Beautiful Cemeteries
Explore these interesting cemeteries, they are whispers of history...
Québec's National Shrines
Visit our National Schrines and discover our rich religious heritage!
A Wedding in Québec City
A magical and romantic backdrop, a host of fine restaurants, world-renowned services—Québec City is the dream setting for a wedding that’s simply divine!