Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, located in the heart of Old Québec, is the primatial church of Canada and the seat of the Archdiocese of Québec. Founded in 1647, it is the oldest diocesan see north of Mexico and the mother church of the oldest Catholic parish in North America. Elevated to the rank of minor basilica in 1874 by Pope Pius IX—the first church in North America to receive this title—it stands as a cornerstone of Canadian Catholic history. Over the centuries, the cathedral has endured destruction and rebirth, notably after the British bombardment of 1759 and a devastating fire in 1922. Each reconstruction preserved its spiritual and historical identity while adapting architecturally to new eras.
The present basilica, completed in 1930, reflects a harmonious blend of neoclassical and historic elements inspired by earlier designs. In 2014, it received the first Holy Door outside Europe, marking the 350th anniversary of the parish and reinforcing its global ecclesial significance. Beneath the church lies a crypt containing the tombs of Québec bishops and four governors of New France, including Saint François de Laval, the first bishop of New France. Recognized as a historic monument and national historic site, Notre-Dame de Québec remains both a living place of worship and a foundational landmark of Christianity in North America.
- Address
16 Rue De Buade, Québec, QC G1R 4A1, Canadá - Web
https://www.notre-dame-de-quebec.org/ - Visiting Hours
From Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 16:00, Saturday from 7:30 to 17:00, Sunday from 8:30 to 17:00 h. - What to see
Holy Door, relics of St François de Laval
