Architecture of Quebec City
Encyclopedia
The architecture of Quebec City
is characterized by the fact that it is one of North America's oldest cities, being founded in 1608. The original French
settlers in the area imported architecture similar to that found in their native country at the time.
Quebec City
was declared a World Heritage Site
by UNESCO
in 1985, and is the only remaining fortified city north of Mexico
.
Quebec City is not lacking in significant pieces of secular architecture. It has hundreds of surviving heritage homes which have been built in the particular style of New France
. This style is an adaptation to the colder climes of Quebec of ancient 17th and 18th century house forms of Normandy
and other traditional lands of the North of France
.
Quebec City was and still is a predominantly Roman Catholic city. The churches surrounding the city and its neighbouring regions were built to accommodate this fact. Notable Catholic churches in the area include the Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral
, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
in the nearby town of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
.
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
is characterized by the fact that it is one of North America's oldest cities, being founded in 1608. The original French
French colonization of the Americas
The French colonization of the Americas began in the 16th century, and continued in the following centuries as France established a colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere. France founded colonies in much of eastern North America, on a number of Caribbean islands, and in South America...
settlers in the area imported architecture similar to that found in their native country at the time.
Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
was declared a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in 1985, and is the only remaining fortified city north of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
. This style is an adaptation to the colder climes of Quebec of ancient 17th and 18th century house forms of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and other traditional lands of the North of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Quebec City was and still is a predominantly Roman Catholic city. The churches surrounding the city and its neighbouring regions were built to accommodate this fact. Notable Catholic churches in the area include the Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral
Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral
The Cathedral-minor basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec , located at 20, rue de Buade, Quebec City, Quebec, 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...
, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a basilica set along the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, east of Quebec City. It has been credited by the Roman Catholic Church with many miracles of curing the sick and disabled. It is an important Catholic sanctuary which receives about a...
in the nearby town of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a town in La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada, along the Saint Lawrence River, north-east of the Quebec City. The population was 2,803 according to the Canada 2006 Census...
.
See also
- List of Quebec architects
- Culture of QuebecCulture of QuebecThe Culture of Quebec emerged over the last few hundred years, resulting from the shared history of the French-speaking majority in Quebec. It is unique to the Western World; Quebec is the only region in North America with a French-speaking majority, as well as one of only two provinces in Canada...
- Architecture of Montreal
- Society of Architectural HistoriansSociety of Architectural HistoriansThe Society of Architectural Historians is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and preservation of the built environment worldwide....
- Canadian architectureCanadian architectureThe architecture of Canada is, with the exception of that of Canadian First Nations, closely linked to the techniques and styles developed in Canada, Europe and the United States...
- Canadian Centre for ArchitectureCanadian Centre for ArchitectureThe Canadian Centre for Architecture is a museum of architecture and research centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Phyllis Lambert is the Founding Director and Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Mirko Zardini is the Director and Chief Curator....