Parliament Building (Quebec)
Encyclopedia
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
) in Quebec City
. 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–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire
, just outside the walls of Old Quebec
; this area is part of the borough of La Cité–Limoilou
.
It 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 likeness 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.
Additional buildings were added next to the Parliament Buildings:
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
(composed of the Lieutenant-Governor and the National Assembly
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
) in 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...
. The building was designed by architect Eugène-Étienne Taché
Eugène-Étienne Taché
Eugène-Étienne Taché was a French Canadian surveyor, civil engineer, illustrator and architect. He devised Quebec's provincial coat-of-arms and motto Je me souviens....
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
Parliament Hill (Quebec City)
Parliament Hill is located in Quebec City in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou, specifically in neighborhoods of Vieux-Québec—Cap-Blanc—colline Parlementaire and Saint-Jean-Baptiste...
in the district of Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire
Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire
Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire is one of the 35 districts of the City of Quebec, and one of six that are located in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou. This area is certainly the most visited and most toured in the province of Quebec...
, just outside the walls of Old Quebec
Old Quebec
Old Quebec is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town and Lower Town , the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
; this area is part of the borough of La Cité–Limoilou
La Cité–Limoilou
La Cité–Limoilou is the central borough of Quebec City, the oldest , and the most populous, comprising 21.85% of the city's total population...
.
It features the Second Empire architectural style that was popular for prestigious buildings both in Europe (especially 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...
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 likeness to the Philadelphia City Hall
Philadelphia City Hall
Philadelphia City Hall is the house of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At , including the statue, it is the world's second-tallest masonry building, only shorter than Mole Antonelliana in Turin...
, 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
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
presents a pantheon
Pantheon (gods)
A pantheon is a set of all the gods of a particular polytheistic religion or mythology.Max Weber's 1922 opus, Economy and Society discusses the link between a...
representing significant events and people of the history of Quebec.
- Édifice André-Laurendeau was added from 1935 to 1937 to house the Ministry of Transport.
- Édifice Honoré-Mercier was added from 1922 to 1925 to house the Ministries of the Treasury (Finances), the Attorney General and the Secretary General of the National Assembly.
- Édifice Jean-Antoine-Panet was added from 1931 to 1932 for the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Édifice Pamphile-Le May added from 1910 to 1915 for the Library of the National Assembly, various other government offices and for the Executive Council.
Statues
The Quebec National Assembly's facade has 22 statues of major people of the province's history and others on the building's grounds:- La halte dans la forêt (The Amerindian Family)
- Lord Elgin, James BruceJames Bruce, 8th Earl of ElginSir James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, KT, GCB, PC , was a British colonial administrator and diplomat...
- Francois-Gaston, Duc de LévisFrancis de Gaston, Chevalier de LevisFrançois de Gaston, Chevalier de Lévis , born in Ajac, Aude, was a French noble and a Marshal of France. He served with distinction in the War of the Polish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession, and served as a capable second in command to Louis-Joseph de Montcalm in the defense of New...
- James WolfeJames WolfeMajor General James P. Wolfe was a British Army officer, known for his training reforms but remembered chiefly for his victory over the French in Canada...
- Marquis de Montcalm, Louis Joseph
- Honoré MercierHonoré MercierHonoré Mercier was a lawyer, journalist and politician in Quebec, Canada. He was the ninth Premier of Quebec from January 27, 1887 to December 21, 1891, as leader of the Parti National or Quebec Liberal Party ....
- Louis Hippolyte LaFontaine
- Jean de BrebeufJean de BrébeufJean de Brébeuf was a Jesuit missionary, martyred in Canada on March 16, 1649.-Early years:Brébeuf was born in Condé-sur-Vire, Normandy, France. He was the uncle of the fur trader Georges de Brébeuf. He studied near home at Caen. He became a Jesuit in 1617, joining the Order...
- Nicolas VielNicolas VielNicolas Viel was a French Recollet missionary to the Hurons from 1623 to 1625.- Biography :Father Viel traveled to Huron territory arriving there with Father Le Caron. He was studying the language and collecting material to add to Father Le Caron’s dictionary. After almost two years, he decided to...
- René LévesqueRené LévesqueRené Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
- Jean LesageJean LesageJean Lesage, PC, CC, CD was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 19th Premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960, to 16 August 1966...
- Maurice DuplessisMaurice DuplessisMaurice Le Noblet Duplessis served as the 16th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1959. A founder and leader of the highly conservative Union Nationale party, he rose to power after exposing the misconduct and patronage of Liberal Premier Louis-Alexandre...
- Poetry and history
- Louis de Buade de FrontenacLouis de Buade de FrontenacLouis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac et de Palluau was a French soldier, courtier, and Governor General of New France from 1672 to 1682 and from 1689 to his death in 1698...
- Religion and Country
- Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
- Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve
- Francois-Xavier de Montmorency LavalFrançois de LavalThis article is in part a sermon and generally comes close to hagiography.Blessed François-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Quebec and was one of the most influential men of his day. He was appointed when he was 36 years old by Pope Alexander VII. He was a member...
- Marguerite BourgeoysMarguerite BourgeoysSaint Marguerite Bourgeoys was the founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame.- Biography :...
- Jean-Jacques OlierJean-Jacques Olier-Early life:At Lyon, where his father had become administrator of justice, he made a thorough classical course under the Jesuits ; he was encouraged to become a priest by St. Francis de Sales, who predicted his sanctity and great services to the Ccatholic Church. He studied philosophy at the...
- Charles-Michel de Salaberry
- Robert BaldwinRobert BaldwinRobert Baldwin was born at York . He, along with his political partner Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, led the first responsible ministry in Canada, regarded by some as the first truly Canadian government....
- Guy Carleton, 1st Baron DorchesterGuy Carleton, 1st Baron DorchesterGuy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
- Pierre BoucherPierre BoucherPierre Boucher and later Pierre Boucher de Boucherville, born and baptized 1 August 1622 in Mortagne-au-Perche, died 19 April 1717 at the age of 95 at Boucherville, came to Canada from France in 1635 with his father...
- Jean TalonJean TalonJean Talon, Comte d'Orsainville was a French colonial administrator who was the first and most highly regarded Intendant of New France under King Louis XIV...
- Pierre Le Moyne Sieur d'Iberville
- Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye was a French Canadian military officer, fur trader and explorer. In the 1730s he and his four sons opened up the area west of Lake Superior and thus began the process that added Western Canada to the original New France in the Saint Lawrence basin...
- Jacques MarquetteJacques MarquetteFather Jacques Marquette S.J. , sometimes known as Père Marquette, was a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault Ste. Marie, and later founded St. Ignace, Michigan...
- Louis JollietLouis JollietLouis Jolliet , also known as Louis Joliet, was a French Canadian explorer known for his discoveries in North America...
- Marie GuyartMarie GuyartMarie Guyart, known latterly as Marie de l'Incarnation, , was an Ursuline nun who was the religious foundress of the Ursuline order in New France. Marie Guyart was also known as Marie Martin when she got married to Mr. Martin.Born in Tours, France, Marie married Claude Martin and had a son before...
See also
- Old Parliament Building (Quebec)Old Parliament Building (Quebec)Old Parliament Building was the site of the seat of government of Lower Canada, Canada West, Province of Canada and Quebec.It was located in what is Parc Montmorency today, the site of two Parliament buildings from 1791 to 1883.-History:...
1777-1840, 1850–1854 and 1859–1883 - Bonsecours MarketBonsecours MarketBonsecours Market , at 350 rue Saint-Paul in Old Montreal, is a two-story domed public market. For more than 100 years, it was the main public market in the Montreal area. It also briefly accommodated the Parliament of United Canada for one session in 1849....
1849 - Philadelphia City HallPhiladelphia City HallPhiladelphia City Hall is the house of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At , including the statue, it is the world's second-tallest masonry building, only shorter than Mole Antonelliana in Turin...
completed 1901 in a similar style