My Journey

Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec

The living cathedral of Old Québec, where pilgrims pray at Saint François de Laval's tomb and encounter the roots of the Church in New France.

Location
Québec City, Québec, Canada 46.8137° N · 71.2057° W
Type
Catholic Church Cathedral basilica
Dedication
Our Lady
Why Go

Begin in prayer

Come for the liturgy and for the Church's long memory. Beneath Saint François de Laval's recumbent memorial in the dedicated funeral chapel rest his bodily remains. The cathedral's reliquary gathers saints and blesseds of Canada, while the Holy Door recalls jubilee pilgrimage even when closed.

A living Catholic history

Catholic worship on this site reaches the seventeenth century. After the Diocese of Québec was established in 1674, Notre-Dame became its cathedral. Fire, rebuilding and centuries of parish life changed its fabric without ending its role as the bishop's church. The burial place of the first Bishop of Québec makes it a principal place of pilgrimage to Saint François de Laval.

The cathedral's chapels lead from the altar to the funeral chapel of Laval. A large reliquary of Canadian saints and blesseds is displayed near the Holy Door; the door is currently closed outside a Jubilee opening.

Spiritual Significance

Spiritual Significance

The saint's remains are beneath his recumbent memorial in the dedicated chapel, not in the cathedral crypt.

Do Not Miss · 3 stops

Do Not Miss

  1. Laval’s tomb

    His bodily remains rest beneath the gisant in a dedicated funeral chapel.

  2. Canadian saints’ reliquary

    A visible sign of the Church’s witness across the country.

  3. Holy Door

    A sign of pilgrimage whose opening is governed by Jubilee times.

What to notice
  • Continuity of worship in Old Québec
  • The bishop’s cathedral and Laval’s tomb
  • The distinction between funeral chapel and crypt
How to Visit

How to Visit

Begin with prayer at the altar and check the day's liturgy. Visit Laval's funeral chapel and pray at his tomb. See the Canadian saints' reliquary and the closed Holy Door without assuming Jubilee access.

  • 1 Begin with prayer at the altar and check the day's liturgy.
  • 2 Visit Laval's funeral chapel and pray at his tomb.
  • 3 See the Canadian saints' reliquary and the closed Holy Door without assuming Jubilee access.
Current Practical Information · reviewed September 24, 2026

Cathedral prayer and seasonal visits

The parish pilgrimage page identifies the Holy Door as closed and crypt visits as seasonal; confirm current worship and tour access.

Holy Door
The parish currently describes it as closed.
Crypt
Seasonal access must be confirmed before travel.
Mass and prayer
Check the parish schedule for current liturgy.
  • Visits and group activities may vary by season.
Tomb and Holy Door
Pray at Laval’s tomb and verify the current Holy Door status.
  • Do not assume the seasonal crypt tour is open.
Connected Saints

Connected Saints

Saint François de Laval, first Bishop of Québec, is buried in the cathedral.

Saint François de Laval Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec Laval’s remains rest beneath his recumbent memorial in the funeral chapel.
Map · Québec City, Québec, Canada

Map

Editorial sources

Official church sources.

Official

notre-dame-de-quebec.org

Last reviewed

September 24, 2026

Photo credits
  1. Hero. Photo: Marie Bournonville, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source. CC BY-SA 4.0.