The new Séminaire de Québec interpretive circuit
A new way to discover our architectural heritage
It has been part of the Québec City landscape since 1663. It served as a refuge during the conquest of 1759. Université Laval was founded here in 1852. A fire practically destroyed it in 1865. In 1806, it was here that the foundation of Canada’s museum tradition was laid, making Musée de l’Amérique française the country’s oldest museum. By strolling the new Séminaire de Québec interpretive circuit, visitors can learn more about the rich history of this site, whose roots are as deep and old as those of the country itself. Since 1995, Musée de la civilisation has been the custodian of the collections assembled by Séminaire de Québec priests and has handled historic interpretation at the site. This new circuit was completed in conjunction with Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec.
“Over the last eleven years, showcasing the historic Séminaire de Québec site and the collections assembled by its priests has been one of our top priorities. Since we began managing the site, we have unveiled three permanent exhibitions—The Settling of French America, The History of our Collections, and Séminaire de Québec, Works & Wisdom—as well as a number of temporary and virtual exhibitions. Today, we are rounding out the guided tour that’s been available for a number of years with a wonderful tool that teaches visitors at any time of the day or year about the fascinating history of these architectural masterpieces that have proudly withstood the trials of nature, the ravages of fire, and the invasions of man,” declared Ms. Claire Simard, Executive Director of Musée de la civilisation.
Nine large interpretive panels share the secrets of the façades that lie beyond the carriage gate and Children’s Courtyard. They explain that Grand Séminaire, as we see it today, was built with 4 million bricks between 1879 and 1882 on top of stones from the old Québec City courthouse, and that vast vegetable and ornamental gardens were cultivated here until it was erected. Forged in 1868, the front gate opens onto the Procurator’s Wing, the Congregation Wing, and the Parlor Wing, which together make up one of the oldest architectural complexes in North America. Did you know that the sundial is inscribed with a Latin proverb meaning “the days slip by like shadows”?
Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec, an organization very active in the cultural scene, partnered with Musée de la civilisation to complete this project. “This interpretation program was all the more important to the Commission since we had already played a major role in refurbishing the Vieux-Séminaire Courtyard and are currently in the process, in partnership with Séminaire de Québec, of installing lights to illuminate this invaluable architectural and heritage treasure,” stressed Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec president and CEO Jacques Langlois.
The Séminaire de Québec interpretation trail is a walk through time, taking you to the past, the present, and into the future. Come in! The gate is open!
Information:
Agnès Dufour, (418) 528-2358
Press relations
Issued: September 19, 2006
