Du Palais Station

Gare du Palais © Parks Canada / Michelle Cinanni, 2007

In 1993 the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) designated VIA Rail’s Du Palais Station in Québec City a heritage railway station because of its architectural, historical and environmental value.

Built in 1915 close to the port and the adjacent industrial sector, the new station was the outcome of a project to develop and streamline Québec City’s rail links; the same initiative gave rise to the Québec Bridge (completed in 1917 and given HSMBC recognition in 1995). For the first time, a number of railway companies operated under the same roof, which is why the building was named Union Station in 1917.

The building is remarkable as well for its architectural qualities, not only aesthetic but functional and technical. Designed by the American architect Edward Prindle, the station is an example of the Château style of construction that is common in the cityscape of Québec; other examples are the Armoury (built in 1887 and recognized by the HSMBC in 1986), the Château Frontenac (built in 1892–93 and recognized by the HSMBC in 1980) and the old post office (built in 1938 and classified by the the Federal Heritage Building Review Office in 1990). Together, the station and post office form a majestic whole.

The station is imposingly massive, with a monumental hall. It also impresses with its elegant decoration and high-quality materials: marble and terrazzo floors, brick walls, a vaulted ceiling covered by mosaic tile, and extensive glazing that includes stained glass windows. The arrangement of space and the L-shaped layout are particularly innovative.