The Séminaire de Québec

Petit Séminaire of Québec, 1900-1925 Credit: Fonds Albertype Company, Library and Canada, accession number 1968-114-523, PA-032060

In 1929, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) recognized the Séminaire de Québec as a place of national historic significance.

Founded by Bishop Laval on March 26, 1663, the Séminaire served three functions: parish work, missionary work and priestly training. From the beginning, the focus was on education, and this led to creation of the Grand Séminaire in 1663, entrusted with parish work and the training of new priests. In 1668 the Petit Séminaire was established to provide instruction to children of colonists. To carry on its educational mission, the Séminaire de Québec set up a network of classical (i.e. liberal arts) colleges in French Canada and founded Université Laval in 1852, an event recognized as of national historic significance by HSMBC in 1972. Its affiliation with the Séminaire des Missions Étrangères led to missionary activity throughout North America.

The Séminaire stands on a site occupied at the time of the founding of Québec by the first farm in New France. The buildings are extensive. Constructed in several phases from 1675 to 1868, they record changes in institutional architecture. Three older wings flank an inner courtyard. Four to six storeys in height, the wings are topped by a gable roof. Two richly decorated chapels add to the heritage value. Other buildings on the site are more recent. Together they give the Séminaire a distinctive appearance that enhances Old Québec overall.