Located on Place Royale in the lower town of Old Quebec City, the Church of Our Lady of Victories (Notre-Dame-des-Victoires) is a small Roman Catholic stone church steeped in Canadian history. Construction began in 1687 on the site of Samuel de Champlain's first outpost, making it one of the oldest churches in North America. Completed in 1723 under architect Hilaire Bernard de La Rivière, the church was originally dedicated to l'Enfant Jésus.
It earned its current name following French military defenses against British fleets in 1690 and 1711. After being largely destroyed during a British bombardment in 1759, the structure underwent a full restoration completed in 1816 under architect François Baillairgé. Today, this National Historic Site of Canada remains both an active place of worship and a popular tourist destination.
When you visit, you can admire its restored colonial French character, which even caught the eye of Hollywood when it doubled as a French village in the 2002 movie Catch Me If You Can. Inside, be sure to look for a detailed scale model of the Brézé, the historical ship once commanded by the marquis of Tracy.
What to see at Church of Our Lady of Victories, Quebec City
- One of the oldest Roman Catholic stone churches in North America, started in 1687
- Built on the exact site of Champlain's original habitation and outpost
- Restored colonial French character following an 1816 rebuild by François Baillairgé
- Featured as a French village filming location in Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- Houses an interior model of the historic ship Brézé
Visiting tips
Look inside the church to see the detailed model ship suspended in the interior representing the historic Brézé.
How long: 30-60 minutes · Best time: Morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Church of Our Lady of Victories, Quebec City is easy to reach on Quebec City’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Quebec City travel guide.
See the full Quebec City travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.