Canada Guide
Québec City
Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires
Address: West side of Place Royale
Opening time: Daily May to mid-Oct 9.30am–5pm, rest of the year 10am–4pm
Telephone: 418/692-1650
Price: Free
The Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires nearly always has a wedding in progress during the summer. It was built by Laval in 1688 but has been completely restored twice – after being destroyed by shellfire in 1759 and a fire in 1969. Inside, the fortress-shaped altar alludes to the two French victories over the British navy that gave the church its name: the destruction of Admiral Phipps' fleet by Frontenac in 1690 and the sinking of Sir Hovenden Walker's fleet in 1711. Paintings depicting these events hang above the altar, while the aisles are lined with copies of religious paintings by Van Dyck, Van Loo and Rubens, gifts from early settlers to give thanks for a safe passage. The large model ship suspended in the nave has a similar origin.