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PLANNING YOUR VISITS TO QUÉBEC

Walking for days, or even a few weeks, toward Quebec City means setting a destination for yourself.

For this journey to be meaningful, it must offer something beyond the walk itself: visits to historic sites and holy places, outreach to the needy, and celebrations. The KAPOAH-Quebec (Canada) Camino to Santiago de Compostela leads somewhere: either to personal and spiritual growth, a deeper Christian faith, or both.

Climax

The Holy Door and the Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady

At the end of your walk, stepping through the doors of the cathedral-basilica or the Holy Door (during Jubilee years) becomes much more than simply reaching your destination. After the kilometers you’ve walked, the landscapes you’ve passed through, the moments of silence, the encounters, and sometimes the trials, this place welcomes you as a place of inner respite.

Entering this holy place takes on a very special meaning: that of a step taken in trust, of a heart that allows itself to be touched and renewed. It is a moment to lay down what has accompanied you on your journey—your intentions, your weariness, your joys, your questions, the answers found along the way, or those that remain unanswered. Here, the pilgrim can simply pause, give thanks for the journey taken, and let everything that this walk has transformed resonate within.

 

The Holy Walker

Don’t miss the visit to the tomb of Saint François de Laval, the veneration of the relic and the statue of Saint François the Walker—the most famous of the first pilgrims on the Camino pro-Compostella from Kapoah to Quebec (Canada)—for his life, his faith, and his ministry.

At the end of the KAPOAH-Québec (Canada) Camino to Santiago de Compostela

The Cathedral Basilica is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer. Take a few minutes to reflect, enjoy the peace of the place, take stock of your hiking pilgrimage, and join in one of the celebrations with the local community.

Mass

To be united with God

Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. / 12:10 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. / 4:30 p.m. (summer season)
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. / 11:00 a.m. (summer season)

If it has been a long time since you last went to confession, it is recommended that you do so before receiving Communion. If you have not been baptized, you cannot receive Communion, but you may still step forward, cross your arms over your chest, and the priest will bless you.

 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

To Be Reconciled with God

Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) is available at the back of the cathedral basilica, in one of the confessionals.

 

Places of Contemplation

To communicate with God or invoke the Canadian saints

The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (left side aisle), where you can also light a candle ($).

The Chapel of the Sacred Heart, the Holy Door, and the relics of the saints and blessed of Quebec (left side aisle, glass-enclosed chapel), where visitors can submit their prayer intentions.

The tomb of Bishop de Laval, his statue, and his relic (right side aisle)

CATHEDRAL WEBSITE

Spiritual Reflections and Acts of Solidarity

Pilgrimage Sites

Most of these sites are just a short walk from the cathedral basilica and also offer an opportunity to learn about the origins of Quebec City’s founding. For guided group tours of Quebec City’s holy sites, advance registration is generally required. Visit the Pèlerinage Québec website.

QUEBEC PILGRIMAGE

Aid for the Needy, Charitable Service

We invite you to extend your pilgrimage by making a concrete gesture of solidarity with those most in need. Several opportunities for volunteer work or social and charitable service are available; please call us before coming to the site.

Other Places to Explore in Quebec City

On the outskirts of Old Quebec

  • Notre-Dame de Rocamadour Shrine : 1260 4th Avenue, Quebec City. Accessible on foot from Old Quebec or by bus 28. (418) 623-4926 (ext. 200)
  • Sainte-Thérèse Shrine : 158 Bertrand Street, Quebec City; accessible by Bus 800 to the D’Estimauville terminal, then transfer to bus routes 54, 55, or 57 to the corner of Louis XIV and Raymond Streets, right next to the sanctuary.
  • Sacré-Cœur Shrine (Canadian Montmartre): 1669–1679, Chemin Saint-Louis, Quebec City (Sillery) 418-681-7357, 4.2 km from Old Quebec / bus 25
  • Jesuit Mission – Reduction : 2320 Chemin du Foulon, Québec (Sillery) (418) 654-0259 / 6.5 km from Old Québec / Buses 25 and 16. Open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Historic and Cultural Sites

In addition to historic churches, the Ruins of Château Saint Louis, the Citadel, walk along the ramparts lined with cannons, through Montmorency Park and the Battlefield Park, the Seminary Courtyard, admire the historic houses in the narrow streets, the Place Royale, the Museum of Civilization and the Musée d’histoire nationale du Québec at the Seminary (fall 2026).