The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and the Sainte-Anne Canyon

June 11, 2023 by admin

Located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, this historic pilgrimage site is one of the best known in Canada. Not only is it steeped in history but you will also be close to the The Basilica of Sainte-Anne Ski hill with its magnificent Canyon, allowing you to enjoy a side of nature with your cultural main course.

This article is a stub of my article on Quebec City.

Who is Sainte-Anne?

For those of you who where wondering, Saint Anne was the mother of Mary and as such was also the maternal grandmother of Jesus. She has been venerated in the Eastern Orthodox church as far back as the 6th century. St Anne’s Feast Day is the 26 July where visitors to her shrines grow to their maximum extent. She currently has two primary shrines:

Ste-Anne-d’Auray in Brittany, France
Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré near Québec City

Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and the Canyon

Town of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré

The small town of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is but a dot on the map. You would easilly pass it without noticing if it was not for the Basilica. It is litterally a one street town. The older section (eg Not the McDonalds on Roadway 138) is built around Ave Royale.

Here you will find a few older buildings including a gift shop, art galleries and a cafe. It is very much in the mould of the old Quebec towns with a mix of wood sided buildings, masonry structures and cinder-block.

Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré

Looking out at the town is the Basilica with its massive front garden and fountain.

The site that the building is on was once the property a French settler called Étienne de Lessard. In 1658, he donated two acres of his property to the Catholic Church. On this site the shrine dedicated to Saint Anne took life.

The building you see today however is a more modern construction then one would expect. The chapel was said to have helped cure many miracles, and over time grew with its reputation with royalty like Anne of Austria, the wife of Louis XIII and Queen of France, even taking notice. In fact Anne would support the shrine from abroad.

In 1876, a basilica, the first such structure on this land was opened. Yet it burned to the ground in 1922, the work to replace it took hold in 1926 and lasted until 1946, with a slowdown taking place during the depression.

The inside features Gothic elements as well as beautiful painted ceilings and stained glass. There are two pillars in the front entrance of the building that have been covered in crutches. If you believe in miracles, these are from people who are said to have been miraculously cured from their ailments.

On the wooded hillside north of the church you will find a commemorative chapel and the Scala Santa.

The Scala Santa is the staircase Jesus would have had to climb to his crucifixion. This is represented in this second church.

Behind it you will find a trail leading uphill. This is a way of the cross, much like you would have in a cavalry. Behind the top of this mini shrine you will find a monastery, now offering space for rent.

Cyclorama de Jérusalem

A Cyclorama is a painting built out on a 360 degree scale. These majestic paintings are not only impressive, but it very rare to find some that have been preserved, especially considering that most were created in the mid to late 19th centuries. This one specifically was created in 1895 and is located directly in town. It portrays the city of Jerusalem near the time of Jesus. Other notable examples include the Racławice Panorama in the city of Wrocław, Poland and the Civil War panorama detailing the battle of Gettysburg.

Canyon Sainte-Anne

Located only a few kilometres from the Basilica, just south of the base of the Ski Hill, you will find this stunning deep gorge with a massive waterfall. Today views of the Canyon are offered via a collection of boardwalks and suspension bridges.