Discover places rich in heritage treasures and history
From Varennes to Châteauguay, via Boucherville, Longueuil, La Prairie and Kahnawake, the Sanctuaries of the St. Lawrence offer you seven distinctive sites where history, built heritage and the environment will blow you away.
The first structured religious heritage tour in Quebec, the Sanctuaires du fleuve offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the traditions and realities of another era.
Each stop has its own undeniable architectural and heritage character. From the very first approach, you can see the particularities of the various architectural styles and the ingenuity of the craftsmen of the time.
Free or reduced admission
These architectural gems are complemented by an indoor museum space, brimming with information on the history of the site, highlighting the careers of daring characters and displaying artifacts rich in anecdotes and unique stories. The seven sanctuaries on this itinerary are open to the public on a summer schedule or by appointment. Find out more from each of them.
Each sanctuary has much to offer: historic sites, distinctive architecture, permanent and temporary exhibitions, and more.
Discover their special features...
Sanctuary of Saint Marguerite d’Youville, Varennes
This sanctuary is dedicated to the first Canadian-born saint, Marguerite d’Youville. At her birthplace, discover life, spirituality and work of this woman who devoted herself to those most in need. Visit the exhibition hall, the funeral chapel in the Basilica of Saint Anne of Varennes (1887) and the “Maison Grise” (Grey House), a place that welcomes pilgrims and offers help to the community. Also temporary exhibition and tour of the basilica.
• 201, Sainte-Anne Street, Varennes, QC J3X 1R6
https://www.sanctuairesdufleuve.com/en/sainte-marguerite-dyouville-sanctuary/
Sainte-Famille Church, Boucherville
Founded in 1667, Boucherville is one of the oldest cities in Québec and the Church Square is the historic heart of the city. Built in stone, the church, flanked by the former convent on the right and the former presbytery on the left, dominates the place. In addition to the beauty of the church, which features a high altar considered one of the masterpieces of Quebec's ancient sculpting, a museum of sacred art has been built. Numerous artifacts and objects of interest.
• 560, Marie-Victorin Boulevard, Boucherville, QC J4B 1X1
http://sanctuairesdufleuve.com/en/sainte-famille-church/
Marie-Rose Centre, Longueuil
This museum space is at the heart of a listed heritage site with 18th- and 19th-century buildings, including the foundation house of the first women religious teaching congregation founded by a Canadian, Marie-Rose Durocher. It also houses the first cemetery of the Congrégation des Sœurs des Saints Noms de Jésus et de Marie (SNJM). While you can’t visit the interior spaces at the moment, you can learn more about some of the special attractions on the web page. You can also take advantage of special events when we offer an outdoor historical tour to discover some of the region’s and the congregation’s history. The tomb of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher is in the chapel dedicated to her in the co-cathedral, a five-minute walk away.
• 80, rue Saint-Charles Est, Longueuil, QC J4H 1H9
https://www.sanctuairesdufleuve.com/en/centre-marie-rose/
Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Co-cathedral, Longueuil
The Co-cathedral, with its Gothic Revival architecture and Neo-Byzantine dome, was inaugurated in 1887 and is listed as a heritage building. The co-cathedral’s value as a heritage building and its unique character put it among the top-rated buildings in Quebec. It also houses the tomb of the SNJM’s foundress, Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher. Its museum contains artifacts dating back to the parish’s origins in 1697, providing an insight into the Lemoyne family and Longueuil’s first steps. Temporary exhibitions and a varied cultural program are also on display.
• Corner of Saint-Charles Street and Chemin Chambly, Longueuil, QC J4H 1J3
https://www.sanctuairesdufleuve.com/en/saint-antoine-de-padoue-co-cathedral/
La Nativité-de-la-Sainte-Vierge Church, La Prairie
A visit to this sanctuary is an invitation to immerse yourself in the history of La Prairie, where you'll discover intriguing relics of the past, such as an ancient mass grave and a bell dating back to 1767! The church, built in 1840, preserves many works of art ready to be unveiled: bronze high altar, spectacular pulpit, stained-glass windows... Following recent archaeological excavations beneath the parvis, a number of elements were discovered, revealing in part the foundations of the first wooden church. Visits are suspended until July 10, 2024, but it is still possible to take a tour of old La Prairie and the Musée d’archéologie. Find out more.
• 145 chemin Saint-Jean, La Prairie, QC J5R 2J9
https://www.sanctuairesdufleuve.com/en/la-nativite-de-la-sainte-vierge-sanctuary/
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine, Kahnawake
Jesuit Mission of the 18th century located in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake. Built in 1720 in the old Fort St. Louis, the mission exhibits historical, cultural and archaeological treasures, including the tomb of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, a young Native American, canonized on October 21, 2012. Located in front of the church, the Interpretation Center is open on specific terms and schedule.
• 1 River Road, Kahnawake, QC J0L 1B0
http://sanctuairesdufleuve.com/en/saint-kateri-tekakwitha-shrine/
Youville Manor, Châteauguay
Manoir d'Youville is located on the site of the Châteauguay seigneury, acquired in 1765 by Marguerite d'Youville, founder of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal (Grey Nuns). At the time, the site was mainly used to cultivate land to feed the sick, notably at the Hôpital général de Montréal, run by the Grey Nuns. Its location on Saint-Bernard Island, bordering the Châteauguay River and Lake Saint-Louis, gives it a picturesque touch, while revealing some of its heritage attractions: one of the oldest mills in North America, a grotto, a cemetery... A wildlife refuge is also open to the public.
• 498 bd d'Youville, Châteauguay, QC J6J 5T9
https://www.sanctuairesdufleuve.com/en/youville-manor/
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