The St. Lawrence river runs from Kingston past Brockville and Montreal to Quebec City then out to the Atlantic. It’s an important waterway that helped build Canada with trade and transportation. What is less well-known are the churches along the river between Montreal and Quebec City. Four of the ten oldest cities in the country are situated on the river, including scenic Trois-Rivières.
Starting from the north, the Saint-Louis de Lotbinière Church was built in 1818 and contains fine sculptures by François Baillairgé, one of few colonial artists who studied art at Paris’ Académie Royale. His work influenced generations of architects and artists in Quebec. The church at Lotbinière remains one of the most highly decorated in the province.
Famous gold- and silversmith François Ranvoyzé also worked in the area producing fine works of church silver in the 18th century. His work is distributed among churches in the region, but his best work can be found in a church in Gentilly, just an hour south of Lotbinière.
The Nicolet Cathedral just south of Trois-Rivières had the world’s largest stained-glass window at the time it was built in 1963. The window measures 52 metres wide by 21 metres high. The window was designed by local artist Jean-Paul Charland and produced in Paris.
The Governor’s Cottage in Sorel-Tracy was built in 1781 so the commander-in-chief can live at a strategic location during a time of war, especially with the Americans. Four Canadian Governors and a half-dozen commanders-in-chief resided here. The first recorded Christmas tree in the Americas was also lit at this house.
Down in Boucherville just north of Montreal, is the house where Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine was born. He was the first premier of a responsible government in Canada. Just a few minutes away is the 1801 Sainte-Famille Church that has a significant collection of religious art, it is a designated historical site both for its art and architecture.
