Chapelle/Musée des Ursulines

Frommer's Review

This chapel is notable for the sculptures in its pulpit and two richly decorated altarpieces. They were created by Pierre-Noël Levasseur between 1726 and 1736. Although the present building dates only from 1902, much of the interior decoration is nearly 200 years older. The tomb of the founder of the Ursulines teaching order, Marie de l'Incarnation, who arrived in Québec City in 1639 at the age of 40, is to the right of the entry. The Ursuline convent, built originally as a girls' school in 1642, is the oldest in North America, and Marie de l'Incarnation was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980. The museum tells the story of the nuns, who were also pioneers and artists. Included are vestments woven with gold thread by the Ursulines and a cape made of the drapes from the bedroom of Anne of Austria, which was given to Marie de l'Incarnation when she left for New France in 1639. There are also musical instruments and Amerindian crafts, including the flèche, or arrow sash, which is still worn during the winter carnival. Some of the docents are nuns of the still-active order.

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