Musée des Ursulines du Québec

The Ursuline Convent in Québec City is a historic site of great cultural and religious significance. It was founded in 1639 by a group of Ursulines led by Marie of the Incarnation, who was later canonized. As the oldest educational institution for women in North America, it marks the beginning of Catholic missionary activity in the region of New France. The sisters, who were the first nuns to land in the colony, devoted themselves at first to learning the languages of the Indigenous peoples and to educating children, teaching them not only reading and writing but also practical trades. After initially staying in the Lower Town and suffering a fire in 1650, the convent was rebuilt on new ground and survived numerous historical crises over the centuries, including sieges by British troops in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Today the grounds house the general motherhouse of the Canadian Ursulines as well as a historical museum documenting the rich past of the religious community. You can see the architectural traces of the different eras, which recall the eventful history of the site, including the time when the French general Montcalm was buried in the convent chapel after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The chapel itself is especially remarkable, as it holds valuable paintings by famous French masters such as Philippe de Champaigne and Charles Le Brun, which reached Québec during the French Revolution through a chaplain of the convent. These works of art lend the sacred space a special atmospheric depth and bear witness to the community's international connections.

The museum is part of national and international networks and continues to serve as a place of education and remembrance. It tells the story not only of the sisters but also of the many figures associated with the convent, including the first Canadian-born abbess and various refugees of the French Revolution. The complex is recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada and offers insights into early colonial history, the role of women in education, and the spiritual development of the region. For visitors, it is an opportunity to experience the living tradition of the order, which continues its educational and cultural mission despite demographic change and modern challenges.