Along the shores of the St Lawrence River, where French missionaries first brought the Catholic faith to North America, the Route des Sanctuaires connects Québec's most venerated shrines. This pilgrimage circuit links the great basilicas of a deeply Catholic society, from the modern marvel of Saint Joseph's Oratory to the ancient devotions of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
📜 History & Significance
Québec's Catholic heritage stretches back to 1608, when Samuel de Champlain founded New France. The colony developed a distinctive religious culture, with shrines drawing pilgrims from across French Canada. Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, whose first chapel dates to 1658, became one of North America's oldest and most important pilgrimage sites.
The Route des Sanctuaires was formalized in recent decades to connect these historic sites in a single pilgrimage network. The route serves both walking pilgrims and those traveling by car, offering a spiritual journey through Québec's Catholic landscape.
🥾 Route Overview
The Route des Sanctuaires covers approximately 400 km between Montréal and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, with several major shrines along the way. Walking pilgrims typically require 2-3 weeks to complete the full circuit, though many visit individual sites.
From Montréal's Saint Joseph's Oratory (the largest church in Canada), the route follows the St Lawrence northeast through Trois-Rivières and Québec City to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Side routes lead to additional sanctuaries including Notre-Dame-du-Cap and the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec.
☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites
Saint Joseph's Oratory (Montréal) - Brother André's dream realized in the world's largest shrine to St Joseph, with its massive dome dominating Mount Royal.
Notre-Dame-du-Cap (Trois-Rivières) - A Marian shrine where a statue of the Virgin was seen to open its eyes in 1888.
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré - The grandmother of Jesus has been venerated here since 1658; the basilica houses relics of St Anne and walls covered with crutches left by the healed.
📚 Further Reading
Curated resources to help you research and plan your pilgrimage on the Route des Sanctuaires (Québec pilgrimage circuit).
