Monastery of the Ursulines of Québec

 Marie de l’Incarnation, the founder of the Community of the Ursulines of Québec, played a key role during New France’s first decades. The original monastery, whose construction she oversaw, also housed the colony’s first school for young girls.                  

The first Ursulines were quick to acquire a reputation in the art of embroidery, know-how they passed down for three centuries. Over time they produced a vast quantity of altar frontals and liturgical vestments in silk, wool, and gold thread. Much of this liturgical treasure has survived to the present day.

 

 

Beginnings of the Monastery

 

How the Monastery grew over the years

 

Map of the Monastery

 

Nighttime at the boarding school

 

The bedroom

 

Mealtimes

 

The table where the girls ate. Each girl had a drawer where her place setting was kept.

 

Sample place setting

 

 

The first day of school

The grid which closed after the girls said goodbye to their parents and entered the school.

 

Items used for calisthenics 

 

 

 Ursuline Chapel

View of the altar

Altar information

Marie de l'Incarnation's tomb

View of the back of the chapel