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A Heritage to Protect

Today, protection and enhancement of the property holdings is overseen by Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC). Learn more about the buildings of Place-Royale and its heritage.

Excerpt from the Destination Québec Cité website

The History of Place-Royale

During the French Regime, Place-Royale was known as “place du marché” (the marketplace) until 1686, and was used primarily for commercial purposes. However, the area was frequented by Indigenous Peoples long before the first European settlers arrived. The earliest traces of Indigenous presence indicate the passage of small nomadic groups who subsisted on hunting, fishing, and gathering. In 1682, a devastating fire destroyed the first wooden dwellings. Under the authorities’ orders, the owners subsequently rebuilt their houses using stone, with party walls taller than the roofs acting as firebreaks, as can still be seen today.
A neighborhood reflecting the architecture of New France
A few years later, in 1686, a bust of Louis XIV was installed by the intendant of New France to replicate French customs, and the public square was then designated as Place-Royale. In 1700, the merchants moved the bust into storage under the pretext that it obstructed traffic during deliveries. In 1759, the buildings were once again damaged during the Siege of Québec and subsequently rebuilt under British rule. The market was relocated elsewhere in the city and, unfortunately, the neighborhood slowly fell into disrepair until the mid-1900s.
Excerpt from the website of Ville de Québec

A Significant Reconstruction

In the middle of the 20th century, the neighborhood was in a sad state. The restoration of Place-Royale by the Québec government in the 1960s and 1970s aimed to highlight the importance of the site as the “cradle of French North America” and to make it a symbol of La Francophonie in the Americas. The rebuilding efforts were based on historical, architectural, and archaeological data. The archaeological collection at Place-Royale and the historical and archaeological site of Habitation-Samuel-De Champlain were classified by the Québec government in 1999 and 2008, respectively. Thanks to these restoration efforts, Place-Royale regained its former pride, including its bust of Louis XIV, and it continues to welcome merchants, residents, and visitors from around the world.
Meticulously maintained buildings
The team at SODEC works diligently on the ongoing restoration of these heritage buildings. Every detail is carefully considered, and you'll find various projects continually underway, as these centuries-old properties require extensive care.

Historic buildings in Place Royale

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La maison L’Archevêque
La maison La Gorgendière
La maison Louis et Gervais-Beaudoin
La maison Leber-Charest-Saint-Amant
La maison Morin-Quessy-Grenon
La maison Maheu-Couillard
Le Parc du Porche
Le Phare de Pointe-des-Monts
La maison Soumande
La maison Robert-Paré
La maison Jean-Renaud, des Jésuites
Les maisons Smith et Hazeur
La maison Paradis
La maison Milot
La maison Domptail
La maison Chavigny-Gosselin
La maison Joseph-Canac-Dit-Marquis
La Batterie Royale
La maison Barbel
La maison Bruneau-Rageot-Drapeau
La maison Dumont-Le Picart
La maison Parent
La chapelle Cuthbert
L’Ancienne église de Saint-Pierre
La maison Duroy-Leduc
La maison Louis-Fornel
La maison Jean-Baptiste-Mâsse
La Pointe-du-Moulin
Heritage real estate portfolio of SODEC

This heritage must be protected

The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) protects and enhances a heritage real estate portfolio consisting of 32 buildings: 26 in Place-Royale in Old Quebec, five interpretation sites in the regions, and one site in Montreal
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