quebec legislature tour

Parliament Building

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Parliament Building, Quebec City

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National Assembly Tour

On Saturday, Oct. 28, VEQ is organising a guide tour to the National Assembly. The National Assembly  of  Quebec  is Québec’s legislative body. All legislative measures in the province are approved or rejected here, which is why it is important to learn and understand its proceedures.

The guided tour, in English, will last for 60 minutes, but the security screening takes around 30 minutes prior le tour, so do factor arriving at least 30 minutes earlier.

• Meeting place : in front of the Tourny fountain.
• Metting time : Please arrive between 10:15 and 10:30 a.m. as it takes about 30 minutes to go through the security screening

10:15 – 10:30 a.m.    Arrive at the National Assembly. We will meet in front of the Tourny Fountain.

10:30 – 11:15 a.m.    Security screening. To facilitate this process, please read carefull the information here , as it details what is and what is not allowed to bring.

11:15 – 12:15 p.m.     Guided tour in English. Please feel free to ask questions!

12:15 p.m.    End of the tour. If you get hungry, you can visit any of the many restaurants near the Assembly. Additionally, whether you are a Halloween enthusiast or this is your first time experiencing this hooooliday (hope you read it with a ghost voice.. he, he) then strolling around the Old Québec area or the Plaines is  MUST!  Your inner child will not be disappointed. 😀

👉 Anyone 16 years of age or over must present photo ID with date of birth during registration. 👈

We suggest that visitors arrive 30 minutes before the time scheduled for the visit. We look forward to seeing you.

Transportation

• By city bus: Routes 3, 11, 800 and 801 run past the hôtel du Parlement.

Please click here for more useful information!

https://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/visiteurs/visite-guidee/parlement

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• 7 Surprising Facts About the Parliament Building

Content partner : Québec's National Assembly

The Parliament Building, which houses Québec’s National Assembly — the central institution of the province’s democracy — is full of secrets and surprises. Discover some of them!

A Clock Behind the Time

Did you know the splendid heritage clock that adorns the Parliament Tower falls 15 seconds behind every week? For André Viger, the “keeper of time,” every second counts! Viger, a master clockmaker for 55 years now, does his magic every Tuesday and manually winds back the clock. He is one of few with the necessary expertise to work on old mechanical clocks.

Je me souviens: More Than Just a Licence Plate

The famous motto Je me souviens (I remember), found on all Québec licence plates, was created by Eugène-Étienne Taché, designer of the Parliament Building. Engraved above the main entrance, it evokes the architecture of the Parliament. As the works of art adorning the facade illustrate, the motto honours the heroes of New France and leading figures of the British regime.

The National Assembly boasts beautiful gardens for you to explore, including an urban vegetable garden where dozens of different herbs, vegetables, berries, edible plants, and fruit trees are grown using organic methods. There are even beehives on the roof! In 2017, over 250,000 bees produced 175 kg of urban honey, sold at the Boutique de l’Assemblée .

Prehistoric Fossils in a Beautiful Library

Open to the public, the National Assembly Library is the perfect place to quietly study or read in a remarkable setting. The walls, floors, and stairs are covered in 7 types of marble that add to the palatial effect. You can even find 50-million-year-old fossilized ammonites and molluscs in the marble of the pillars—truly astounding! The library also houses rare and precious books, the oldest dating back to 1473. 

Deliciously Well-Kept Secret—Until Now

Once exclusively reserved for members of the National Assembly, Le Parlementaire restaurant has been open to the public since 1967. The enchanting Beaux-Arts style décor and fleur-de-lys china are a treat for the eyes. Enjoy exquisite local cuisine at very affordable prices. What’s more, in season, much of the produce featured on the menu comes from the Parliament gardens.

A Portrait Like No Other

The Speakers’ Gallery on the ground floor of the Parliament Building displays portraits of all former Speakers of the National Assembly since 1867. They each selected the artist who created their portrait. Famous Québec painter Jean Paul Lemieux was commissioned to do the portrait of Clément Richard, Speaker of the National Assembly from 1976 to 1980.

New at the National Assembly…

Since spring 2019, visitors enter the building via a new, more secure, and more accessible underground reception pavilion. What’s more, there’s a new monument on the grounds marking the 225th anniversary of Québec’s parliamentary institutions and the first election of 1792. Entitled Member of Parliament Arriving in Québec , the monument draws inspiration from the bronze by Québec artist Alfred Laliberté.

The National Assembly offers guided tours by experienced guides. They are free and given in English and French upon reservation. Visitors learn about the history and workings of the National Assembly, discover the architecture of the Parliament Building and the works of art it houses, and hear several fascinating historical anecdotes.

Québec's National Assembly 1045, rue des Parlementaires Québec City, G1A 1A3

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Construction of the National Assembly of Quebec’s New Visitor Centre: Redesigning the Visitor Experience

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Construction of the National Assembly of Quebec’s New Visitor Centre: Redesigning the Visitor Experience

Rachel Plante is the Civic Programming Coordinator in the Visitor Services and Educational Mission Directorate at the National Assembly.

In 2016 the National Assembly of Quebec undertook the largest construction project since it was first built between 1877 and 1886. Accessibility concerns were central when the Assembly designed its award-winning visitor centre. In this article, the author outlines the project’s scope and the carefully crafted meaning behind some of the new centre’s elements.

Building the Centre: A Meaningful Experience

In 2016, the National Assembly of Quebec launched the largest construction project involving the Parliament Building since it was first built between 1877 and 1886. The reason behind the expansion project, which finished in 2019, was to make the premises more accessible to Quebeckers and tourists and to add spaces for parliamentary proceedings. The new underground centre, which is separate from the Parliament Building, has modern reception facilities to allow staff to provide an optimized visitor experience and carry out better security screenings.

The 5,100-m 2 centre also includes a multi-purpose room and an agora, which have enabled the National Assembly to completely redesign its visitor experience. The visitor centre will also host a new educational tour that is adapted to all visitors and will help Quebeckers get better acquainted with their Parliament.

An Architectural Design that Combines Past and Present

Reaffirming the national motto.

Je me souviens [I remember] is the concept on which the Parliament Building was founded. By adding these three simple yet eloquent words under Quebec’s coat of arms, Eugène-Étienne Taché gave meaning to his work. Taché’s building design invites Quebeckers to commemorate their heroes and their history.

Therefore, it seems only natural that the new visitor experience would honour Taché’s vision for the Parliament Building. As soon as visitors enter the centre, they are greeted with the National Assembly’s signature message, Je me souviens , engraved on a steel wall. The stage is set for visitors to remember that they are standing where the Quebec they know today has been built since the late 19th century. This commemorative design also inspires them to think about the historical importance of the National Assembly as a place that has shaped Quebec through the debates, struggles, decisions and compromises that have taken place within its walls.

In the 19th century, Taché designed a pantheon of major figures from Quebec’s history to adorn the Parliament Building’s main facade. After more than a century, the centre’s architects wanted to preserve the building’s heritage and its magnificent facade that tells the story of Quebec’s history. So, they decided to continue Taché’s work in a different way. Inside the centre, a long wall of microperforated wood includes imagery that visitors can enjoy over the course of their tour. This imagery is steeped in meaning and presents stories that showcase Quebec’s fundamental values and characteristics: diversity, the French language and its French roots, equality, northernness, Indigenous heritage, openness to the world, natural resources and the vastness of the land.

With its modern features, the visitor centre demonstrates that, even though the National Assembly is rooted in a tradition that draws on old British customs and practices, it is and must absolutely be cemented in the present. As a result, visitors become aware that a parliament is not a place that is frozen in time; rather, it is a forward-looking, dynamic institution that is constantly evolving.

Meaningful architecture for an enhanced experience

The architecture creates a dialogue between heritage and modernity that speaks to everyone. The agora’s pale design and sober atmosphere evokes the political neutrality of the National Assembly, while the neighbouring spaces are painted in vibrant and contrasting colors. Since reference points are crucial underground, visitors will be able to know when they are under the National Assembly Chamber (the Salon bleu [blue room]) and the Legislative Council Chamber (the Salon rouge [red room]) by looking at the corresponding colours on the wall.

Another constant theme in the visitor centre’s design is the circle. And this is no coincidence, because the circle symbolizes the agora as an emblem of Athenian democracy and the ideal of equality. The visitor centre is a central and meaningful space that invites visitors to understand their role in the political and civic sphere. They will also be stunned by the large circular skylight’s magnificent view on the Central Tower, which is located just above the zero-kilometre marker that positions the tower as a geographical and symbolic landmark for everyone.

The passageway between the visitor centre and the National Assembly above it inspires visitors to think about the importance of democratic institutions. This tunnel, which was dug under the Parliament Building’s main facade, showcases artist Jonathan Villeneuve’s piece The Spectrum of Enlightenment . Visitors walking through the tunnel will be immersed in an enchanting visual and sonic experience, and moved by the artwork’s full gamut of colours and sounds. Its title is an obvious reference to the Western Enlightenment, which provided a groundswell of new philosophical, political, social, scientific and artistic teachings. Beyond this symbolism, The Spectrum of Enlightenment pays tribute to the different shades of opinion expressed during debates in the Chamber. The tunnel is a link between modernity and memory and guides visitors to the entrance of the Parliament Building, which is the key destination of the tour.

Visitor Experience: Diverse Content for a Diverse Audience

The stage is now set for the National Assembly to use the centre’s large, symbolic space to present a full range of activities. Visitors can stop by various installations that are guaranteed to give them a rich, meaningful and pleasant experience. This tour segment is the product of the know-how and expertise of the National Assembly’s internal teams.

Whether they are with a tour guide or alone, visitors will be able to better understand the National Assembly’s role, expand their knowledge and understanding of democratic processes, appreciate the rich history and heritage of the Parliament Building and consider opportunities for civic participation.

A digital, multimedia approach

Visitors are invited to use the touch screens with educational and entertaining content, which includes interactive animations, games, videos and tools showcasing parliamentarism, political life and democracy.

Once the National Assembly reopens to the general public after the pandemic is over, visitors will be able to take self-guided digital tours using their mobile device. All they have to do is listen in to the audio guide, which is available in French and English and will also provide visitors with additional content, including photos and videos.

New audiovisual installations enhance the tour. In the reception area, people can contemplate images of Quebec and view a wall of screens showing videos and photos illustrating the geographical diversity of its 17 administrative regions in all four seasons. Further on, the National Assembly presents its very own film, Confluence , in the multi-purpose room, which highlights how important the National Assembly is for society, brings the building to life and creates a sense of pride and belonging. Lastly, the agora’s vast projector area screens videos on various themes. Since the visitor centre first opened, the feature video has showcased the cultures and heritage of Quebec’s Indigenous Peoples.

One of the objectives of redesigning the visitor experience was to make information that is useful for public, institutional and parliamentary activities more accessible. Information screens are placed at strategic locations throughout the tour. At the entrance, visitors are shown tour schedules, upcoming activities, information on the flags being flown, service hours and so on. Screens behind the registration desk present a detailed schedule of institutional activities—akin to a menu—as well as information on services, guided tours, and more. Lastly, two screens next to the new parliamentary committee rooms display their daily schedules and information on upcoming proceedings.

Personalized educational tours

The guided tours were updated to better meet the needs of different groups. The general public tour has been updated to fit the new spaces, and the tours and workshops for elementary and high school students were reviewed to align themselves with the Quebec Education Program. In addition, new themed tours have been added for the Library, which is now more easily accessible, and the gardens and grounds.

Exhibition areas

Themed exhibition areas are spread out across the tour. The visitor centre features two displays on Quebec City’s parliamentary buildings and the construction of the Parliament Building. One floor below, curious visitors can visit an alcove that includes a time capsule that will be sealed until 2092 (to be opened on the 300th anniversary of Quebec’s first election) and is generally time-themed with the inclusion of hourglasses, clocks and so on. Another nearby exhibition focuses on how bills are introduced and become laws. Interestingly, progress for women is illustrated through the pro-equality laws adopted by the National Assembly. In the Library, which is now linked to the tour by a tunnel, visitors can stop by the curiosity cabinets and be amazed by what is inside them.

The main building features an exhibition on the Parliament Building and its designer, Eugène-Étienne Taché. A transparent model gives visitors a glimpse into the building’s interior and most important rooms. Then, another room showcases the general theme of civic participation by presenting ways everyone can contribute to citizen and parliamentary action in Quebec.

A souvenir shop that is worth the detour

At the end, visitors can stop by La Boutique and discover a wide variety of items that showcase Quebec’s terroir and its creators’ works, talents and skills. All of its treasures are elegantly displayed in the souvenir shop’s semi-circle layout.

Civic Programming for Institutional Recognition

The inauguration of the visitor centre in 2019 positioned the National Assembly as a modern, living and accessible institution. In addition to updating its tour, the National Assembly introduced civic programming, which includes an annual calendar of free public events. This programming brings the visitor centre to life and allows visitors to know more about the National Assembly and what it does for Quebec.

To offer activities that represent Quebeckers and cement the National Assembly’s role as a real community partner, the National Assembly issues public calls for projects every year. Through its calendar of events, the National Assembly supports current and future generations of programming talent and provides spaces for expressing diversity. In addition, these events allow for partnerships with museums, universities, arts organizations and more. Lastly, they help the National Assembly to promote initiatives from across Quebec.

In an effort to meet the needs and interests of as many people as possible, the National Assembly offers annual programming on various themes (arts, culture, society, politics, science, the environment, youth, education, health and so on). This programming can take on various forms, such as conferences, round tables, exhibitions, screenings, workshops and artistic events.

To date, the events have illustrated the National Assembly’s desire to position itself as an essential destination in the national capital and a true civic space, as reflected by the following activities: the Quebec City Film Festival, a photography exhibition on the theme of paternal leave in partnership with the FIKA(S) festival, the Des œuvres qui donnent des ailes [uplifting artworks] exhibition in support of the Fondation Maison Dauphine, which helps vulnerable youth, and the installation of Sommet de la montagne [mountain peak] on the forecourt of the Parliament Building as part of the Passages insolites [unconventional passageways] urban art trail.

A Construction Project, Better Communication and a Much-needed Redesign

The initial reasoning for building a visitor centre was pragmatic, because additional space was needed for parliamentary proceedings. Now, there are two additional modern parliamentary committee rooms, equipped with the latest broadcasting technology, to meet the needs of parliamentarians. In honour of gender equality, the National Assembly named these two rooms after prominent parliamentarians Marie-Claire Kirkland, who in 1961 became the first woman to be elected to provincial office, and Pauline Marois, who was Quebec’s first woman premier, from 2012 to 2014.

Then, the visitor experience became central to the project, as there was a desire to create spaces for locals and tourists alike. These spaces now offer a broad range of activities that suit a wide array of guests and promise them a more meaningful experience.

Lastly, as in most parliaments, security has become a fundamental issue. State-of-the-art security devices protect parliamentarians and visitors from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave the parliamentary precinct.

Above all, the National Assembly has successfully reaffirmed its heritage and historical value by bringing Eugène-Étienne Taché’s work and motto into the 21st century. It has also succeeded in redefining its civic identity and image so that Quebeckers can view it as an open, expressive, emblematic and living institution. This transformation, which implicitly sought to inspire pride, not only makes this feeling surface in visitors and staff, but also shows that the institution, although rooted in the past, is by all means modern and brought to life by the aspirations and interests of Quebeckers.

From now on, the National Assembly will take on a new personality, which, in addition to helping it accomplish its fundamental roles, will enable it to truly fulfill its mission of civic education, thereby making it a true civic space for all Quebeckers.

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Home  / Citizens  / Heritage  / Saint-Jean-Baptiste  / Points of interest  / Parliament, at the heart of the city’s political heritage

Parliament, at the heart of the city’s political heritage

Virtual tours

Old pictures, at the heart of the city’s political heritage.

In 1875, eight years after Canada was created, Eugène-Étienne Taché drew up plans for a grand building where members of parliament from the province of Québec would sit—the only majority French-language political body in North America. It drew inspiration from a style that was then very popular in France, while also striving to include a blend of aboriginal, French, and British history.

Québec, the seat of parliament

Québec has been a seat of parliament since 1792, when the British brought the first democratic system of government to the colony of Lower Canada. Back then the parliament building was on top of Cape Diamond, where Parc Montmorency currently sits. But a raging fire burned the building to the ground in April 1833, bringing to an abrupt end almost a century of parliamentary debate on the site.

Fortunately work on the new parliament for the province of Québec—a grand building worthy of representing French Canadians in the new country of Canada, which had been created in 1867—was sufficiently advanced to welcome members through its doors a few months later. The new parliament officially opened in April 1886.

A young architect’s masterpiece

Eugène-Étienne Taché had been trained by one of the city’s most renowned architects—Charles Baillairgé—and was at the very beginning of his career when he designed the building. His plan adopted an innovative, Second Empire style, which had been very popular in France after the Louvre’s extension in the 1850s. The Renaissance-inspired style broke away from the sobriety of Neoclassicism that had dominated the city’s skyline for decades. Instead it emphasized rich ornamentation, which is clearly visible on the elaborate façade, with its eight-storey clock tower, mansard roof, corner pavilions (each topped by a tower), and the many statues decorating the front. Taché’s choice of style reaffirmed the historic ties between Québec and France.

A nod to history

Taché had Québec’s coat of arms carved above the main entrance, along with the words that were later to become the province’s motto: Je me souviens . The phrase—I remember—sums up the statues put in place between 1889 and 1969, with 26 of them on the façade depicting explorers, missionaries, founders, governors, and politicians from the days of French and English rule. Taché also reserved a place of honour for the First Nations peoples who lived on the land before the Europeans arrived: the Fisherman with Spear fountain and A Halt in the Forest , both by Québec master sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert, stand in front of the main entrance. Together, all the works—including more recent additions scattered around the building—call to mind Québec’s storied history.

Inside parliament

The imposing building’s four wings, each around one hundred metres in length, surround a courtyard. Inside parliament is the National Assembly Chamber (known as the “Salon bleu,” the Blue Hall) where members of the national assembly meet, and the Legislative Council Chamber (known as the “Salon rouge,” or the Red Hall), which is reserved for ceremonial occasions. Both are reached via a huge staircase beneath the centre tower. Works of art, stained-glass windows, and portraits of all Québec premiers decorate the interior. Offices and workrooms take up the rest of the building, along with Le Parlementaire, a chic restaurant.

Parliament Hill

Since the early 20 th century the parliament building has struggled to contain the growing machinery of government. Four buildings next to parliament were added between 1910 and 1937 to house the library and various ministries. The 1960s saw another phase of expansion as Édifices G, H, and J were also built nearby. More civil servants were then housed in office buildings in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood and elsewhere in the city.

Since 1995, Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec has given Parliament Hill a series of facelifts, adding statues, creating Promenade des Premiers-Ministres, and landscaping themed gardens where visitors can see, touch, and taste the roots of Québec’s culture for themselves.

Related medias

National Assembly, Red Hall

The colour red became associated with the upper houses of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in the 16 th century. Widely known as the “Salon rouge” or Red Hall, the Legislative Council Chamber (the equivalent of Canada’s Senate) is no exception. The council was abolished in 1968, and today this room is used by parliamentary committees and for official activities.

National Assembly, Second Floor Hall

This hall occupies the space between the National Assembly Chamber and the Legislative Council Chamber. It features the names and coats of arms of important individuals as well as the coats of arms of members under the English regime, to which the hall is dedicated. The French regime is not forgotten, though, and fleurs-de-lis represent the French monarchy. Papyrus leaves between the alcoves are a reminder of how important the written word has been to the institution.

National Assembly, Blue Hall

The “Salon bleu” or Blue Hall was once green and is the name commonly used for the chamber where MNAs have met since April 8, 1886. The walls were painted blue when televised debates began in 1978.

National Assembly Library

The Library of the National Assembly occupies the whole of the Pamphile–Le May building, which was built from 1912 to 1915 and named after the library’s first director. Open to all, the library contains vast collections for use by MNAs as well as old and rare books considered to be national treasures.

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Please call the Tour Reservations Office at 613-996-0896 for assistance.

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Only one small bag is permitted per visitor.

Guided tours of the Senate are located at the Senate of Canada Building, one block away from Parliament Hill.

April 10, 2024

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