City Hall of Quebec City (Hotel de Ville), Quebec City

City Hall of Quebec City (Hotel de Ville), Quebec City

The City Hall of Quebec City, known as Hôtel de ville de Québec, serves as the headquarters for the local government. It holds special historical significance, having been designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1984 and also earning a spot on the World Heritage Site list in 1985.

Before the construction of this City Hall, municipal authorities held their meetings at the residence of British Army Major General William Dunn from 1842 to 1896. Prior to that, they convened at various other locations.

The City Hall building is situated on a hill that was previously occupied by the Jesuit College (known as Jesuit Barracks) from the 1730s to 1878. The college was demolished to make way for the new City Hall. The design of the City Hall was the work of architect Georges-Émile Tanguay, and it became the second permanent city hall in the Old City. Its architectural plan stirred considerable debate between the mayor and city councilors at the time. Nevertheless, the construction was completed in 1895, and it was officially inaugurated on September 15, 1896.

The City Hall showcases an eclectic blend of architectural styles typical of the late Victorian period. It incorporates elements of Classical, Medieval, and Châteauesque styles, with some influence from the American Romanesque Revival. This unique exterior design stands out against the more common French and British architectural styles seen in local public buildings.

The building is H-shaped and has varying heights, with towers featuring steeply-pitched roofs at its center and sides. Beneath the beautifully landscaped gardens, which were created in 2014 and include water features and a clock (a gift from the Swiss Canton of Jura, designed and manufactured by Richard Mille), there is an indoor parking facility.

The entire area exudes a captivating ambiance and becomes especially enchanting in the evening.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Quebec City. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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City Hall of Quebec City (Hotel de Ville) on Map

Sight Name: City Hall of Quebec City (Hotel de Ville)
Sight Location: Quebec City, Canada (See walking tours in Quebec City)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Quebec City, Quebec

Create Your Own Walk in Quebec City

Create Your Own Walk in Quebec City

Creating your own self-guided walk in Quebec City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Qucbec City's Historical Churches Walking Tour

Qucbec City's Historical Churches Walking Tour

The first religious buildings in Canada were established by the Récollets and Jesuits, in 1615 and 1625, respectively, when they first arrived in New France. Later on, the French colonists brought along their culture and architectural traditions, and the establishment of British and evangelical society triggered further major developments in Quebec City.

Over the course of the 17th and 18th...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Historical Houses Walking Tour

Historical Houses Walking Tour

Quebec City, particularly evocative of Europe in its atmosphere, is often referred to as the cradle of New France. The city boasts one of the richest architectural heritages in North America, though most of its buildings had to be adapted to harsh winters and the lack of specialized workers and materials in the colony. As such, the majority of local houses were designed as simple and efficient...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Quebec City Introduction Walking Tour

Quebec City Introduction Walking Tour

Cresting a cliff above the St. Lawrence River, Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the soul of the province of Québec – a place all its own; a country within a country with its own traditions, architecture, and French-speaking population.

The Algonquian people had originally named the area Kébec, which means "where the river narrows", because the Saint Lawrence River...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Old Quebec Walk

Old Quebec Walk

The historic part of Quebec City known as Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec), sometimes also referred to as the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin), is the neighborhood centered around Cape Diamond (Cap Diamant), located on the eastern edge of Quebec hill promontory. The area comprises Upper Town (Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (Basse-Ville) and is currently listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles