Old Lévis is part of the Victorian era in Canada, from every point of view.
The built heritage of the historic district is a magnificent digest of the architectural styles of the second half of the nineteenth century.
The Victorian era is the culmination of the industrial revolution in the British Empire and the development of the railroad, while Lévis is home to the first industries in the country and a train station long before Quebec City.
This historic period is marked by the construction of the French-Canadian identity in an increasingly English-speaking country. Thanks to Mgr Déziel, the city of Lévis, by its name and its parish’s name, is part of this dynamic, while the English-speaking community is thriving.
Lévis is an important part of the British defensive system in North America and reminds us of the tensions of the time, especially the United States.
Old Lévis is also the birthplace of the largest movement of credit unions in North America and one of the strongest financial institutions in the world: Desjardins Group.
If this guided tour mostly focuses on the second half of the XIXth century, you’ll also learn about the local history before (Guillaume Couture, siege of Quebec City in 1759, Aubigny) and after the Victorian era.
You might see…
Notre-Dame-de-la-Victoire, main church of Old Lévis, the Anglicane church, Collège de Lévis, Marcelle-Mallet school, Terrasse de Lévis, Desjardins House and the Avenue Bégin.