Day 20 - Basilica of Sainte-Ann-de-Beaupre

Our next stop was the breath-taking Basilica of Sainte-Ann-de-Beaupre about 20 km east of Quebec City. It has been credited by the Catholic Church with many miracles of curing the sick and disabled. An original church on this site began in 1658 and the original basilica was built in 1876. That basilica burned down in 1922 and the present building was begun in 1926 and took ten years to finish - though they still have more detail work to do.
Statue of Saint Ann atop the basilica. St. Ann is the patron saint of Quebec.

When we arrived they were having Mass in the main chapel so we first went into the basement of the basilica where they have a whole second chapel - this one to the Virgin Mary. This is a shot of the alter area. All the art in this building - whether in the main santuary or in this one below is all done in mosaics. It is quite beautiful.

All around this santuary are scenes about Christ and done in mosaic as are all the designs in the building.

After mass was over we were allowed in the main santuary. This is the alter area.

The ceiling surrounded with stained glass windows is quite impressive.

This is a closeup of one of the sets of stained glass windows.

Every pew has a different animal carved on the end of it. The detail work in this building is unreal.

As I mentioned Saint Ann is credited with many miracles of healing. This piller and one you can't see are decorated with cruches and cains left by those who were healed of their ailments here.

The doors on the basilica were simply outstanding. The creator of these doors was Albert Gilles and his shop was our next stop.

On the hillside across the street from the basilica was a series of life-sized statues depicting the Stations of the Cross. This is one of them.

On our way back to the bus I was able to catch a picture of our guide (with beautiful red hair) and our bus driver. The guide was most informative and why we choose to pay for these tours as we can learn so much from the guides.