Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré

Pilgrimage here dates from 1658, when Breton sailors caught in a storm on the St. Lawrence vowed a chapel to Saint Anne if they survived; the story of cures attached to the site almost immediately. The present basilica, the fifth church on the spot, was begun in 1926 after fire destroyed its predecessor and finished in 1946, in neo-Romanesque form with two hundred and forty stained glass windows and mosaic floors. Crutches, braces and canes left by pilgrims are stacked against the pillars inside the entrance. Around half a million people visit each year, with the largest gathering on the feast of Saint Anne in late July.

What you actually see

• The crutch pillars - walking aids left by pilgrims stacked at the entrance.
• The stained glass - two hundred and forty windows through the basilica.
• The mosaic ceiling - extensive mosaic work in the vaults and floors.
• The July feast - the Saint Anne pilgrimage in late July.

When to go

May to October for the pilgrimage season; the basilica is open year-round. The feast of Saint Anne on 26 July draws the largest crowds. Winter is quiet.

Honest expectations

This is an active place of pilgrimage with people praying and seeking healing, not a sightseeing stop. Feast days are extremely crowded. The surrounding village is largely religious souvenir shops.

Nearby

Canyon Sainte-Anne lies east; Quebec City is southwest.