Why pilgrims come
Discover what makes Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré a place of pilgrimage
A pilgrimage destination dedicated to St. Anne since 1658, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré preserves one of North America’s oldest living Catholic shrine traditions. Its Romanesque Revival basilica, monumental mosaics, copper doors, devotional chapels, and relics of St. Anne make the sanctuary both a place of prayer and a visual catechism.
This is not simply a large church outside Québec City: it is a pilgrimage landscape whose history begins with the first church of 1658. Pray before the shrine’s relics of St. Anne, read her story across the immense ceiling mosaics, and allow time for the Memorial Chapel, Way of the Cross, Scala Santa, and chapels around the sanctuary.
What to notice
Look closely at the place and its story
Relics of St. Anne
Venerate relics received by the shrine in 1670, 1892, and 1960, while respecting the Church’s distinction between faith in Christ and devotion to sacred remains.
The life of St. Anne in mosaic
Look upward: the basilica’s great vault narrates St. Anne’s life, virtues, and glorification, culminating above the high altar.
A complete pilgrimage landscape
Continue beyond the nave to the Memorial Chapel, outdoor Way of the Cross, Scala Santa, fountain, and devotional chapels.
The façade and copper doors
Read the façade’s saints and pilgrimage imagery, then study Albert Gilles’s copper doors depicting scenes from the life of Christ.
Feasts, anniversaries & celebrations
How to read this page
Sources, tradition, and what is verified
The destination record was last checked on 9/15/2026.
This page records the site’s tradition as “Catholic.” That wording describes the nature of the claim and keeps devotional tradition distinct from independently verified history.