A strategic and coveted location

From the Royal Battery to the Finlay Market

It’s no coincidence that Place-Royale was built at the foot of  Cap Diamant. The area known as the “Point of Quebec” had all the makings of a strategic location: its position at the mouth of the St. Charles River offered direct access to the St. Lawrence River, and the cape overlooking the area made for easier observation.

This strategic and enviable location has made Place-Royale a highly coveted and much-disputed spot for hundreds of years.  

Click here to launch the timelineClick here to launch the timeline

Panorama instructions

Place-Royale, 1608-1620

In the early days of the colony, several structures were built, including Champlain’s remarkable first Habitation. The colony was still in a very precarious state at that time.

Place-Royale, 1620-1640

Champlain’s second Habitation was built in 1623. The Saint-Louis Fort, erected in 1620, can be seen on the heights of Cap Diamant.

Basse-Ville, 1640-1680

The colony continued to grow, and numerous buildings were erected. A few modest batteries (as shown on the left) were installed in the Lower Town starting in the 1630s.

Basse-Ville, 1680-1760

The riverfront underwent significant development during this period, and it eventually became necessary to build the Batterie Royale to defend the nascent town.

Finlay Market , around 1760-1850.

After the Conquest, Place-Royale retained its commercial and economic appeal. Two wooden halls were built. The Finlay Market was housed in a stone building that was built in the mid-19th century.

Parking on the former site of the Finlay Market, around 1850–1970

The market was demolished in 1906. The location became a parking area for coaches and cabs in the 20th century.

The Batterie Royale, 1970-Today

Towards the end of the 20th century, the Batterie Royale was rediscovered during an extensive archaeological excavation. It was rebuilt in its original form in the 1970s.

Augmented reality