Main Archive
Preserving the architectural legacy of New France by documenting construction methods, urban planning, and cultural heritage across three centuries of French colonial history in North America.
Document of the Month
Featured archival material on the craftsmanship and planning of French colonial buildings
1726 Land Grant Survey - Seigneurie de Beauport
This remarkable document represents one of the earliest comprehensive surveys of the Seigneurie de Beauport, originally granted to Robert Giffard in 1634. The survey illustrates the distinctive rangs or long-lot system that would become characteristic of French colonial land division throughout the St. Lawrence Valley.
The document reveals the careful planning behind New France's agricultural settlements, with each censitaire receiving a narrow riverside lot extending inland, ensuring equitable access to both water transportation and fertile soil. This system created the linear settlement pattern still visible today along the St. Lawrence River.
Technical Details:
- Date: June 15, 1726
- Surveyor: Jean-Baptiste Decouagne
- Materials: Ink on vellum, 24" × 36"
- Current Location: Archives nationales du Québec
Archive Sections
Documentation of French colonial architectural heritage sorted by theme
The Seigneurial System
Maps and analysis of the long-lot systems along the St. Lawrence River, with an interactive tool to explore individual seigneuries and their history from 1634 onward.
Explore System
Fortification Engineering
A look at Vauban's influence on Quebec City's defenses, tracing the Citadelle and ramparts from wooden palisades to stone bastions.
View Fortifications
Domestic Architecture
A technical look at the Canadienne house style, its steep roofs, masonry, and adaptations for the North American climate.
Study Buildings
Ecclesiastical Heritage
Documentation of religious architecture including the Ursuline Monastery and early Jesuit missions, showcasing the adaptation of European monastic design.
Enter Archive
Materials & Craftsmanship
Historical documentation of limestone quarrying, timber framing techniques, and traditional woodworking methods used in French colonial construction.
Learn Techniques
Modern Conservation
Contemporary preservation techniques and restoration case studies, documenting the ongoing efforts to maintain Quebec's unique architectural heritage.
View ProjectsResearch Collaborations
Working with leading institutions to preserve and study French colonial architectural heritage
Archives nationales du Québec
Collaborative digitization project focusing on 18th-century construction documents, surveyor's notes, and architectural drawings from the French colonial period.
Commission de la capitale nationale
Technical consultation for heritage building restoration in Vieux-Québec, providing historical analysis and period-appropriate construction methodology.
Preserving Our Heritage
Join us in documenting and preserving the unique architectural legacy of French North America for future generations of researchers, architects, and heritage enthusiasts.