The land was part of the seigneury of Notre-Dame-des-Anges, granted to the Jesuits in 1626. In 1665, the village of Charlesbourg was founded on a radial plan: a 25-arpent square, with a five-arpent square at its centre, the trait-carré, set aside for the church, presbytery and cemetery. The settlers’ houses surrounded it, and their trapezoid-shaped lots spread out like a star. The first thirty lots were granted from February 22 to 28, 1665.
The neighbourhood at a glance
BoroughCharlesbourg
Charlesbourgthe borough’s historic heart
Life in the Trait-Carré
The vibe
A quiet residential neighbourhood, built around the old village core of the Trait-Carré and its historic buildings.
The housing
Mostly single-family homes, several of them old, and apartments in small buildings.
Nearby
Moulin des Jésuites · Carrefour Charlesbourg · Corridor des Cheminots
Good to know
The Corridor des Cheminots, a bike path along the south edge of the neighbourhood, runs all the way to the Domaine de Maizerets.
Landmarks
- Saint-Charles-Borromée church
- Parc du Sacré-Cœur
- Bibliothèque Paul-Aimé-Paiement
History
The history of the Trait-Carré
- 1665The village of Charlesbourg is founded
- 1693The Saint-Charles-Borromée parish is established
- 1830The current church is consecrated
- 1959The name Trait-Carré becomes official
- 1965The heritage site is declared
A first wooden chapel was built as early as 1666. In 1686, the Jesuits gave the parish a six-arpent plot to build a stone church. The parish of Saint-Charles-Borromée was canonically established in 1693, and work on the church began around 1695, in today’s parc du Sacré-Cœur. It became the heart of this star-shaped village.
Around 1825, the parish asked for a larger church; architect Thomas Baillairgé drew up the plans in 1827. The current church was consecrated on May 25, 1830, and the first one was demolished in 1836 to make room for the cemetery. The current presbytery dates from 1875. In 1919, parc du Sacré-Cœur was blessed; its central statue is a work by Alfred Laliberté.
Charlesbourg became a summer retreat in the first half of the 20th century, then urbanized. In 1959, the church was classified and the area officially received the name Trait-Carré. The Charlesbourg Heritage Site was declared in 1965. The city of Charlesbourg, formed in 1976, merged with Québec City in 2002. The Église Sainte-Maria-Goretti, opened in 1966, closed in 2007 and was demolished in the early 2010s.
Frequently asked questions about the Trait-Carré
Where is the Trait-Carré?
In the Charlesbourg borough of Québec City, between autoroute Laurentienne and boulevard Henri-Bourassa, south of boulevard Jean-Talon.
Where does the name Trait-Carré come from?
From the five-arpent central square set aside for the church, presbytery and cemetery when Charlesbourg was founded in 1665. The name was made official in 1959.
What is the Charlesbourg Heritage Site?
The old village core of the Trait-Carré, declared a heritage site in 1965. It covers 24 ha and includes 138 buildings, among them the Église Saint-Charles-Borromée, classified in 1959.
How do I find an apartment for rent in the Trait-Carré?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in the Trait-Carré will soon be listed on the site, along with the online rental application. In the meantime, Cléo can notify you as soon as a unit is posted.
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