Assumption Cathedral, Trois-Rivières, Quebec

Trois-Rivières is a medium-sized city with a medium-sized cathedral, but it can lay claim to a longer history than most. The beautiful 1858 building was built on the occasion of the town becoming center of a new Catholic diocese.

It actually has two names, once for the Assumption, and also Immaculate Conception. It got the second name in 1908 after a fire destroyed most of the city, including the Immaculate Conception church.

That church, one of Canada's oldest, was built in 1710 to replace one built in 1615; after Quebec City, Trois-Rivières was the second French settlement in Quebec. Not surprising: the city is halfway from Quebec to Montreal.

The building is said to be the only cathedral in Canada styled in 'Westminster Gothic,' and has 125 stained-glass windows by Canadian artist Guido Nincheri, made in the early 20th century and widely admired. But sadly, time didn't allow waiting until services were completed to have a look. Here's a sample posted on Wikimedia Commons.

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