History

Long used as a temporary exhibition hall called Anima G, the 31^st story of the Marie-Guyart Building—Québec City’s tallest—has been home to Observatoire de la Capitale since 1998.

Standing 221 m above sea level, the Observatory offers visitors unique views of Québec City and the surrounding area, stretching all the way from the Appalachian Foothills to the Laurentians and from Île d’Orléans to beyond the bridges.

The Observatory has welcomed over 750,000 visitors since opening its doors. It puts on themed exhibitions and is a favorite destination for school trips.

It has a relaxing café that is ideal for contemplating one of the finest views in North America and a store where you are sure to find quality books on the city, as well as souvenirs.

The original interpretation concept is the work of GMS Design, a firm that helped design Musée de la civilisation in Québec City, the Montréal Museum of Archeology and History, and Shawinigan’s Cité de l’énergie.

Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec has managed Observatoire de la capitale since April 1^st, 2008.

The Marie-Guyart Building towers over the heart of Parliament Hill. It took five years to build and was completed in 1972. Originally known as “Complex G,” it was renamed “the Marie-Guyart Building” in 1989 in honor of the founder of the Ursulines School, Marie de l’Incarnation.

The building houses an imposing 31 story concrete tower, three 5 story buildings, and an underground parking lot on four levels that can accommodate 1,500 vehicles. Its four facades are made up of enormous bay windows. The building is the highest summit in Québec City. Some 4,500 provincial government employees work there.