This underrated site was once Quebec City's first brewery

Those are some of the best known sites, but the old city hides architectural treasures that contain centuries of stories within their walls. Many of these spots also remain unknown to tourists or backpackers travelling through. L’Îlot des Palais is one of those places. This was the first brewery that existed in New France which opened in 1668. But, that's a detail that's so easy to miss today. 

L’Îlot des Palais is now an interactive museum and one of the most important yet lesser-known heritage sites in Quebec City. It's located just steps from the Gare du Palais train station and near where the Saint Charles River flows into the St. Lawrence River.

History of an old brewery

At the time, New France was under the authority of King Louis XIV, who appointed Jean Talon as its first Intendant, based in Quebec City.

Three years after his arrival, Jean Talon ordered the construction of the colony’s first brewery. There were two main reasons for the brewery: firstly, to boost the local economy and secondly, to reduce reliance on European imports. But the project was a little too ambitious for its time and was halted a few years later. 

Fifteen years after that, the site was expanded and transformed into the intendants’ palace, which burned down in 1713. They built a second one slightly north of the first but that was also destroyed by fire in 1725. Finally, a third palace was erected over the stone vaults that remained. This is where, in 1775, they took refuge from invaders attempting to seize Quebec. During this war, the palace was sadly reduced mostly to rubble. 

By the mid-19th century, an Irishman, Joseph Knight Boswell, bought the land intending to restore it to its original purpose: brewing beer. He used the original vaults as a place to store barrels of beer.

Over time, he expanded the site by constructing several production buildings, turning it into a thriving brewing industry known as Boswell Brewery. Eventually that merged with Dow in 1952. Brewing beer ran strong in this building right through to 1968 when the factory closed its doors for good. In 1971 most of the buildings that made it up were demolished.

An archaeological research site

From 1982 to 2016, the site served as an archaeological research site led by Université Laval. More than 500,000 artifacts have been discovered there, several of which date back to long before the arrival of the first French settlers. It's a building which is steeped in history — and the history of the city is reflected in the stories of L’Îlot des Palais.

Today, it serves as the L’Îlot des Palais museum. When you visit it, you'll step into the largest number of well-preserved historic vaults in Old Quebec.

Different eras converge here, blending archaeology, history, and technology. Its permanent exhibitions are presented within the 300-year-old stone vaults offering a rare and little-known experience. Touring the museum is an experience that includes 3D projections, original artifacts recovered during excavations, and various immersive experiences.

The museum helps visitors understand how the site has evolved over time, with artifacts and stories tracing its history from First Nations presence through French colonization, British rule, and Quebec’s industrialization. It’s an easy addition to any itinerary, just a 10-minute walk from HI Québec.