From a Performance Venue to a Cultural Icon: The Grandiose History of Le Capitole

Credit: Fred C. Würtele, BAnQ Québec

In 1902, the American architect Walter S. Painter was selected to design the performance venue, then called the Auditorium de Québec. After its inauguration the following year,  audiences could attend Vaudeville and variety shows, amateur and professional theatre as well as opera performances, both in French and English.

On March 29, 1918, in the midst of the First World War, a riot broke out as an estimated 12,000 people gathered in the Place D’Youville to protest against conscription for Canadian men between the ages of 20 and 35. The registration offices, located in the Auditorium, were ransacked and set ablaze by rioters. Firefighters were able to contain the fire and limit damage to the building.

In 1927, the American architect Thomas White Lamb redesigned the venue to accommodate up to 2,000 people. Then, in 1930, the Auditorium partnered with the film distribution company Famous Players, which changed the venue’s name to the Capitol (and yes you read correctly, without an e). At that time, talkies were increasingly replacing silent films. In addition to the cinema, many classical and popular singers came to perform, as well as the Grands Ballets Canadiens.

In 1935, the radio station CKCV, already on air for the past nine years, moved to the third floor of the Capitol, where it stayed until 1974.

Credit : Léopold Arcand, BAnQ Québec
Credit : Léopold Arcand, BAnQ Québec

The Capitol was witness to several historical events. Examples include the gala evening on October 9, 1951 held in honour of Princess Elisabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as the 1953 world premiere of Alfred Hitchcock’s film I Confess, shot in Quebec City the year before. 

Competition from new suburban venues and new media heralded the decline of the Capitol, which was unfortunately forced to close its doors in 1981. Three years later, the building was classified as a heritage building to ensure its protection. Then, in 1985, the historic district of Old Quebec was inscribed on UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage List, in recognition of its historical and architectural importance. A year later, the Capitol was designated a National Historic Site of Canada by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

In 1992, thanks to a group of promoters, the Capitol once again became part of the cultural sector, and its name was changed to Le Capitole. The building was transformed into three distinct spaces: a 1,100-seat theatre to offer various types of shows in a cabaret format, a 40-room boutique hotel, as well as a restaurant. A fourth floor was added to complete this visionary project. The reopening was grandiose: a gala hosted by Quebec actors Rémi Girard and Marc-André Coallier thrilled the public! The event featured dozens of Quebec and international artists, including Céline Dion, Michel Sardou, Robert Charlebois and Alys Robi, accompanied by the Orchestre symphonique de Québec. This first show presented at the Théâtre Capitole since its closing 11 years earlier was a major hit.  

In 2018, significant expansion work began, which would last 18 months. Faced with stagnant show sales, the owners had no choice but to re-evaluate their business model. The solution was to increase the peripheral offer. The hotel went from 40 to 108 rooms, including suites and a penthouse, to become an impressive five-star hotel complex with nine floors. The new glass-covered addition, north of the historic building, offers breathtaking views of Old Quebec and the Laurentians.

Credit : Stéphane Groleau
Credit : Stéphane Groleau

The work included upgrades to the heritage building, as well as expanding and modernizing the two-story Ristorante Il Teatro. Private lounges were added, as well as a multi-purpose function room called Le Confessionnal (in honour of Alfred Hitchcock), and a champagne bar called le Clubby Bar.

Since these major changes in 2018, Le Capitole Hôtel has been welcoming an international clientele. Everyone is immediately charmed by the building’s historic character and the beauty of its views of the fortified city. With the mission of proposing the best five-star hotel experience in Quebec City, Le Capitole Hôtel offers its clientele exclusive specials and an unforgettable stay that lives up to its grand history!

The Most Beautiful Terraces with Views in Old Quebec

Le Capitole’s many terraces offer a wealth of views

As soon as you arrive in the lobby, you can take your place on the terrace to soak up the morning sun, and make the pleasure last long into the night beside the fire. Before returning to your room, be sure not to miss the magnificent sunset over the Laurentides that you can enjoy from the pool on the 9th floor. For those looking for something more intimate, head to the hotel’s exclusive terrace on the 6th floor situated above the theatre.

Le Clubby bar

As soon as you arrive in the lobby, you can take your place on the terrace to soak up the morning sun, and make the pleasure last long into the night beside the fire. Before returning to your room, be sure not to miss the magnificent sunset over the Laurentides that you can enjoy from the pool on the 9th floor. For those looking for something more intimate, head to the hotel’s exclusive terrace on the 6th floor situated above the theatre.

 

Il Teatro

The city’s most beautiful terrace offers dishes as generous and splendid as its view of Place D’Youville and the historic fortifications. What better way to start cocktail hour than with delicious antipasti to share on a terrace where you feel Italy’s warm welcome? When you leave your room, you arrive directly at this marvellous terrace in the heart of Old Quebec City.

 

Diamant Terrace

Make a stop a few steps from the hotel at the Diamant rooftop terrace. You’ll be able to admire the simply exceptional view that provides you a privileged perspective of Old Quebec City and its fortifications. A cocktail just before a show at the Diamant is a winning combination! Open every day of the week from June 21st.