Saint-François-Xavier Cathedral, Catholic cathedral in Chicoutimi, Canada

Saint-François-Xavier Cathedral is a religious building built in Renaissance Revival style, featuring a Latin cross plan with an extended choir section. The structure accommodates approximately 1,500 people and displays clear architectural proportions throughout its interior spaces.

This cathedral was built in the early 1920s after two predecessor churches were destroyed by fires in earlier decades. A team of architects designed it as a replacement structure at the same location to serve the diocese.

The patron is Saint Francis Xavier, and the parish was canonically erected on 14 May 1859. Sculptor Lauréat Vallière and Joseph Villeneuve contributed to the ornamentation; the bishop's seat, pulpit, stalls, pediment, baptismal font, choir benches, windows and a Christ in glory are noted for their artistic quality. A Casavant organ dates from 1944.

The building is open to visitors and features spacious interior areas with regular religious services taking place. You should expect an active parish church where local community members gather for worship.

The present church is the fourth building on this site and the third to serve as cathedral. Its predecessor opened in 1915 and burned on 16 January 1919, so the current sanctuary, opened in 1922, is the second reconstruction in a decade. The 1,500 seats make it one of the region's largest churches.