Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Nicolet

The Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste is a cathedral built in 1963 featuring large stained glass facades depicting Saint John the Baptist, combined with modern concrete structures. The building displays a fan-shaped floor plan with dynamic roof lines created by prestressed concrete tie beams.

This structure was built in 1963 and represents the fifth cathedral of the Nicolet diocese since 1885, with previous buildings destroyed by collapse, fire, and landslide. The construction of this new building was a response to the repeated failures to preserve earlier structures at this site.

The Casavant organ from 1909, transferred from the previous building, produces French symphonic sounds that still resonate during religious services and special concerts. Visitors can hear this instrument playing in a setting designed specifically for its acoustics.

The cathedral is located in Nicolet and can be visited, with guided tours for groups arranged through the presbytery or Nicolet-Yamaska Tourism office. Visitors should contact these offices in advance to arrange a tour.

The building uses prestressed concrete tie beams, an innovative construction technique that gives the church its characteristic dynamic form with floating roof lines. This approach was uncommon for religious buildings in Quebec and demonstrates bold architectural choices in the 1960s.