Îlot des Palais

A lesser-known, yet fascinating spot in Quebec City, Canada, is the Îlot des Palais. Just a two-minute walk from La Gare du Palais train station, this site reflects one of the most powerful locations in colonial Quebec. It was once home to the Intendant of New France, a senior official who managed the civil administration of the colony. It also housed Canada’s first brewery, established in 1668.

Since the 1980s, the location has been used as an archeological field school. In 2009, archaeology students from Université Laval made a remarkable discovery at the Îlot des Palais: four ancient Egyptian figurines, believed to have been originally crafted between 664 and 525 BC. The objects were likely a curiosity or collector's item during the New France era. Today, the figurines are shown alongside other curiosities uncovered at the site, including glass beads, religious medals, and jewelry.