| Grande Allée Drill Hall, Quebec City Armoury | |
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| Manège Militaire, Quebec City, Les Voltigeurs de Québec - crop.jpg Grande Allée Drill Hall, Quebec City Armoury |
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| General information | |
| Type | Drill Hall / armoury |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival Chateau-style |
| Location | Quebec City, Québec, Canada |
| Address | 805 Wilfrid-Laurier Avenue East, |
| Construction started | 1885 |
| Completed | 1888 |
| Destroyed | 2008 (fire) |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | Canadian Forces |
| Architect | Eugène-Étienne Taché |
| Awards and prizes | National Historic Site of Canada;Canada's Register of Historic Places[1];Classified - 1987 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings [2] |
In the Canadian Forces, an armoury is a place where a reserve unit trains, meets, and parades. The Quebec City Armoury or Grande-Allée Armoury (French: Manège militaire de Québec, or simply Manège militaire) was a Gothic Revival drill hall for the infantry regiment Les Voltigeurs de Québec in 805 Wilfrid-Laurier Avenue East, Quebec City, Canada. It was built between 1885 and 1888 and designed by architect Eugène-Étienne Taché.[3] It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.[4]
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A Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque was erected in 1991 to commemorate the Grande Allée Drill Hall and its architectural uniqueness. The Grande Allée Drill Hall is an impressive example of a drill hall that retains its original parade square. Designed by Eugène-Étienne Taché, a Quebec public servant and architect, the stone building was completed in 1887, with an addition in 1913. The steeply pitched gable roof, conical towers and fanciful decorative details of the drill hall make it an early example of the French-inspired Château style. The use of the style here is unique among Canadian drill halls of this period and reflects the late 19th century interest in the historic French roots of the city. [5]
The armoury was destroyed by a fire on April 5, 2008 and all but a rear wall and turrets from the front door were destroyed.[6] Les Voltigeurs de Quebec Museum in the amoury which housed various artifacts from the regiment was also lost in the fire. Though, officials estimate 90 percent of the artifacts were saved due to efforts by members of the regiment and local firefighters.[7]
The armoury was to have been one of the venues for the celebration of Quebec's 400th birthday.[8]
The armoury wooden roof was one of the largest in Canada.[9]
Calls have been made by politicians to rebuild the armoury,[10] to which the federal government has responded positively by allocating $2 million for reconstruction planning.[11]
In the fall of 2008, regiment members launched a lawsuit against the Department of National Defence, blaming negligence on the part of the government for the blaze. [12]
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