Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
29 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
30 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
30 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
30 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Canada Québec Québec City Cartier Avenue's Giant Lampshades

Cartier Avenue's Giant Lampshades

The floating gallery illuminates the heart of Québec City's arts district.

Québec City, Québec

Added By
SuzieF
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Giant Lampshades on Cartier Avenue.   SuzieF / Atlas Obscura User
Giant Lampshades on Cartier Avenue.   SuzieF / Atlas Obscura User
Giant Lampshades on Cartier Avenue.   SuzieF / Atlas Obscura User
Giant Lampshades on Cartier Avenue.   SuzieF / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
Daytime  
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The charm of this neighborhood is enhanced by the 34 giant lampshade street lights that adorn Cartier Street.. You might miss them at first because they blend in so well with the eclectic feeling of the neighborhood, but once you look up, you will not look away.

The Montreal design firm Lightemotion conceived of this project, which featured at first writing the work of Quebecois painters Alfred Pellan and Fernand Leduc from the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. LED strips power the artwork. Each light is five feet high and eight feet across and makes a bold and impressive statement. 

At night, the lamps illuminate the Montcalm neighborhood, which is known as the city’s arts district. During the day, they add warmth to the neighborhood, shine an artistic hue on the storefronts, and serve as an outdoor public art gallery.

Related Tags

Roadside Attractions Sculptures Art Design

Know Before You Go

This is near the Grand Théâtre de Québec ( two streets east along René-Lévesque Boulevard),  Théâtre Périscope and Théâtre Premier Acte both on Salaberry Street ( the next one east along René-Lévesque) and not far from Théâtre Le Diamant and music venue Palais Montcalm on Place d'Youville. Down Côte Salaberry is Théâtre de La Bordée. Also one street away from the Plains of Abraham great park on which the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec is situated.

As regular streetlamps, they are illuminated  all night long (at the time of this writing, January 5 2022, there is a Covid curfew from 22.00 to 05.00 when you must be inside).

Accessible via bus routes 11 and 111 on Grande-Allée (Cartier northern end), 807 and 907 on Chemin Ste-Foy (Cartier southern end), 25, 800 and 801 on René-Lévesque (which intersect Cartier in half). There are others running to the Grand Théâtre or at certain peak times (ask you hotel).

Community Contributors

Added By

SuzieF

Edited By

CDVV86, jrgiguere, Deniseg2266, 6xx8wynzy4...

  • CDVV86
  • jrgiguere
  • Deniseg2266
  • 6xx8wynzy4
  • lauriefrye

Published

August 30, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://mymodernmet.com/lightemotion-cartier-avenue-lampshades/
  • https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xy4aza/giant-lampshades-flood-the-streets-of-quebec-with-art
  • https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/lightemotion-lampshades-quebec-city
Cartier Avenue's Giant Lampshades
Avenue Cartier
Québec City, Québec
Canada
46.803698, -71.225928
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Musée du Chocolat

Québec City, Québec

miles away

Les Fresques des Piliers

Québec City, Québec

miles away

Maison de la Littérature

Québec City, Québec

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Québec City

Québec City

Québec

Places 11

Nearby Places

Musée du Chocolat

Québec City, Québec

miles away

Les Fresques des Piliers

Québec City, Québec

miles away

Maison de la Littérature

Québec City, Québec

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Québec City

Québec City

Québec

Places 11

Related Places

  • ‘Minor Triumph’

    Seoul, South Korea

    ‘Minor Triumph’

    Children’s timeless joy is remembered in the fast-developing Myeongdong district of Seoul.

  • Back of the giant quarter

    Everett, Pennsylvania

    Giant Quarter

    A 20-foot-tall quarter commemorates George Washington’s ties to Bedford County.

  • 'Buttbrunnen'

    Berlin, Germany

    'Buttbrunnen'

    Largely overlooked, this little fountain on Museum Island is a whimsical tribute to a Prussian king nicknamed the “Fatty Flounder.”

  • The Pointer

    Corona, New Mexico

    'Cowboy Ruckus'

    Catch two 18-foot-tall ranchers mid-brawl as you drive by on Highway 285.

  • Stone Gargoyle Chair

    Durham, England

    Stone Gargoyle Chair

    An unusual stone chair can be found on the banks of the River Wear, not far from Durham Cathedral.

  • ‘Phoenix and the Four Elements’

    Bristol, England

    'Phoenix and the Four Elements'

    An alchemical monument that represents "Earth, Air, Fire, and Water."

  • The Public Purse

    Melbourne, Australia

    'The Public Purse'

    This giant, granite purse is one of Melbourne's most unique and distinctive pieces of public art.

  • ‘The Gorbals Boys’

    Glasgow, Scotland

    'The Gorbals Boys'

    A sculpture that commemorates an iconic photo of urban Scotland's past.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.