Charlesbourg, city in Charlesbourg County, southern Québec, Canada, north of the city of Québec. Charlesbourg is a mostly residential suburb, and its manufactures include building materials and clothing. Attractions include the Québec Zoological Gardens; the Jesuit Mill, a restored mill dating from about 1740; the Saint Charles Borromeo Church, built in the early 19th century; and Jacques-Cartier Provincial Park. There are walking tours of the Trait-Carré (central square), a designated historic district that illustrates the city's original design of a square with streets emanating from it. Several of the buildings in this section of the city have been converted into cultural centers; for example, the Pierre-Lefebvre House is now the Trait-Carré Gallery.
Settled in 1659 by Jesuits, Charlesbourg is one of the oldest communities in the province of Québec. It was formerly known as Bourg Royal, and the city's present name honors its patron saint, Saint Charles Borromeo. Charlesbourg incorporated in 1976 when it merged with several communities. During the last decades of the 20th century, Charlesbourg's population increased as a result of growth in the city of Québec.
