Precious gemstones belonging to the Habsburg family entered public view on September 6, 2026 at the Quebec City Fine Arts Museum. The exhibit follows the recent recovery of the jewels from a concealed location where they had remained since World War II. The display marks the first time the historic pieces have been accessible to visitors since their retrieval.
The collection arrived in Quebec City in 1940 with Zita of Bourbon-Parma, the last Empress of Austria. Fleeing advancing Nazi forces, she carried a suitcase containing the family jewels across the Atlantic. Upon arrival, the items were hidden to protect them from potential seizure or loss during the turbulent war years. The concealment persisted for decades, outlasting the conflict and the subsequent generations of the Habsburg lineage.
In 2025, museum officials and conservators located the hidden cache after extensive research and collaboration with descendants of the imperial family. The gemstones, noted for their historical and artistic value, were carefully extracted and transferred to the Fine Arts Museum for conservation and exhibition. The museum’s curatorial team prepared the pieces for public presentation, ensuring that the jewels could be viewed while preserving their condition.
The unveiling connects Quebec City’s wartime refugee history with its contemporary cultural offerings. Visitors to the Fine Arts Museum can now see the Habsburg jewels that survived a perilous journey from Europe to North America, reflecting a personal story of escape and preservation that spans more than eight decades.