Quebec City, «the old capital»

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Founded in 1608, Quebec City is the only fortified city north of Mexico. It gives it a heritage with an undeniable richness. That is the reason why the UNESCO classified its historic center «world heritage jewel». However, it does not prevent it from asserting its innovative spirit. Culture, gastronomy and sport take a prominent place there. Charming town with an entrancing beauty, it makes a big impression on each visitor. The charm works on every street corner, as well in Lower Town with its paved streets, its stairs, its very typical small squares and its gardens, as in Upper Town with the must-visit Frontenac Castle which colossal outlines with a wealthy and old-fashioned charm proudly overlooks the rest of the city and the Saint-Lawrence River. It is the idealized image of the town, even of Quebec in general.

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The Old Quebec is quite rightly a UNESCO World Heritage classified site. In Upper Town, the Frontenac Castle (photo) rises on Cap Diamant, eastern part of the Quebec Hill. Luxury hotel that includes 611 rooms and various restaurants and shops, it is the iconic building of the city. It was built in the late 19th century with cut stone and red brick, the whole propped up by a steel frame. Asymmetric, it has five wings, a central tower, various turrets and an inner courtyard. Its sloping roofs with mansards include high chimneys in places. Admission is free and you can admire its sumptuous interior decoration. The National Historic Site of Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux offers guided tours that allow you to discover its first floor. At its foot the Dufferin Terrace extends: very wide and made of wooden boards, it has bandstands with and old-fashioned charm and a refined architecture.
On the other side of the Frontenac Castle and the Dufferin Terrace stand many remarkable sites, notably the Fort Museum, which houses among others a scale model of the city as it was in 1750, and the North American French Museum. Places of worship are not forgotten with the Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica-Cathedral, built in 1633, reconstructed many times through centuries, and which history is much tormented. The Holy-Trinity Cathedral proudly displays its Palladian style. It is the first Anglican cathedral out of the United-Kingdom. Its carillon has eight bells. The Monastery of Ursulines is located in an architectural ensemble that also includes a chapel and a museum. It dates from the 17th century. The Old Prison of Quebec from the early 19th century was converted into an educational institution: the Morrin College, which became the Morrin Centre.
The Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site teaches you much about that remarkable defense system that surrounds the old town, and which main elements are Saint-Jean Gate and Kent Gate – that are located in front of the Chapel of the Jesuits and the Maison Dauphine – and Saint-Louis Gate, recognizable by its turret.
The part of the long Rue de Saint-Jean located in that district is picturesque: restaurants, bars and shops are numerous. Its beautiful stone façades are embellished by colored paneling that give it a certain charm and an undeniable character. At night, it becomes a pedestrian street. Street performances take place there, terraces of restaurants fill up, the whole in a good-natured atmosphere where young and old alike mix without distinction.

 
See:

• Frontenac Castle
• National Historic Site of Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux
• Dufferin Terrace
• Fort Museum
• North American French Museum
• Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica-Cathedral
• Holy-Trinity Cathedral
• Monastery of Ursulines
• Old Prison of Quebec
• Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site
• Saint-Jean Gate, Kent Gate  &  Saint-Louis Gate
• Chapel of the Jesuits
• Maison Dauphine
• Rue Saint-Jean

There are many ways to reach Lower Town from Upper Town, but the most picturesque is going downstairs or using the funicular from the Dufferin Terrace to the Petit-Champlain area, old fishermen district renovated and filled with charm with its restaurants and its local craft shops (photo). The Place Royale seems to have remained intact throughout the years. Former market square, it is surrounded by typical houses from the 17th and the 18th century and enjoys numerous vaulted cellars. A museum is dedicated to it. Nearby rises the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church. Dating from the late 17th century, it was since then reconstructed and renovated. The Fresque des Québécois, trompe-l’œil painting, has amazing dimensions. Famous characters that played an important role in the province are represented. Smaller, the Fresque du Petit-Champlain is nevertheless a must-see and is worth dwelling on its details. The Rue du Trésor welcomes numerous artists who show a wide choice of paintings, watercolors, engraving, drawings and silkscreen prints.
If you walk along the Saint-Lawrence River, you reach the Old Port, where the Naval Museum of Quebec traces the military events that took place on the river. Nearby stands the Agora, outdoor amphitheater where summer shows take place. Both are located on the junction with the Louise Basin. The latter welcomes a picturesque covered market that offers many local products. On the leisure port, a pleasant wood boards promenade runs along the marina. It is hard to miss La Vivrière on FAO Square: it is a remarkable sculpture that represents a figurehead. The Espace 400e offers temporary exhibitions and varied events. Nearby, the Rue sous le Cap is an amazing ensemble of terrace-footbridges above our heads that connect pretty colored houses to sheds. The splendid Gare du Palais was erected in the early 20th century in an imposing «château» style. It is covered with a glass roof, an its interior is often bathed in a pleasant light. The Îlot des Palais offers an exciting tour about the history of the city.
 

See:

• Petit-Champlain area
• Place Royale
• Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church
• Fresque des Québécois & Fresque du Petit-Champlain
• Rue du Trésor
• Old Port
• Naval Museum of Quebec
• Agora
• Louise Basin
• FAO Square
• Espace 400è
• Rue sous le Cap
• Gare du Palais
• Îlot des Palais

The Governors’ Promenade prolongs the Dufferin Terrace: it is mainly made of stairs, and it runs close to the Citadel (photo). The latter was built was built by the English in the first half of the 19th century on the top of Cap Diamant, in style influenced by Vauban (star-shaped fortifications). Now, it houses the Residence of the Governor General of Canada and the Royal Museum of the 22nd Regiment. Its terraces offer a breathtaking view on the city and the Saint-Lawrence River.
The Battlefields Park is a more than 100 hectares haven of greenery. It includes, as the name suggests, the sites of the great battles that opposed the French and the English in 1759 and 1760, which ended in the French’s defeat: the Plains of Abraham, and the Parc des Braves. The Discovery Pavilion of the Plains of Abraham displays its superb «château» style. It deals with the history of the site and teaches you about military life at that time. The Joan of Ark Garden, covered with a wide variety of plants, is build around the equestrian statue of the famous heroine.
The Martello Tower is a set of four towers erected by the English in the early 19th century, which was never used: indeed, it was built in fear of an American invasion… which finally never happened!.. The Fine-Arts Museum of Quebec is one of the biggest in the country. It houses numerous artworks, notably sculptures, paintings and pictures. It is even home to Inuit art. It was renovated and from now on extends over three pavilions. The original one (1933) enjoys an extraordinary interior architecture.
The Parlament Building pays tribute to women who played a significant role in the history of Quebec. In Second Empire style, its façade has no less than twenty-two bronze statues of historical figures, some of them rising inside niches. It is located on the Place de l’Assemblée Nationale, where stands the beautiful Tourny Fountain, much highlighted by at night thanks to a remarkable lighting.
The Capital Observatory, the highest point of Quebec City, offers a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings from the 31st floor.
The Henry-Stuart House rises in the heart of a nice English-style garden. Built in the mid 19th century, it immerses us in the nostalgia of old Regency style cottages. Its roof overhang allows the presence of a gallery all around the building. 
 
See:

• Governors’ Promenade
• Citadel
• Residence of the Governor General of Canada
• Royal Museum of the 22nd Regiment
• Battlefields Park
• Plains of Abraham
• Parc des Braves
• Discovery Pavilion of the Plains of Abraham
• Joan of Ark Garden
•  Martello Tower
• Fine-Arts Museum of Quebec
• Parlament Building
• Place de l’Assemblée Nationale &  Tourny Fountain
• Capital Observatory
• Henry-Stuart House

Located on high, the Faubourg Saint-Jean-Baptiste is constantly lively, especially the Rue Saint-Jean. A mixed crowd flows there day and night. Bars, stores and concert halls abound there. Its urban landscape is a nice mix of old Europe and New World. The Capitole de Québec (photo) is an amazing Fine-Arts style theater built in 1903. It also includes a luxury hotel, a restaurant as well as an old cinema that became a cabaret. The Palais Montcalm mixes Neo-Classical and Art Deco styles. Much varied concerts take place regularly in the superb Raoul-Jobin room. The Saint-Matthew Cemetery is one of the oldest in the country. It dates from 1771, and many of its old tombstones are well preserved. Besides, it is a pleasant place to live since it also became a urban park. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church is a splendid French-inspired place of worship. It rises in front of a very nice square.
The Saint-Roch District draws numerous artists who come to express freely all their creativity, notably in exhibition rooms and workshops of La Méduse. Young and trendy, it is much vibrant and definitely forgot its sad past that tarnished its reputation. The Saint-Roch Garden is a very pleasant green area provided with a fall where life is good. La Fabrique, old factory as the name suggests, is now home to the School of Visual Arts of Laval University. The imposing red brick building can be seen from far away thanks to its water tower. Its wide façade with a much refined architecture includes a clock. The Rue Saint-Joseph was formerly nicknamed «the Broadway of Quebec» before the rehabilitation of the district. Remain of that bygone era, the Imperial Theatre in Quebec City was able to get through the years undergoing various modifications. That concert hall that carries on displaying its old-fashioned charm is now an artistic and cultural hot spot. Finally, places of worship are not forgotten:  the Notre-Dame-de-Jacques-Cartier Church, which dates from the mid 19th century, enjoys a remarkable interior architecture. Still, the great originality is its inclined bell tower.  The Saint-Roch Church is more modern (early 20th century) and has the particularity of housing a clothing and accessories store in its basement. 
 
See:

• Rue Saint-Jean
• Capitole de Québec
• Palais Montcalm
• Saint-Matthew Cemetery
• Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church
• La Méduse
• Saint-Roch Garden
• La Fabrique
• School of Visual Arts of Laval University
• Rue Saint-Joseph
• Imperial Theatre in Quebec City
• Notre-Dame-de-Jacques-Cartier Church
• Saint-Roch Church
  
  

Published on February, 18th 2022