A whole new experience!
Spectacular Québec City
Some travel destinations just seize the imagination. Their beauty is breathtaking. They evoke wonder and excitement. They're vibrant and alive. They're warm and welcoming. But few do it all as effortlessly and as naturally as Québec, the unique walled city on the St. Lawrence River. No other destination in the world offers Québec's compelling mix of features and attractions.Geographic location
Nature has been a generous contributor to Québec City's appeal. The very heart of the Québec City region is the St. Lawrence River, which arrives in a flourish from Montréal, squeezes through the Québec-Lévis narrows under the cliffs of Upper Town, then rushes on to the Atlantic in a widening expanse of water and nature. This unique combination of geography adds to the region's scenic appeal.Located in the St. Lawrence River Valley, the city is divided into two distinct parts—one perched high on the promontory overlooking the river, the other down by the shoreline where the first settlement was built.
Old Québec
The city itself also abounds in attractions. Historic Old Québec is the best known of all. This lively walled part of the city, with its winding streets and quaint town squares, traces its roots over 400 years back to the founding of the city in 1608, and is the cradle of French civilization in America.Today, Old Québec is renowned for its European charm and unique architectural beauty. Boutiques and cafés line the streets, horse-drawn calèches clip-clopping past stately heritage homes, musicians serenade passers-by, and strollers stop for a view of the river from the Cliffside boardwalk. This pedestrian-friendly and thoroughly enjoyable district is like a living history book, with a story to tell at every turn. In 1985, UNESCO recognized its immense historical value by declaring it a "World Heritage Treasure."
Four great periods of history
Intotal, four great periods have marked Québec City's development. Thefirst period precedes the arrival of European settlers, when the QuébecCity region was peopled by proud and independent native nations. Stilltoday, a Huron reservation exists right within the city limits, drawingvisitors for a taste of Amerindian cuisine and the opportunity to learnabout native culture.The second period began with the arrivalof settlers from France in 1608, at about the same time that Britishpilgrims were making their way to Virginia. Here they carved a newcolony out of the surrounding wilderness, learning from the natives,clearing woodland for farms, and raising families in their bountifulnew homeland. Québec was the capital of New France and theadministrative center of an empire stretching all the way to Louisiana.
In1759, the British laid siege to Québec, eventually capturing the townwith a surprise attack via the Plains of Abraham—today a magnificenturban park. Eager to secure the support of their new French-speakingsubjects against the rebellious colonies to the south, the British,rather than assimilating the habitants, decided to guarantee theirright to the Catholic religion, the French civil code of law, and theFrench language. It was under British rule that the Québecfortifications were built, to protect the city against attack by theAmericans. Today it is the only walled city in North America.
Thefourth and most recent chapter of Québec history began with CanadianConfederation in 1867. Québec City became the provincial capital andwas gradually to grow into the confident, outward-looking, moderncenter of trade and culture crossroads it has become today.
Each ofthese four periods has left its own legacy in the city—and each isrecounted in fascinating and easy-to-follow detail in the city's manymuseums and interpretation centers.
Restaurants and shopping
Québecis particularly noted as a gourmet destination. No other city its sizeboasts such a selection of fine restaurants and bistros. Whethervisitors prefer fine French cuisine, a simple “steak frites” on asun-drenched patio, the flavorful and innovative offerings of Québec'snew generation of gourmet chefs, or the hearty stews and meat pies ofQuébec country cooking, the choice is so appetizing they may be temptedto extend their stay an extra day or two. Québec City also features avery generous selection of ethnic restaurants to suit every taste.And after a lingering meal, nothing beats browsing through Québec's countless shops and boutiques!
Rue Petit-Champlain,tucked quaintly at the foot of the cliff beneath the city's landmarkFairmont Le Château Frontenac, is North America's oldest shoppingstreet. It's great for unearthing Amerindian crafts, local designerfashions, jewelry, decorative objects and much more. Nearby rueSaint-Paul is brimming with antique shops—the ideal place for whilingthe day away. Visitors can also stop by one of the city's many artgalleries to pick out a work by an up-and-coming Québec artist or astunning piece of Inuit sculpture. And for those colder winter nights,perhaps a warm leather or fur coat from a local boutique would be justthe thing!
Visitors should also be sure to venture outside thecity's walls for more discoveries. Rue Saint-Jean in picturesqueFaubourg Saint-Jean-Baptiste offers a tempting selection of gift itemsand fine foods. Rue Cartier in Québec City's chic Montcalm district isanother must on any shopping circuit. The trendy rue Saint-Joseph inSaint-Roch district attracts many shoppers in this section of LowerTown because of the unique shops, restaurants and boutiques thatrecently opened. And for truly astounding selection, travel to Laurier Quebec plus other suburban malls featuring hundreds of stores, many of them unique to Québec City.
For additional information please visit this site.
www.regiondequebec.com (French)
www.quebecregion.com (English)
