Walk the old city. Do not drive. The streets are very narrow. The old city, vieux Quebec, is surrounded by a wall with only a few gates to permit entry. Stop at the Jesuit Chapel built in 1817. This is a very simple chapel whose architect was a member of the Baillairge dynasty. They seem to have designed most of the churches in Provence Quebec.

Down the street, next to the fortifications, is Artillery Park, a National Historical Site of Canada. The park has buildings you can visit. The most interesting of them is the Dauphine Redoubt. The lowest two floors were built by the French in 1712. The British added a third floor, and the Canadians added a fourth floor when the complex was used as a munitions factory from 1902 until 1964. The park includes an officer’s quarters and a barracks, which is the longest building built by the French in North America. Until then the soldiers were quartered in the homes of civilians.

From Artillery Park walk the historic streets to the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the oldest parish North of Mexico. Bishop Laval, the diocese first bishop traveled most of the diocese, which extended from Newfoundland to New Orleans, LA. Remember that all of the land along the Mississippi once was claimed by France. Across the plaza is the City Hall and next door is the Seminary, which eventually became Laval University.

A short three block walk is the luxury hotel, Chateau Frontenac, which dominates the Quebec Skyline. The tower was not part of the original hotel. When a fire destroyed the old hotel the tower was built and the hotel surrounded it. This seems to be one of the focal points of the city. Many people congregate around the hotel, perhaps because of the numerous parks which surround it.

A walk down Rue St. Louis bring you to a tree with a canon ball in its roots, a souvenir from the fall of Quebec in 1759 under a hail of over 20,000 cannon balls.

Walking the streets is a real treat. Even though the sidewalks are narrow and the streets climb up and down the hills, the experience is one of being in an eighteenth century French town.

The changing of the guard at the Citadel is a must see event. The Citadel, erected on the original French site in 1820 to ward off attack from the USA, is the home of the 23rd Regiment of the Canadian Army. Formed during World War I, as the only French speaking Canadian regiment, they have also seen combat action during World War II and the Korean Conflict. At 10:00 A.M. daily they hold the traditional changing of the guard, complete with marching band and their goat mascot. Sixteen men, plus their officers are on guard duty for twenty-four hour periods. The ceremony takes thirty-five minutes and is then followed by an hour tour of the facilities.

The fortress is the largest fortification garrisoned by regular troops in North America. Star shaped in design, the main defense faced the river, the cannons having a two and a half mile range. While on the tour, the commandant’s wife waved from a second floor window to the group and showed off her two year old puppy, Chelsea. The Citadel overlooks the Plains of Abraham, where Montcalm lost the battle to Wolfe during the French and Indian War. During the battle, both lost their lives. There is free two hour parking inside the walls of the fortress. The entry is serpentine and the main gate is very narrow, the original structure from the fortifications.

Drive around the Plains of Abraham. Here too is free parking, the visitor’s center, the fine arts museum and beautiful views of the river. Here the cliffs protecting Old Quebec fall way to sloping access to the river, perfect entry for the army to attack.

Drive past the summit of Montmorency Falls. The falls have been dammed to harness electricity. A suspension bridge lets people look down from the summit and a cable car takes passengers from the bottom to the top and vice versa. Since the falls are higher than Niagara Falls, use of the cable car is better than climbing the steps.

John Pelley is a Geriatric Gypsy. He is retired from the rat race of working. He is a full-time RVer, who ran away from home. He began our travels on the East Coast and, like the migrating birds, seek the warmth of the seasons He has discovered volunteering with the National Park System. He has a CD he has recorded of Native American flute music., A Day with Kokopelli. For pictures, links, and more information visit http://www.jmpelley.org

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Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac

This is a hotel at the center of Old Quebec. The ambiance has a distinctive Gallic charm, superior meeting facilities and exquisite dining opportunities. This is a stately hotel that stands in the historic place of Old Quebec. It is considered a United Nation World Heritage Site.

The location is a walking distance from the wonderful sites of the Old Quebec. If you choose to stay here, you are guaranteed a most memorable and inspiring stay in one beautiful city in the world.

This hotel has a historic European touch but still carries a modern elegance. The amenities covered give an emphatic nod from the guests. Pets are allowed for only $50 per night. Children below 18 years old can stay for free. There are gift shops and newsstands for those who will care to buy some souvenirs, or read the latest news.

The swimming pool is okay for children to use. on top of it is a whirlpool, and sauna also. The garden has a beautiful landscape, and many guests like to stay here in their idle time. There are conference rooms with business facilities like a photocopying machine. There are babysitting or child care services if needed, especially when the adults must run on a very important meeting.

Near the hotel are many sites you might want to visit. Try to go to Valcartier Vacation Village, Citadel, Ste-anne-de-beaupré, Coliseum Quebec Parliament Building, Ile D’orléans, Plains Of Abraham, and Musée De La Civilisation.

Best Western City Center

This is just ten minutes away from the Old city of Quebec. It is at the heart of business community with easy access to the main highway. It is a smoke free property.

The staff practices multilingual speeches such that most foreigners do not have a hard time expressing their needs. Their guest rooms are well furnished with queen sized beds – two in each room. The rooms are also equipped with full range modern amenities.

Exercise equipment and spa equipment are all available. There is also indoor pool. There is a dining room in their atrium. There are also convenient venues for shopping and entertainment.

The property amenities include wake up call service, business facilities, a complimentary spa tub, whirlpool, and internet access. They have a garden where many visitors opt to take their souvenir photos, a business center and concierge desk. The meeting rooms are okay for small group functions. The in-house restaurant is Restaurant La Serre.

On your free time, you may want to go out and explore the city. You can visit Old Quebec, Galeries De La Capitale, Vieux Port/Old Port, Exhibition Centre, Centre De Foires De Quêbec, Muséum Du Quebec, Palais De Justice, Muséum De La Civilisation, Provincial And Federal Buildings, Grand Théâtre De Quêbec, Hippodrome De Quebec, and Centre Des Congrès De Quêbec.

Hilton Quebec

This is a triangular 23-story tower. It stands atop the underground shopping corridors that have boutique stores and nice food courts. The hotel’s lobby is very elegant. It has chandeliers and a grandfather’s clock. The business center is fully equipped with new amenities.

Their guestrooms are overlooking the magnificent views of the harbor, downtown and mountains. The bathrooms are mirror framed. All amenities are complete from bathroom and standard property amenities. There are also quite a big number of area attractions.

There are many more cheap hotels in Quebec. Explore the whole Quebec and experience nice places to stay.

For more information on Quebec Hotels and Quebec Vacation Rentals, please visit our website.

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“The Jewish Aviation Museum?” queried the puzzled tourist guide.

“Yea, you know, the Planes of Abraham.” exclaimed the tourist.

The story is no doubt apocryphal, but it underscores the fact that Quebec boasts a different language and culture from the rest of North America.

And vive la difference. Quebec City is the cradle of French civilization in North America. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, French soldier, navigator, geographer and explorer, it is the only walled city north of Mexico.

The name Quebec is derived from the Indian word “Kebec,” meaning “narrowing of the waters”. The city is perched on a 106 meter (350ft) cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River and is divided into the Upper and Lower town. In colonial times the Upper Town was the domain of the military and the government. The Lower Town encompassed the port and trading district where supplies from Europe were unloaded to be replaced by the rich furs of “New France.”

Authentic restoration ensures that today’s Lower Town retains the ambience of early New France, including the thick stonewalls, dormer windows, wooden doors and shutters and bright tin roofs.

The art galleries, boutiques and quaint alfresco cafes that have replaced the old warehouses give Quebec that uniquely European look unknown in other North American cities.

The heart of the Lower Town was, and still is, Place Royale, named after Louis X1V whose bust stands in the square.

Hard by Place Royale is Quartier Petit-Champlain, the oldest district in North America, dating back to the city’s founding in 1608. Originally it was a busy port village with trading posts and elegant residences built of wood, then stone and brick. Towards the end of the 19th century Quartier Petit-Champlain deteriorated. Modern renovation, with strict adherence to authenticity, has again turned the quarter into a quaint riverside village where pedestrians can stroll the narrow streets enjoying the local color. Over 60 craftspeople and artists offer their wares here and visitors can enjoy the native entertainers and musicians while partaking of Quebec’s sumptuous French cuisine.

To get to the Upper Town from the Lower Town you can climb the aptly named “Break-neck Stairs” or take a small funicular railway.

Dominating the skyline up top is that majestic symbol of Quebec City, the Chateau Frontenac. The hotel was built in 1893 and its turrets and towers make it look more like a castle. It is on the site of Fort St. Louis, a governor’s residence in colonial times, and was named after Comte de Frontenac, an early governor of New France.

From the front of the Chateau Frontenac you can take the Promenade des Gouverneurs, a picturesque boardwalk, round to the famous Plains of Abraham or Battlefields Park. This 95-hectare (235 acres) park was the site of the pivotal battle between General Wolfe and General Montcalm in 1759 that irrevocably sealed the fate of New France as a British colony. The boardwalk itself is suspended 92 meters (280ft) above the St. Lawrence and offers spectacular views of the river and Quebec’s busy harbor.

Visitors arriving in Quebec City by car from Montreal are likely to drive down the Grande Allee. The road dates from colonial times when the indigenous people of the Sillery reserve took what was then the longest road in the colony into town to sell their furs. Today the road is lined with restaurants and small hotels all housed in Victorian buildings. It’s great fun to stroll this busy street at night reading the menus posted outside the restaurants. The quality of the restaurants in Quebec City is unequalled anywhere in North America, including New York and San Francisco. Meandering down the Grande Allee in the evening one regrets that one can eat only one dinner.

A visit to Quebec would be incomplete without a tour of ile d’Orleans, a 35 kilometer (21 miles) by nine-kilometer (five miles) island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.

Quebec poet and folksinger, Felix Leclerc, describes the road that circumscribes the island as “quarante-deux milles de choses tranquilles …” (42 miles of tranquility). The island is certainly a living museum of colonial New France with houses, churches and mills that are centuries old.

Of particular interest in the village of Saint-Jean is the Manoir Mauvide-Genest. Built in 1734 for Mr. Mauvide, surgeon to Louis XV, it is a Norman-style manor and one of the most beautiful rural buildings in the province of Quebec. Today it houses a restaurant on the first floor and a museum on the second.

The bridge connecting the island with the mainland was built in 1935. Prior to this the only contact with the island was by boat in summer and ice-bridge in winter.

From the bridge one gets a superb view of Montmorency Falls on the mainland. With a height of 85 meters (274 ft) it is over 30 meters (100 ft) higher than Niagara Falls. On top of the cliff and to the left of the falls stands the Kent House, once the home of the Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria.

The uniqueness of Quebec was summed up by the English writer Rudyard Kipling in a letter home upon visiting the city in 1907. He wrote: “Quebec … ranks by herself among those Mother-cities of whom none can say, ‘This reminds me ….’”

Bruce Burnett, has won four Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold awards for travel journalism. Read more of Bruce Burnett’s writing on his websites:

1. http://www.globalramble.com/
2. http://www.bruceburnett.ca/
3. http://www.herbalcuisine.com/

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Of all the cities in Canada, Quebec City is most noted for its old world charm, colour and romanticism. Restoration in part of the city has returned some of the culture and ambience of the city as it existed 300 to 400 years ago. Throughout its history, Quebec City was controlled by English and French nationals, yet the French were most staunch about calling this city its own. It is considered the heart and soul of French culture in Canada and in North America.

Quebec City has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site and it is the only walled city in North America. The wall tells us much about the battles that too place here in centuries past, battles important to the formation of Canada as a nation and to the development of French civilization in the country. Quebec City was founded as a city 400 years ago, and the 400th anniversary celebrations are on. This summer has to be the perfect opportunity, although the anniversary will undoubtedly improve the city for tourists for coming years.

Quebec City stands on the shore of the might Saint Lawrence River, the main trade route for North Americans for probably a thousand years. That accessibility to the Atlantic Ocean has made it an attractive destination for immigrants from France and for commercial trade with Europe.

Today, Quebec City is considered a wonderful tourist destination offering something so unique that tourists from all over the world come to Quebec City. A taste of old world French culture is what tourists come for and with the restoration of the lower section of Quebec City they are finding it. Visitors stroll through the cobblestone streets and winding staircases with towering Victorian architecture all around them. This is Basse Ville the lower town, and the upper town or walled city looms above. Down at the waterfront, tour boats and cruise ships await their passengers.

Quebec City Attractions

The 400th Anniversary Celebration

IF you are in the city on July 3, you will want to see the show Rencontres/Encounters which musically commemorates the city’s founding by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. And in August, experience a magical evening of fire, water, acrobatics and music at the Baie de Beauport and the pop singer Céline Dion will be offering a concert performance on the Plains of Abraham. The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec will also be showing the exhibit, Le Louvre à Québec: les arts et la vie, which will showaces more than 270 works from the collections of the prestigious French museum

There are plenty of old world buildings, forts and streetscapes to keep even the most disinterested tourists busy exploring. Chateau Frontenac is one of the largest Quebec City hotels with more than 600 rooms. It is the most obvious parts of the Quebec City landmarks. The views from the hotel are spectacular.

Other beautiful buildings include the Assemble Nationale which is the seat of Quebec’s provincial government. Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Seminaire de Quebec are two religiously significant structures with exquisitely detailed interiors. The Sainte Anne de Beaupre is one of Canada’s most sacred shrines and 1.5 million people come to see this medieval Basilica built in 1923.

Place Royale is a market square filled with boutiques, galleries, bistros, restaurants, and other retail shops all inside 18th century buildings. For scenic walking routes try the Terrasse Dufferin which sweeps along top of the Cap Diamant from the Chateau Frontenac. There are plenty of kiosks and benches where you can enjoy drinks and view the magnificent view of the St Lawrence and the Laurentian Mountains.

Skiing and Biking on the Laurentian Mountains

The Laurentian Mountains offer skiing and mountain biking activities for the active set. Just an hour drive north of Quebec City is Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec’s largest ski park area. Shuttle buses will take you from Quebec City. There are plenty of hotels so you can stay for a multiday adventure.

One last must see site is only a few miles from Quebec City. Montmorency Falls at Ile d’Orleans is Quebec’s most dramatic waterfalls. The falls is actually 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. You can view the falls from an aerial tram, or suspension bridge, or you can climb the cliffs next to the falls for a great view.

Quebec City has its modern section too which includes hotels, restaurants, malls and movie theatres, so you won’t be denied the usual entertainment venues and activities. The richest and most memorable parts of your visit will be the fascinating architecture of the old city. Quebec City will certainly be a change from your usual vacation, perfect for couples seeking a romantic escape for families wanting experience Canada’s history and culture.

Gord Collins is a Canadian travel enthusiastic sharing the news about Canada’s best travel attractions, Quebec City hotels, and ski and mountain biking destinations in Quebec. Quebec City could be the top spot on your Atlantic Province vacation and you will want to check the fascinating history and culture of this old city, a big part of Canada’s heritage.

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