The Canadian city of Quebec is a popular destination. Quebec is located in eastern Canada and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The range of historical attractions combined with the green surroundings and the location on the Saint Lawrence River provide a wonderful variety. It is not for nothing that the old town is part of the Unesco World Heritage. Quebec’s skyline is dominated by the ever-luxurious Château Frontenac hotel and a number of office buildings. The range of museums and versatile restaurants make a city like Quebec an extremely suitable destination where young and old can feel at home.
Quebec ‘s Top 10 Attractions
#1. La Citadelle
In a beautiful location on the Saint Lawrence River, there is an important piece of national history to discover. La Citadelle on Cap Diamont is a military fortress from the seventeenth century. From here, Canada’s eastern city was protected from outside attacks. Quebec’s ‘La Citadelle’ has been a World Heritage Site since 1985. Visitors can enjoy more than three hundred years of history wrapped in a most beautiful jacket. During a tour of about an hour and a half you will visit the Regimental Chapel, the room of ‘Honor and Memory, you can enjoy the most beautiful view of the Saint Lawrence River and hear fascinating true stories that took place here. In addition, the Royal 22nd Regiment museum is located and you can witness the traditional changing of the guard.
#2. Vieux-Québec
According to Topschoolsintheusa, the most historical and valuable part of the city of Quebec is located in the old part of ‘Vieux-Quebec’. This part of the city is dominated by the Château Frontenac and the Citadelle, visible from afar. Between the colonial houses in this district you will find more beautiful buildings such as the City Hall, Édifice Price, the Ursuline Monastery and the Basilica of Notre Dame de Quebec. A nice tip is to explore Vieux-Quebec by horse and carriage. The owner would like to provide you with old anecdotes and interesting facts.
#3. Château Frontenac
The fairytale appearance of Château Frontenac comes from a design by the American architect Bruce Price. This man had previously proven his track record designing the Windsor Station and businessman James Ross’ home on Montreal’s Golden Square Mile. Château Frontenac was built in 1893 as a hotel. In the meantime, the hotel has already undergone some restorations and modern adjustments have also been made to keep it functioning properly in the present time. The hotel is still one of the top luxury hotels with great grandeur. Since 1980, the structure has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
#4. Hotel du Parliament
Quebec’s Parliament Building was built between 1877 and 1886. The style can best be described as renaissance or second empire architecture. The Hôtel du Parliament has eight floors and is located on the Rue des Parliamentaires. The facade is decorated with twenty-two impressive statues of several important people in Canadian history. These include names such as Honoré Mercier (Prime Minister), Louis de Buade de Frontenac (Governor General), and Robert Baldwin (politician). During a free tour of about thirty minutes, you can admire the inside of the building, which takes you into areas such as the council chamber.
#5. Ile d’Orléans
This island in the Saint Lawrence River is known as the place where the first French speakers settled in North America. The French explorer Jacques Cartier gave it the name ‘Île de Bascuz’ in 1535 because of the many white grapes he found there. After that it had several more names until it finally changed to Île de Orléans. In the historic district there are all kinds of places where you can enjoy delicious fresh regional dishes and the cultural heritage is also a feast for the eyes. The island now has its own seal indicating that the product was grown on the island itself. The stamp bears the name: Savoir-faire île d’Orléans. You can also find a petting zoo on the island.
#6. Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
This beautiful Quebec basilica is located on the Saint Lawrence River. As an important Catholic sanctuary, the basilica has already received many visitors and pilgrims. The neo-Romanesque design was built around 1926 after an idea of the architects Maxime Roisin, Louis Audet and Joseph Daoust. The finishing of the inside was not realized until 1937. The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré features religious artworks and sculptures by Canadian sculptor Joseph-Émile Brunet and impressive stained glass creations by Auguste Labouret.
#7. L’Escalier du Casse-Cou
In the vicinity of Place Royale is the district L’Escalier du Casse-Cou, which is also known as Petit Champlain. The difference in street level between Terrasse Dufferin and rue Sous-le-Fort is resolved with stairs called Escalier du Casse-Cou. There are about thirty staircases spread over the city. Another particularly fine example is the Lépin. The very first stairs in this place were made of wood. This happened in the year 1857. An iron replacement was then placed in 1883. The district, which is part of Vieux-Quebec, is excellent for shopping, eating well and enjoying all the beautiful details of history while walking..
#8. Notre-Dame de Québec
On the rue de Buade in Quebec City, you can visit the city’s Notre-Dame. The cathedral was founded around 1647, but suffered a lot of damage during two devastating fires. The last major restorations took place at the beginning of the twentieth century. At least since the cathedral was designated a National Historic Site in 1989, it has not lost any of its popularity. The interior is therefore impressive to see. Don’t forget to admire the ‘Holy Door’.
#9. Musée de la civilization à Québec
The MCQ museum of the Canadian city of Quebec lets you enjoy all kinds of cultures, social sciences and society. For example, through permanent and changing exhibitions you can learn more about indigenous tribes such as the Aborigines and important events in and around Quebec. The museum, which opened its doors in 1988, is now partly located in a former bank building on St. Peter Street.
#10. Plains of Abraham
The historic area ‘Plains of Abraham’ is located in the green surroundings of the Battlefiels Park. The Battle of Quebec was fought here in 1759. Today, the park is mainly visited as a recreation park. Families gather here for relaxing moments, others use it for sports and more than once fun events and festivals are organised. Especially during the Quebec City Summer Festival people come in large numbers to the always pleasant Plains of Abraham park.
