Quebec City: Place of History
Top Tourist Attractions in Quebec City, and Places To Visit
Haute-Ville
Haute-Ville is an area in Quebec that offers both old and new tourist attractions; it features great places to visit, things to do, and wonderful sights. Haute-Ville, or Upper Town is full of shops, restaurants and cathedrals. Don't miss the Terrasse Dufferin which is a boardwalk offering beautiful views of the St. Lawrence River, the Laurentian Mountains, and the Ile d'Orleans. During the winter, the city sets up a toboggan hill known as Les Glissades de la Terrasse! To see historical war remnants visit the Fortifications de Quebec, where you'll find low ramparts studded with cannons, 10 foot walls, two elegant gates (the Saint-Jean and the Saint-Louis), and a 3 mile wall walkway! The Vieux Port is a delightful area with its focal point around the old harbour. It is an area in which to walk along the riverside, enjoy new and old tourist attractions, take a boat cruise to the Montmorency waterfalls, marvel at Quebec's Stadium, dine in traditional restaurants, and shop in trendy boutiques.
Basse-Ville
For tours and tourist attractions that touch on Quebec's history, don't miss the Basse-Ville. Basse-Ville, or Lower Town, is the oldest part of Quebec City and features winding staircases, cafes, and a charming historical ambiance. Visit the Musee du Fort which contains many war relics symbolizing Quebec's military history. Check out the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, which is an elegant 1804 stone Neo Classical styled structure with an English Oak interior. Delve into human history through the ages in the modern Musee de la Civilisation. Place Royal is another top tourist attraction that conveys Canadian history and architecture. Don't forget to see the Maison Chevalier which is linked to the Musee de la Civilisation, and showcases 18th century decorative arts, silverware, and furniture.
The Historic Railway
It was built
on a hill in 1879.
Location:
Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec
16, Petit-Champlain
Québec City Québec
G1K 4H4
http://www.funiculaire-quebec.com/en/Accueil.htm
The Citadel of Quebec City
The largest British Fortress in North America. An active military garrison that has been in service for 300 years.
Location:
St-Louis Street at Cote de la Citadelle
Cap Diamant
Quebec City, Quebec
G1R 3R2
418-694-2815
http://www.lacitadelle.qc.ca/en.html
Museum of Civilization
The site of adventures in humanity!
Permanent collection and travelling exhibitions.
Check website to see what is current.
Location:
85 rue Dalhousie
P.O. Box 155, Station B
Québec City, Québec
G1K 7A6
http://www.mcq.org/index_en.html
Palais Montcalm
A multitude of music: from classical to jazz. Check the site to see what artists are currently playing.
995 Place D’ Youville
Quebec City, Quebec
G1R 3P1
418-641-6040
http://www.palaismontcalm.ca/
Quebec City Public Market
Explore the old port, located right downtown in Quebec City.
Location:
160, Quai Saint-André
Québec City , Quebec
G1K 3Y2
St. Lawrence Marine Park- Whale watch, fish or kick back and relax in this beautiful one of a kind marine park.
Location:
182 rue de l' Église, C.P. 220, Tadoussac
Québec City, Quebec
G0T 2A0
418-235-4703
http://www.marinepark.qc.ca/1508_an.html
For information on more attractions in Quebec, go to:
http://www.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/accueil0.html
Weather in Quebec
The climate in Quebec ranges from extremely hot and humid in summer to extremely cold and snowy in winter! High temperatures in summer range from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius to minus 25-minus 30 degrees Celsius.
History of Quebec City
Quebec is the largest province in Canada. It covers a grand total of 1.5 million square miles. Its American neighbors to the south are New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and New York. The name is derived from the Algonquin word meaning ‘narrow passage’ or ‘strait’. There is also the school of thought that the name is directly from the word ‘kebee’ which refers to all the land disputes between the natives and the Europeans.
The first settlers were the Inuit Indians who are also called the Amerindians who emigrated from Asia. The Vikings were in Quebec as early as 1000 AD. The first European settler was Jacques Cartier who landed in 1534. He claimed the land on behalf of the King of France.
Its capital, Quebec City, was officially founded in 1608. It was discovered by Samuel de Champlain and named after a local First Nations person named it in their language meaning "the river narrows here". De Champlain’s old settlement is still there today and is located at the peninsula on the fort at Old Quebec. The English soon arrived and their conquest pushed the French into one area which would eventually become the province of Quebec. The French culture is strong in Quebec as a result of French speaking peoples being concentrated in one area.
In 1756, the Seven Year’s War began. It ended in 1763 with the loss of the City of Quebec in the battle of the Plains of Abraham, where the French lost control over their city. In 1774 the Quebec Act allowed the mostly Catholic French speaking population to have religious freedom. In 1775 the Battle of Quebec was led by 13 American colonies under Benedict Arnold and ended one year later. In 1791 the Constitutional Act allowed Quebec to be divided into Upper (English speaking) and Lower (French speaking) Canada. Quebec City flourished under the strength of its culture and hard working people and became the fourth largest port city in North America by 1800.
Despite its complex and violent history, Quebec is still an important part of Canada. Its vibrant French culture and language are what make Canada unique. It is a major contributor to the Canadian economy and a great place to live or visit.