Quebec / Canada

Québec is the capital of the Canadian province of the same name and its port, with a population of just over half a million. The city is located on the eastern, Atlantic coast of North America on the Saint Lawrence River, on the shore of the bay of the same name.

The city was founded in 1608 by the French explorer and diplomat Samuel de Champlain, making Québec one of the oldest cities and the cradle of the Francophone population of North America. During the 17th and 18th centuries, several battles were fought in the area between the French, British, Americans, and indigenous peoples, and until the end of the 18th century, Québec remained a small colonial town with a permanent population.

During the American Revolution, there were attempts to annex the area to America, and although this never happened, the British built a citadel here in 1820, which hosted a large British garrison until the 1970s. In 1867, Québec became part of the Canadian Confederation.

The walls surrounding the old city are the only standing walls in America north of Mexico, and in 1985, they were listed along with the entire historic part of the city as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The dominant feature of Québec is the Chateau Frontenac hotel, which is one of the most photographed hotels in the world. A walk from it along the Dufferin terraces leads along the edge of a cliff, offering stunning views of the river. The nearby Plains of Abraham is the site where the Battle of Québec took place in 1775 between the Americans and the British, and where the Battlefields Park is located today. Not far from here stands the citadel, which still serves military purposes, but also offers guided tours.

In the center of Québec lies the 400-year-old Place Royale, the cradle of French civilization in Canada. Replicas of old buildings host galleries, restaurants, shops, and museums. To the north of the square stretches the pedestrian street Rue du Petit-Champlain, considered the oldest commercial street in North America – lined with art galleries, clothing and souvenir shops, and cafes.

An excellent example of old Quebec architecture is the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica, originally built in the mid-17th century, and the Maison Chevalier, a group of houses from the mid-18th century with typical French architecture.

Just a half-hour drive from the city, you will find Ile d'Orleans, a beautiful island with a number of old churches, farms, and stunning scenery. The life and traditions of the area's original indigenous inhabitants are brought closer by the reconstruction of a traditional village in the Huron-Wendat reserve. The Montmorency Falls, just 15 kilometers north of the city, are half as high again as Niagara Falls, and from the cable car to the top of the cliff, there are amazing views of the river and surrounding mountains.

Places worth seeing

La Citadelle – Don't miss a tour of the citadel from the first half of the 19th century, which is an integral part of the only preserved walls in North America north of Mexico.

Battlefields Park – Take a walk through the park, which in 1775 became the site of the American-British Battle of Québec.

Place Royale – Explore the oldest part of the city with a 400-year-old square, colonial buildings, and narrow streets lined with shops, cafes, and art galleries.

Basilique Notre-Dame de Québec – Visit the majestic cathedral, originally built in the mid-17th century and twice destroyed by fire.

Ile d'Orleans – Take a trip to the picturesque island half an hour from downtown Québec, admire the old churches and farms, and don't miss a taste of local cider or a wine tasting.

Huron-Wendat Reserve – Immerse yourself in the life and traditions of the city's original indigenous inhabitants in a reconstruction of a traditional village with longhouses and a museum, taste traditional dishes, and enjoy dance performances.