Spectacular Quebec City - A Whole New Experience, Quebec, Canada

Spectacular Quebec City

A whole new experience!

Some travel destinations simply 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 Quebec, the unique walled city on the St. Lawrence River.

No other destination in the world offers Quebec's compelling mix of features and attractions.

Geographic location

Nature has been a generous contributor to Quebec's appeal. The city and region are located in the St. Lawrence River Valley, a sweeping plain of fertile lowlands extending from the Atlantic Seaboard all the way to the Great Lakes heartland of America. The city itself 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.

To the north, the Laurentian Mountains serve as a backdrop to the region. Visible on the horizon to the south are the Appalachian foothills and mountains extending into New England. And at the very heart of the Quebec region is the St. Lawrence River, which arrives in a flourish from Montreal, squeezes by 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.

Old Quebec

The city itself also abounds in attractions. Historic Old Quebec is the best known of all. This lively city center of winding streets and quaint town squares traces its roots back nearly 400 years to the founding of the city in 1608, and is the cradle of French civilization in America.

Today, Old Quebec is renowned for its European charm and unique architectural beauty. Boutiques and cafes line the streets, horse-drawn caleches clickety-clack past stately old homes, musicians serenade passersby, and strollers stop for a view of the river from the cliffside boardwalk. This highly walkable and thoroughly enjoyable district is like a living history book, with a new story to tell at every turn. In 1985, UNESCO recognized its immense historical value by declaring it a "World Heritage Treasure."

A popular, affordable destination

Quebec City attracts nearly four million visitors a year, including over one million from outside Canada. Americans are the largest group of foreign visitors, followed by Europeans and Asians. Whatever their origins, all remark on the affordable accommodations, restaurants, and attractions offering visitors great value for their travel dollar-even those from other parts of Canada who do not enjoy the added benefit of favorable exchange rates.

Four great periods of history

In total, four great periods have marked Quebec City's development. The first predated the arrival of European settlers, when the Quebec region was peopled by proud and independent native nations. Still today, a Huron reservation exists right within the city limits, drawing visitors for a taste of Amerindian cuisine and the opportunity to learn about native culture.

The second began with the arrival of colonists from France in 1608, at about the same time that British settlers were making their way to Virginia. Here they carved a new colony out of the surrounding wilderness, learning from the natives, clearing woodlands for farms, and raising families in their bountiful new homeland. Quebec was the capital of New France and the administrative center of an empire stretching all the way to Louisiana.

In 1759, the British laid siege to Quebec, eventually capturing the town with a surprise attack via the Plains of Abraham-today a magnificent urban park. Eager to secure the support of their new French-speaking subjects against the rebellious colonies to the south, the British declined to assimilate the habitants, guaranteeing instead their right to the Catholic religion, the French civil code of law, and the French language. It was under British rule that Quebec's fortifications were built, to protect the city against attack by the Americans. Today it is the only walled city in North America.

The fourth and most recent chapter in the history of Quebec began with Canadian Confederation in 1867. Quebec was named the provincial capital and would gradually grow into the confident, outward-looking, modem center of commerce and culture it has become today.

Each of these four periods has left its own legacy in the city-and each is recounted in fascinating and easy-to-follow detail in the city's many museums and interpretation centers.

Restaurants and shopping

However, visitors flock to Quebec for more than a glimpse of its remarkable past. This is a city where every activity seems designed to enhance travel enjoyment, and visitors take full advantage of the fact.

Quebec is particularly noted as a gourmet destination. No other city its size boasts such a selection of fine restaurants and bistros. Whether visitors prefer fine French cuisine, a simple steak frites on a sun-drenched patio, the flavorful and innovative offerings of Quebec's new generation of gourmet chefs, or the hearty stews and meat pies of Quebec country cooking, the choice is so appetizing they may be tempted to extend their stay an extra day or two. Quebec City also features a very generous selection of ethnic restaurants to suit every taste.

And after a lingering meal, what better than to browse through Quebec's countless shops and boutiques!

Rue Petit-Camplain, tucked quaintly at the foot of the cliff beneath the City's landmark Chateau Frontenac, is North America's oldest shopping street. Its great for unearthing Amerindian crafts, local designer fashions, jewelry, decorative objects and much more. Nearby rue Saint-Paul is brimming with antique shops-the ideal place for whiling the day away. Visitors can also stop by one of the city's many art galleries to pick out a work by an up-and-coming Quebec artist or a stunning piece of Inuit sculpture. And for those colder winter nights, perhaps a warm leather or fur coat from a local boutique would be just the thing!

Visitors should also be sure to venture outside the city's walls for more discoveries. Rue Saint Jean in picturesque Faubourg Saint-Jean-Baptiste offers a tempting selection of gift items and fine foods. Rue Cartier in Quebec City's chic Montcalm district is another must on any shopping circuit. And for truly astounding selection, travel to Place Laurier, Place Sainte-Foy, or Galeries de la Capitale, three suburban malls featuring hundreds of stores, many of them unique to Quebec. A visit to one of the three stores of local fashion retailer La maisoll Simons also a Quebec City tradition.

Festivals and events

Another great thing about visiting Quebec City is the never-ending succession of events and activities the region offers throughout the year.

The premier summer event is without question the Quebec City Summer Festival, an incredible musical happening that turns Old Quebec into a crazy quilt of people, places, and performances. For 11 days, world beat and French song take to the streets as the city becomes one giant outdoor stage. Also on the bill is a fine sampling of other musical styles along with children's theater and a diverse roster of street and circus entertainers.

A host of other events add to the summer enjoyment in Quebec, including Les Grands Feux Loto-Quebec, a musical fireworks competition in the natural amphitheater of the Montmorency Falls; New France Celebration Days, an annual tribute to the city's French heritage; the International Festival of Military Bands; and the Quebec/Saint-Malo Transat, an international sailing race held every four years.

And when winter drapes her fluffy white mantle on Quebec, it's Carnival time! The Quebec Winter Carnival is one of the world's greatest outdoor winter celebrations, with two dazzling night parades featuring event ambassador Bonhomme Carnaval, a canoe race over the frozen floes of the St. Lawrence, a grandiose ice castle in Old Quebec, along with ice sculptures, dogsled races, and all sorts of games and activities for children.

Christmas in Quebec is also a special treat. Every year, the Quebec f�te No�l celebration in Old Quebec offers a panoply of seasonal events and activities to warm every heart.

And no matter which season you visit the Quebec region, you're always just minutes away from the great outdoors-skiing at Mont Sainte-Anne or Stoneham, hunting and fishing in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, canoeing down the Jacques-Cartier River, or simply enjoying the region's marvelous natural beauty with a hike in the woods or a visit to one of the many lakes or parks in the area.

For Hotels and Resorts in Quebec go to Quebec Hotels and Resorts

For Family Attractions in Quebec go to Quebec Family Attractions

Information and photos courtesy of the Greater Quebec Area Tourism and Convention Bureau.