Close your eyes and imagine winding cobblestone streets, a
collection of world-class museums, sidewalk cafes serving crepes and croissants
and French spoken everywhere. If your imagination takes you to Paris, you
would be wrong.
Photo by Cynthia Dial
Welcome to Québec City, Canada. Showcasing an
Old Town behind fortification walls and buildings spanning four centuries (17th-20th)—all
from a dramatic cliff-top location overlooking the St. Lawrence River—every
corner unveils a piece of the past. It’s these historical credentials that
explain its unique stature as North America’s first urban ensemble named a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Beginning as a fur trading post in the early 1600s the
history of Québec City is saturated with well-known figures, from its founder
French explorer Samuel de Champlai, to France’s Louis XIV, who transformed the
modest outpost into a North American French provincial capital. Coupled
with its on-again, off-again connection to the British Empire (all
battlefield-determined), today’s city is a beckoning mix of British and French,
with 95% of its 632,000 population speaking French.
Come and explore the “Paris” of North America. Starting
in Old Québec’s Upper Town, follow me.
Fairmont Le Château
Frontenac
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, called
simply The Château by locals, this is the city’s centerpiece and the nation’s
icon. Sitting at its highest vantage atop Cap-aux-Diamants, the soaring
copper-roofed, chateau-inspired structure was constructed in the 1890s as the
crown jewel of Canada’s grand railway hotels, including the Banff Springs and
The Empress. Reportedly the world’s most photographed hotel, a step inside this
Fairmont landmark underscores its exclusivity: walls of inlaid tapestries,
fireplaces of Vienna marble and a staircase derived from the Petit Trianon (the
residence of Madame de Pompadour).
Serving as a much-loved gathering place for Québec City’s citizens,
visitors should follow their lead and visit Château Frontenac for Afternoon Tea
(Thursday-Saturday). Or enjoy evening cocktails in its intimate, dark wood Bar
& Lounge, where among its famous martinis are the Winston Churchill, the F.D.
Roosevelt and the Maurice Duplessis (named after three of the Chateau's most
illustrious guests).
Dufferin Terrace
Only steps outside the hotel’s doors is this wide, wooden
boardwalk which provides a stroll along the city’s most prime of
properties. At its beginning is Paul Chevré’s statue of the founding
father, the Champlain Monument, whose base is from the same stone as Paris’ Arc
de Triomphe. Offering a 180-degree lookout the setting provides everything
like tour guides sharing the city’s colorful history, street musicians playing
favorite tunes, couples walking arm-in-arm and playful school children climbing
its collection of cannons. My tip:
Grab a coveted bench seat and enjoy all of the above.
Governors’ Garden
Adjacent to Château Frontenac, this quiet green space
within the city’s busy bustle originally served as Governor Charles Huault de
Montmagny’s private walled garden in the 1640s, which today belongs to the
public.
Maison Jacquet
Constructed in 1675 the distinctive red-and-white structure
is Québec City’s oldest house. Located at 34 Rue Saint-Louis, it is the
current home to Restaurant Aux Anciens Canadiens; so if your timing concurs
with hunger pangs, the eatery may be a worthy stop.
Ursuline Convent
Having opened its doors in 1639 the convent is one of
Québec’s oldest institutions. It remains an establishment that continues
in the educational role for which it was first founded, a girls’ school. My tip: Visit the convent museum to view the
fine silk, silver and gold thread embroidery work of the Ursuline nuns.
Cathedral of Holy Trinity
Constructed in the early 1800s as the first Anglican
Cathedral to be built outside the British Isles, the church provides this
traditionally French city’s most British environment. Interior treasures
include the Royal Pew (though Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip sat elsewhere
during their 1987 visit), a silver alms dish embellished with a relief of the
Last Supper (a gift from King George III) and a rare 18th century
English chamber organ (one of only seven in the world).
Hôtel du Parlement
The Parliament Building, an imposing structure comprising
four majestic wings, is one of North America’s finest examples of Second Empire
architectural style. As capital of the province of Québec and seat of the
National Assembly, it represents the most important historical site in
Québec City. Its impressive exterior is immediately recognizable. The
building’s façade is decorated with 26 bronze statues that pay tribute to the
men and women who helped shape Quebéc society and the Tourny Fountain marks
its entrance (it was a gift on the city’s 400th anniversary). At
night dramatic lighting transforms all of the above to life. My tip: Take a guided tour of the Parliament
Building; they’re offered in French, English, Spanish and Italian.
Observatoire de la Capitale
Admire Québec City’s maze of streets, adjacent river and
surrounding mountains from its highest point: the 31st floor of
the Marie-Guyart Building.
Old Québec City Funicular
Opened on November 17, 1879, the old-time railway connects
the Upper Town to the sites of Old Québec's Lower Town, including the
historic Petit-Champlain district, the port and the Musée de la
Civilization. An alternative route, aptly called Breakneck Stairs, provides a
prime opportunity for those seeking a Stairmaster-like
workout.
Petit-Champlain district
At the base of the funicular lies the area's initial
neighborhood, which gives a back-in-the-day peek into yesteryear's Québec
City—today a picture-perfect sector resembling a historic riverside village. The
colony's first residences, now restored to showcase the city's architectural
heritage, line the narrow cobblestone streets and are current homes to bistros,
art galleries and boutiques. Its romantic European atmosphere makes it a
popular year-round attraction.
Port of Québec
As the oldest port in Canada and the second largest in the
province of Québec, viewing the city from the water is a completely
different one. Tip: Board a boat,
such as the M/V Louis-Jolliet, for a guided river cruise tour.
Musée de la Civilization
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this
museum has built a solid reputation as one which continually showcases
groundbreaking exhibitions. Its current world-class Parisian exhibition on
the Belle Époque, Paris on Stage,
1889-1914, runs until February 23, 2014). Its unique details come from
the exhibit’s artistic director, Jeannot Painchaud who comes from a circus
background (Cirque Éloize). An entire room is devoted to the oversized Les Halles (13 feet by 20
feet) painting, while belongings of Sarah Bernhardt are also provocatively
displayed. Its finale is a replication of the Eiffel Tower’s top level
surrounded by a black-and-white rendering of Paris as you would have seen it
during the Belle Époque years.
From its Winter Carnival to the Québec Summer Festival and
everything in between—whether it’s Festibière de Québec (Beer Fest) or Festival
de Magie de Québec (Magic Festival) or Festival Grand Rire (Comedy
Event)—Québec City begs to be explored any time of the year. Representing
400 years of charm, Québec City has it all from ancestral to avant-garde
attractions. How many of us have ever felt we’ve time
traveled? That’s the premise here. Au revoir, Québec City, pleasure
meeting you.
#quebeccity #canada #summertravel #travel #trips #traveltips #travelingcynthia
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