DICOVER THE QUEBEC CITY REGION
Québec – a warm welcome
Vive la différence!
Some destinations simply exalt the imagination. Evoking a sense of wonder and discovery, they have a reputation for being lively, warm and welcoming. But few of them do this as naturally as Québec, a fortified city on the banks of the St. Lawrence River . Visitors are assured of finding a perfect marriage of attractions and activities.
Geographic location
Nature has been very generous to Québec. When you think of Québec, the St. Lawrence River automatically comes to mind. After flowing by Montréal upstream, it narrows as it passes through the cliffs of Québec and Lévis and then flows majestically to the Atlantic . This succession of geographic features undeniably adds to the region's visual attraction.
In the heart of the St. Lawrence Valley, Québec City is divided into two distinct parts: one perched on the promontory overhanging the river, the other hugging the shores that welcomed the first colonists.
Vieux-Québec/ Old Québec
The city alone is replete with attractions. The cradle of French civilization in North America , the historic sector of Vieux-Québec (Old Quebec City) is undoubtedly the best known. This tangle of winding streets and lively places was born nearly 400 years ago in 1608, when the French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded the city.
Today, Vieux-Québec is renowned all over the world for its European-flavoured charm and its well-preserved architectural beauty. Its little streets are lined by a succession of shops and pleasant cafés, horse-drawn calèches amble along to the regular rhythm of hoofbeats, street musicians court passersby and strollers admire the view offered by the promenade developed along the edge of the cliff. In 1985, UNESCO recognized Québec's immense historic value by declaring it a World Heritage Site.
Restaurants and retail stores
Québec is particularly recognized as a gastronomic destination. No other North American city of its size offers such as vast choice of upscale restaurants and bistros.
After a good meal, what could be better than a little window shopping. With the number of stores and boutiques to be found in Québec, this is a laudable and enjoyable form of exercise!
Rue Petit-Champlain, located at the foot of the cliff topped by the Château Frontenac Fairmont — the city's symbol par excellence — is the oldest shopping street in North America.
A visit to the city couldn't be complete without an excursion outside the walls of Vieux-Québec. Rue Saint-Jean, located in the picturesque Faubourg Saint-Jean-Baptiste, displays a variety of gift ideas and fine commodities. And what can you say about Rue Cartier, in the heart of the fashionable Quartier Montcalm, a stop not to be missed on any shopping tour worthy of the name. In Quartier Saint-Roch, Rue Saint-Joseph follows urban trends, offering many shops and restaurants reflecting current tastes.
A stimulating and diverse urban lifestyle
Many people visit Québec for its history and beauty, but soon discover that it is also a cultural hub in the avant-garde of artistic trends. A true bastion of the French language in an English-speaking world, Québec City is a favourite meeting place of artists, actors, singers and craftspeople.
Source: Office du tourisme de Québec
To learn more about the attractions of Québec and its region, visit the website of bonjourquebec.com
You can reserve local and regional tours for yourself or your companion with Québec City Infotouriste centre, 12 rue Sainte Anne (across from the Château Frontenac)
