Located in the Quebec province in northeast Canada, its namesake city is the best example of a fortified walled city in North America.Old Quebec is divided into two parts, the Upper Town and the Lower Town. Here’s the best seven places to discover in Lower Town on your getaway with this walking tour of Old Quebec’s Lower Town.
History of Quebec City
Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded by the French explorer Samuel Champlain in 1608, after the first French settlement on North America ran into difficulties in 1604. Champlain explored the St. Lawrence River and continued to the Great Lakes region. He governed New France (the Quebec province) until his death and considered the Father of this area.
Champlain established and built the Saint-Louis Fort and the Ramparts of Quebec starting in 1620. The fortified walls are still intact and also a National Historic Site of Canada.
Walking Tour of Old Quebec’s Lower Town
Breakneck Stairs
Rue du Petit Champlain
Place Royale
Murals of Lower Town
Musée de la Civilisation
Royal Battery
St. Lawrence Cruise
Old Quebec Funicular
Breakneck Stairs
Walk down the L’Escalier du Casse Cou, or Breakneck Stairs, from Upper Town of Old Quebec. At the bottom of the stairs is the next point of interest.
Rue du Petit Champlain
As a pedestrian walkway, it’s the main thoroughfare in Old Quebec’s Lower Town. With quaint shops on both sides, a whole afternoon could be spent on Rue du Petit Champlain.
Place Royale
Walk through the Place Royale, the original marketplace of the colony of New France. It’s where Samuel Champlain founded the settlement in 1608. Across the square is the oldest stone church in North America, Notre Dame des Victoires Church built in 1688.
Murals in Lower Town
Old Quebec boasts two murals on the buildings in Lower Town.
Walk down Place Royale’s Côte de la Montagne to see the Fresque des Québécois with 15 historic figures and close to a dozen of Quebec’s writers and artists. Then find the Fresque du Petit-Champlain, near the Breakneck Stairs, to see life in the working-class waterfront neighborhood years ago.
Musée de la Civilisation
Learn more about New France and the French Colony of the 1600s with artifacts discovered in three archeological digs.
Located at 2 Côte de la Fabrique and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays. Admission for adults is $17CAN, young adults (18 to 30), $11CAN and youth ( 6 to 12) $6 and free for kids under 12.
Royal Battery
Walk by the Royal Battery from 1691 until the British overtook it in 1759. It’s a coastal battery located on the waterfront and housed 10 cannons.
Take a Riverboat Cruise
Looking for a unique way to explore Old Quebec, then boardAML Louis-Jollietfor a riverboat tour and buffet. The riverboat departs from theChouinard Pierand cruises north on theSt. Lawrence River.
Float pass theMontmorency Fallsto theL’Iled’Orleans Bridge,before heading back. The St. Lawrence River is a major commercial shipping route for eastern Canadian though scenic enough for cruise ships as well.
2018 Brunch Cruise admission is $59.95CAN for adults (13+), and $32.95CAN for kids 6 to 12 and free for kids under 5. Scenic cruise admission is $34.99CAN for adults (13+) and $19.99/CAN for kids 6 to 12 and free for kids under 5.
Old Quebec Funicular
Though the stairs are free, have some fun and take a cable railway that links the Upper Town to Lower Town. Opening in 1879, it offers an alternative to the Breakneck Stairs to Le Petit Champlain.
Open everyday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and admission is $3.00 CAN per person, one way.
Foodie Must Haves in Quebec City
Take the opportunity to sample some local Canadian delicacies.
Beavertails–First served in Ottawa in 1978, sample fried dough pastry with a choice of toppings, like whipped cream, bananas or chocolate hazelnut.
Sugar Shack–Visit a cabanes à sucre, likele Chemin du Roy, a traditional sugar shack, located in a maple forest outside of Quebec. Since 72% of the world’s maple syrup is made in Quebec it’s a must.
The traditional menu features maple-smoked ham, baked beans, country bread with split pea soup and several traditional Quebecois dishes.To finish off the experience, servers bring out pancakes and maple syrup of course.Sample maple taffy, maple syrupdrizzled onto snow.
Poutine–The national dish of Canada that originates from the 1950s. Starts with a dish of French fries covered in brown gravy and topped with cheese curds. It’s really a stick-to-your-bones winter dish.
Tim Horton’s–Canada’s version of Dunkin’ Donuts. I stop and grab a cup every single trip to Canada.
For more foodie must haves, head just 30 minutes east of Quebec City to L’Ile d’Orleans.
Tour Upper Town
Here’s the top 11 places to discover in Upper Town on your getaway.
Le Château Frontenac
Dufferin Terrace
Old Quebec Funicular
Saint Louis Forts and Chateaux
The Citadelle of Quebec
Plaines d’Abraham
Musée des Ursulines
Ramparts of Quebec City
Le Musee du Fort
Artists Alley
Notre Dame Basilica Cathedral
And don’t forget a day trip east of Quebec City for more fun on your getaway.
Cruising?
Quebec City is a popular cruise ship port-of-call, like Regent Seven Seas Fall Color Cruise. I stopped in Quebec City in 2017 and enjoyed a day of exploring.
Parle un peu de Français?
More so than modern Montreal, the Québécois speak French. You will hear Bonjour, Hello!to sayhello and to determine your language of choice. But unlike the French, the Québécoislove to share their language so if you speak a little bit of French, use it.
Explore Canada
Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Saint Croix Island International Historic Site
L’Ile d’Orléans near Quebec City
8 Things to Pack for Driving into Canada
Disclosure
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