Quebec City: Old Québec is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Comprising the ... [+]
You don’t have to leave Canada to feel like you are visiting Europe. Just head to beautiful Quebec, a spectacular region with a rich Indigenous, French, and British Past. There are many stories to be told in Quebec and it’s a wonderful destination for a spring or summer road trip. Quebec is the largest Canadian province and shares borders with Ontario to the west, New Brunswick to the southeast, and Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast. The United States borders Quebec to the south. It’s a predominantly French-speaking province so it might be time to start practicing your French on Duolingo. I have explored both Quebec and Europe over the years and discovered many similarities. Quebec is certainly not a second choice to Europe, but rather another option for people that don’t want to get on a plane or travel too far but still want to walk down old cobblestone streets, immerse themselves in history, culture, and some good old-fashioned fun.
Le Funiculaire In Old Quebec
Canada, Old Quebec City tourist attractions, Petit Champlain lower town and shopping district.
Having ridden Le Funiculaire (Old Quebec Funicular) with my son years ago I was reminded of this cool experience when riding an old funicular in Budapest last summer. The European funicular in Budapest (Budavari Siklo in Hungarian) is located in Buda Castle District and connects the banks of the Danube River and the Castle. It has been in service since 1870 but was completely rebuilt in a vintage style after being destroyed in a World War II bombing raid. Both historic funiculars take only a few minutes to ride, so have your cameras read if you want to capture views of the city while inside the cabin. In Quebec, the first funicular was built by William Griffith and went into operation in 1879. Back then the cabins were powered by a steam system and water counterweights and in 1907 switched to electricity. In 1945 there was a horrible fire destroying the funicular and it was rebuilt the following year. Then in 1978 new renovations allowed for stunning panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River.
Chateau Frontecac at dawn, Quebec, Canada
Ride it from the Upper Station located on Dufferin Terrace behind the glorious Château Frontenac and zoom (slowly) down to the bottom station to the heart of the Petit-Champlain district and explore the museums and old port. The Old Quebec Funicular is the only one of its kind in North America.
Place Jacques-Cartier In Old Montreal
Buildings on St Paul street in Old Montreal - Quebec, Canada
Walking through Old Montreal’s cobblestone streets gives off serious European vibes. I immediately thought of the gorgeous streets of Prague where I strolled for hours admiring the beauty in every direction. Place Jacques-Cartier (”the square”) in Old Montreal is a fun place to chill, walk, eat, drink, and learn Canadian history. The Nelson Monument is a 35-meter column built in 1809 located at the north end of Place Jacques-Cartier and a significant landmark in Montreal. The monument is by artist Robert Mitchell and history buffs will appreciate that traces of his architectural work can also be in London dating back to 1782.
Historic shops and restaurants buildings in the Old Montreal district in Quebec Canada
The square was built in the first half of the 19th century, but even before that it was discovered by archaeologists that people have gathered at this site in Montreal for many generations. The entire square is rich in heritage and lots of fun for kids too with cafes, shops, and narrow streets to run down past the old field-stone buildings. There are street performers playing lively music, portrait painters and entertainment for all ages. The square is also the place to be to enjoy an authentic French-Canadian delicacy - thick maple syrup drizzled over ice and rolled on a stick. The maple syrup is boiled right from the tree and no one is too old to eat this yummy Montreal treat. Bon appetit!
Row of hot maple syrup on a stick on the snow
Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church In Old Quebec
Quebec City, Canada - 5 October 2019: Place Royale & Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church, at dawn.
It’s no secret Europe is packed with impressive churches such as Vienna’s stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral that I visited last summer. But you don’t have to travel overseas to admire ancient places of worship, even if they are not quite as tall or famous. However, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church (Our Lady of Victories) located in Place-Royale in Old Québec, is one of the oldest Churches in Canada that was built in stone with the same walls still intact. Construction began in Lower Québec in 1688 on the ruins of Samuel de Champlain’s home and was then enlarged to its final size in 1723. The Church is Place-Royale’s most authentic building dating back to the French Regime and has gone through multiple transformations.
The Quartier du Petit Champlain is located in the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire ... [+]
Old Québec is a wonderful place to spend the day and walk through 400 years of history. When my son was younger we toured Quebec City and immersed ourselves in a world of French culture as I was hoping it would help him practice his French for school. A large portion of this old walled city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is divided into an Upper and Lower town, linked together by the funicular mentioned above. Don’t leave town without visiting the old fortified walls of the city and walk along North America’s only walled city North of Mexico. To top off your Canadian history lesson, visit the impressive Citadelle of Québec, a National Historic Site located at the top of Cape Diamond, the city’s highest point. It’s the largest British fortress in North America and a fundamental part of the Québec fortifications.
Erected by the British in 1879, Porte Kent is part of the Ramparts of Old Quebec City, the only ... [+]
