A Tour of Canada’s Oldest City

Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is the oldest city in Canada. Quebec City is a lovely, historical city.

One of the beauties of a Quebec City vacation is that the city’s compact nature allows you to stay in any number of architecturally and atmospherically distinct regions while remaining steps away from all major attractions and restaurants. As such, the best way to experience the old-world charm of the city is undoubtedly on foot.

A typical walking tour might begin and end at the Dufferin Terrace, overlooking Place Royale and the St. Lawrence River, with the Château Frontenac hotel looming in the background. From here you have easy access to the three main areas awaiting exploration in Quebec City: the lower town, comprising the Vieux-Port and Place Royale; Vieux-Québec, or the area inside the fortifications; and the Upper Town, especially the area stretching along the Grande-Allée.

Place Royale and Vieux-Port

There are two ways down from the Dufferin Terrace — the stairs and the Funicular. Each has its obvious advantages and disadvantages, and the latter is understandably most popular for the return trip! Each brings you out in the heart of Place Royale, near the Batterie Royale and the charming Rue du Petit Champlain. Wander through the charming shops and restaurants of the Quartier du Petit Champlain, along Notre-Dame, Champlain or Petit-Champlain Streets, towards Place Royale itself. This square, bounded by St-Pierre to the west, Dalhousie to the east and de la Barricade to the north, is where explorer Samuel de Champlain set up a fledgling settlement in 1608. Drop in at the Place Royale Information Centre to find historic and practical details on attractions in the immediate area: the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church and the Museum of Civilization, for instance.

If you wish to return to Vieux-Québec at this point, simply loop back around to the stairs or Funicular back to the Dufferin Terrace. Alternately, you can continue north and west into the Vieux-Port, stopping at the Old Port of Quebec Interpretation Centre, which documents the city’s industrial and commercial history, while offering a pleasant environment for many summer activities.

From here you can continue west up St-Paul or de la Canoterie Streets, switching back up and through the fortifications into Vieux-Québec, in close proximity to many key attractions, including the Museum of French America and the Hôtel-Dieu Augustines Museum.

From the latter, you can wind your way along Côte-du-Palais, jog left on St-Jean Street and then right on Côte-de-la-Fabrique, which takes you past City Hall. Hang right on the famous Rue du Trésor and enjoy the diverse, high-quality artwork for sale along this intriguing, narrow alleyway. You will emerge on St-Louis Street, on the other side of the Château Frontenac from where you started on the Dufferin Terrace.

Alternately, from the Hôtel-Dieu Augustines Museum, you can walk west along the fortifications themselves. The Rue des Remparts will eventually take you to the Artillery Park National Historic Site, and then to Place d’Youville and the St-Jean Gate, which links the Upper Town to Vieux-Québec. Place d’Youville is a perfect spot to stop off and enjoy street musicians in the summer, or to make a couple of laps around the skating rink in the winter.

Continuing south along Rue d’Auteuil and then St-Denis Avenue, you will emerge at The Citadel, the linchpin of Quebec City’s fortifications, which offers an incredible view over the river and various exhibits chronicling the city’s history. From here it is an easy walk back to the Dufferin Terrace and the Château Frontenac.

Upper Town and the Grande-Allée

The most spectacular and interesting route from the Dufferin Terrace to the Upper Town is undoubtedly along the Promenade des Gouverneurs, the precipitous boardwalk running under The Citadel and linking the Dufferin Terrace with the National Battlefields Park. Wander around this enormous park, have a picnic and visit the Quebec Museum and attached National Battlefields Park Interpretation Centre. Plaques throughout the park detail its tumultuous and fascinating history.

Eventually you will make your way away from the cliffs and arrive at the decidedly urban action of the Grande-Allée. This magnificent boulevard is full of shops, restaurants and boutiques. In the summer, you could while away an entire afternoon over a cocktail at a sidewalk café, but there are many other sights to see in the Upper Town.

Head up Rue de la Chevrotière or any other side street towards the Rue St-Amable and the Marie-Guyart Building, located at the intersection of de la Chevrotière and René-Lévesque Boulevard. For a panoramic overview of your marathon walking tour, ride up 725 feet to the Observatoire de la Capitole. After descending, continue back towards Vieux-Québec along René-Lévesque or St-Amable and you will encounter the ornate Parliament Buildings – or National Assembly, in local parlance. Tours are available every day in French and English. Continue along the Grande-Allée, through the St-Louis Gate, and soon you will be once again faced with the grandeur of the Château Frontenac.

If you have somehow managed to complete this tour in one day, you now owe yourself dinner at one of dozens of area restaurants. In the summer, you could relax among buskers and concession stands as the sun goes down over the Dufferin Terrace; in the winter, you might choose to get your adrenaline going with an ice toboggan ride before warming up with a hot chocolate. Obviously, a day is precious little time to really savour what Quebec has to offer — no matter the duration of your stay. However, it is a pleasure to know that you can ditch the car and explore on foot.

Property information from WCITIES per Yahoo! Canada.