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The highest building in Quebec city is a government office. Called "Marie-Guyart", they let you reach the 31st storey. Its pretty close to the "Plaine d'Abraham", just a bit west of the Chateau Frontenac. Open every day from june 24 to october 15 from 10 AM to 17 : 00 ( 5 PM ). For the rest of the year, close on monday.
You will be able to look all around the building, with convenient pictures on the 4 side to let you know the name of buildings or landmark you see. There is also lots of informations about Quebec city's history. All that in francais, english, ¡ y castellano !
N.B. I did put the french URL since it's more extensive, but there is an english page. Leave a Comment Address: 1037, de la ChevrotierePhone: 1-888-497-4322Directions: A bit west of the "Hotel du Parlement", follow "Rene Levesque" street than turn on "de la Chevrotiere". Cost 5 $Can or less, free for under 12 years old.Website: http://www.observatoirecapitale.org/
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There are three things about the Citadel that made me chuckle. First, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, that you encounter that works at the Citadel warns you that the Changing of the Guard will not take place if it rains and that you will not get your money back if it's canceled. Aren't these guys soldiers? Shouldn't they be able to handle getting wet? Would they call off a battle because of inclement weather? And what about the poor guys on duty, do they have to stay for another 24 hours because their replacements are afraid to get their beaver hats all wet?
Second, the mascot is a goat. I think that's funny. I suppose they found that beavers were hard to train and chickens......OK, I'm not going there ;-)
Third, the Citadel was finished in 1832, after all the attacks on the city had finished up. Good things as the soldiers, and probably the goat too, are afraid to get wet.
Practical information:
*The Changing of the guard takes place daily at 10 am
*We've already covered that they will not, under any circumstances, hold it in the rain or refund your money if it doesn't take place.
*The ceremony takes around 45 minutes at which time no one is guarding the fort. Note to foreign invaders, this is when you should attack.
*45 minutes is about 35 minutes longer than the ceremony held anyone's interest, including the goat who I'm pretty sure I saw yawn.
*The goat's name is Batisse X, the original goat, Batisse I, was a gift from Queen Victoria (was she not fond of Canada?) Leave a Comment
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Inaugurated in 1933 in a striking neoclassical building designed by architect Wilfrid Lacroix, the Quebec Museum of Fine Arts has always had as its main pupose to showcase the works of Quebec artists from the 17th century to the present. As such, the museum possesses over 27,000 local art pieces in its permanent collection, including the largest gathering of works by Jean-Paul Riopelle and Jean Paul Lemieux, two of Quebec's most famous artists. The museum also brings in impressive exhibitions from national and international artists, such as the Group of Seven, Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel.
The museum also offers guided tours, activities for kids, and visitors can go on a tour of the old Quebec City jail, which is now part of the museum. You should also think about having lunch at the museum's Restaurant, where you can enjoy a delicious meal and a nice atmosphere (at a reasonable price too!). Leave a Comment Address: Parc des Champs-de-BataillePhone: 418-643-2150Directions: The main entrance is located on Grande-AlleeWebsite: http://www.mnba.qc.ca
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Le Petit Champlain is known as the oldest shopping district in North America. It is probably the most charming area of the city, but unfortunately, some visitors miss it altogether since they don't know about this little gem located at the foot of Cap Diamant, below the Terasse Dufferin. Some of the buildings in this area date back to the 17th century and have been beautifully restored, in keeping with their humble New France origins. They are now filled with specialty shops that are quite popular with locals and tourists alike since they are in general less tacky than some of the stores located up on rue St-Jean. You'll also find some of Quebec City's best restaurants in the Petit Champlain area, including my own favorite: Le Lapin Saute (http://www.lapinsaute.com/). Just make sure to make a reservation as most restaurants fill up very fast, especially when cruise ships arrive. Leave a Comment Phone: 418-692-2613Directions: From the Terrasse Dufferin, walk down the stairs located near the Samuel de Champlain statue. When you reach the bottom, walk down the hill until you reach another set of stairs (on your right). These stairs lead to the Petit Champlain area.Website: http://www.quartierpetitchamplain.com/ Other Contact: info@quartierpetitchamplain.com
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Most people know whether they want to take a tour or not depending on the time they have but here is a little bit of advice from my tours. I took two one city tour and the other a country side tour.
The city tour was approximately $29 CDN and the country side tour would have been around $50.
There was an error in communication between me and the telephone guy because I didn't want a city tour but ended up on it.
I don't recommend the city tour if you are able to walk. Old Quebec is so beautiful that walking is definitely the way to go. They are not long walks either so you can really soak up the atmosphere of the city. When I ended up going on the city tour I simply repeated it all again with a lesser view through a tinted window. I think I might of took 3 or so pictures, that's it.
The country side tour on the other hand was very nice. I could never of seen what I did by walking and I saw some amazing sights. I really recommend the country side tour. The Montmorency Falls though I warn you are very impressive and probably warrant a little more time. I would probably enjoy going back there for a half day to just relax.
So there is my two sense worth on the tours, in my off the beaten path tips you will see some of the highlights of my country side tour. Leave a Comment
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On the east side of Chateau Frontenac there is a square with several narrow lanes and streets leading from it. It connects to Dufferin Terace or the Promenade as I like to call it, since it is a place to wander to see and be seen.
Let us get back to the narrow lanes, they are full of artists and their small exhibitions in small stores or on the street. From paintings to pen and ink to photographs to whatever you can imagine, there is creative talent, sure for the tourist but at least they are not made in some foreign place, I would say you can buy a a piece that demonstrates a local persons skills and craftsmanship. . Leave a Comment Directions: East end of Dufferin Terrace as you walk towrads the steep hill down to Old Town.
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Some buildings are so identifiable and iconic that their photos instantly bring identification of their setting. The Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House are two examples. The Hotel Frontenac is well and truly in that select group, as the “instant” emblem of Québec.
You have to hand it to the managers of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1890s, they certainly did not lack for “big vision” in their approach. The Frontenac was only one of a chain of luxury hotels constructed so that trans-continental travellers on the CPR would not lack for comfort on their overnight stops. Silver service all the way, and hang the expense. Somewhere we heard the details of how many live-in staff the hotel had in those days, but I didn’t keep notes: just say “lots”! I dare say it still is a significant employer. We looked around inside (yes, mere mortals are allowed to wander around the foyer areas) and were suitably impressed though I didn’t take any photos there. Yes, worth a visit.
And what could you say of the style? It’s certainly different, but although it is supposedly based on French chateaux, it seems to me uniquely Canadian. Kick off with a bit of Chambord mixed with early skyscraper, surround it with Carcassonne turrets, add some Prince Leopold from along the Rhine, and hey presto! I might smile while writing that, but I did find the overall effect pleasing. It also is suitably enormous, with various add-ons since it was constructed and, given its size, it seems visible from nearly all of the city! Address: Place d'Armes, Vieux QuébecDirections: Gee, if you can find your way to Québec you can't miss it!
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Just outside the Chateau Frontenac is a boardwalk that has a lovely view of the St. Lawrence River across to the town of Levis on the other side. While we were there, street performers, part of the Festival d'Ete, were performing at one end of the Terrasse, I imagine you will find street performers here during the summer months even without the festival as it was a perfect spot for it. Apparently you can take the walkway all the way to the Citadel but we only walked the section near the Chateau.
If you want to catch the funicular to take you down to the Lower Town, it's located here or if you want to walk, the stairs to get down to the Lower Town are nearby as well.
The terrace is named for Lord Dufferin, governor of Canada from 1872 to 1878 who had the walkway built in 1878. Leave a Comment Address: Outside the Chateau Frontenac
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This is probably the most popular museum in the city, and there's a good reason for it: it's great! Located in the Place Royale area, the museum opened in 1988 with a view to provide a new and interactive outlook on civilizations throughout the world, while also focusing more attentively on the Quebec experience. For example, the permanent exhibition "People of Quebec, then and now" will help visitors discover the province's past and present, while "Encounter with the First Nations" gives more insight into the life of America's first people. Temporary exhibitions usually bring visitors to foreign and exotic locations, such as Indonesia, Russia and Oceania, always with the idea of helping us discover other civilizations' history and culture in a fun and dynamic way. There are many special exhibitions and activities for kids all week long, check the Website for more info! Leave a Comment
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Along with the Chateau Frontenac, the Price Building is one of the buildings that stands out from the crowd in the Old Quebec City area within the the city walls. A legacy of a large local pulp and paper making company, the Price Brothers Company, this 17-storey building was completed in 1929 to serve as their headquarters. It was built in Art Deco-style, copying the Empire State Building in New York City and is still lavishly decorated inside with scenes from the heyday of the lumber company. The company eventually deeded this impressive structure to Quebec and, as recently as 2002-03, it's upper 16th and 17th floors served as the official residence of the Premier of Quebec. The Price Brothers Company eventually merged with another to become Abitibi-Price which, in-turn, merged with Stone Consolidated to become today's Abititbi-Consolidated, one of the largest paper companies in the world.
Our hotel was less than a block away, so I took this photo from the sidewalk across the street from the main entrance to the building. Leave a Comment Address: 65 Rue St. AnneDirections: Only a few steps from Place D'Armes, the large square beside the Chateau Frontenac hotel.
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690 Blvd Rene Levesque E, Quebec - Le Port Royal And Suites
144 rue Saint-Pierre, Quebec - Hotel Capitole
972 rue Saint-Jean, Quebec - Auberge Place D Armes
24, rue Ste-Anne, Quebec - Auberge Saint Antoine
8 Saint-Antoine St, Quebec - Quality Suites Quebec
1600 rue Bouvier, Quebec - Hotel Acadia
43, rue Sainte-Ursule (formerly La Maison Acadienne), Quebec - Auberge La Ripaille
9 rue Buade, Quebec
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on August 2, 2004
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on August 11, 2005
