Wandering In Old Quebec City

Old Quebec City Has So Much To Offer!

We were surprised to find so much to see in Old Quebec City. As we walked through and out of the city gates, the Old Town was full of history and great sights. We explored the charming Petit Champlain, below the cliffs.

There’s a lot to see and do in We visited Quebec City during the winter. We stopped in Quebec at several different times. Eastern Canada road trip. But those visits left us only with brief impressions. We were glad we took the time to explore this beautiful city and planned a longer stay.

Heading Into Upper Quebec City

The following is a list of the most recent and relevant articles. We visited Quebec City during the winterWe stayed at the Quebec City Marriott Downtown. This beautiful hotel was just outside the Old Town. We walked down Rue Saint-Jean from the hotel. 

We discovered many great local shops and restaurants.  We saw old historic buildings everywhere we went.  We even found a few interesting statues.

Old Quebec City is a fascinating place to explore.

Quebec City’s Dufferin Terrace: A Place of Iconic Beauty

We planned our first stop to be at the Basilica Cathedral Notre Dame de Quebec.  As we entered the building, a mid-day worship service was in full swing.  We quickly looked around, then continued walking. Unfortunately, we never returned to explore this historic church.

We approached the Dufferin Terrace from the St Lawrence River. Fairmont Chateau Frontenac.  The monument to Samuel de Champlain recognized him as the founder of Québec City and also the governor of what was once New France.  There was a lot to see while strolling along the promenade. The promenade was a great place to stroll. Musee du FortThis was a good place to stop to learn about the history of Quebec City, and the battles fought on the battlements.

You can also find out more about the following: Fairmont Chateau FrontenacSitting high on a cliff above water.  We had a great view of the famous Quebec City sight as we walked through the hotel.  The canons were still in their original defensive positions.

We got our first glimpse at the charming streets of Petit Champlain as we descended below the cliff.  If we did not wish to walk up the hill, a funicular was available.

Old Quebec City is a great place to explore.

Old Quebec City: The Gates and the Outwards

There were four main city gates built into the ramparts that provided access to Old Quebec’s Upper Town.  Our hotel was the Porte Saint-Jean, where we entered the walled Quebec City. 

After walking along the top of St. Lawrence River, we walked under the Citadelle.  And exited through the St Louis Gate.  

We walked outside the wall and saw the Parliament Buildings, which housed the National Assembly of Quebec.  It was Quebec’s oldest historic site.

We passed the Kent Gate on our way back to our hotel.  The Kent Gate was named for the Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria, who sponsored its construction.  We could see the spire of a chapel of Jesuits behind the gate.  And the back side of the Palais Montcalm – Québec City’s House of Music.  This beautiful building was much more visible at night when the lights were on.

Prescott Gate was another portal we used when we visited Petit Champlain.  It was fascinating to discover the various gates of the old city while wandering around Old Quebec City.

Heading down to Petit Champlain

The charming streets of Petit Champlain.  We began with a view from the ramparts of the Royal Battery, pointing towards the St Lawrence River.  We then walked down Cote de la Montagne, passing through the Prescott Gate.

The Breakneck Stairs were required to get to Petit Champlain.  We stopped to admire the Rue de Petit Champlain from the top before descending the steep slope.

We walked slowly down the street once we reached the lower level.  We stopped at the local shops that we found. The outside circular stairs were a classic sight.

When we were looking for a place to have lunch, we wanted something unique so we made a booking at Le Lapin Sauté.  Lapin means “rabbit”We knew we’d find some unique dishes on the menu.  We warmed up with cheese fondue, French onion soup and red ale after our walk.  The main courses were rabbit pot pie, cassoulet and a version of French onion soup with red ale.  For dessert the salted sugar pie and the maple creme brûlée were perfect choices.  After a full meal, it was no surprise that we chose to walk instead of taking the Funicular.

We were captivated by our first glimpse of Petit Champlain wandering around Old Quebec City.

Colour and Art in Petit Champlain

The following is a list of the most recent and relevant articles. We visited Quebec City during the winterWe found fire pits that were decorated in a festive way for the season.  These fire pits were perfect for warming up while we walked the streets.  As we walked through Petit Champlain, there were so many interesting stops.

We walked down to the end of Rue du Petit-Champlain, and searched for the colourful mural painted on the building.  This was a great way to end our exploration of Petit Champlain.

The streets of Petit Champlain are always busy. From this level, we could see the Old Town.

We found the Funicular which took us back up to the top by the cliff. Fairmont Chateau Frontenac.  After our large lunch, we felt the need to walk. We retraced our steps up the Breakneck Stairs. We climbed the final set of stairs, before heading back to our hotel.

A trip to Quebec City would not be complete without a stop at the charming Petit Champlain district.  We were glad that we did not miss exploring Old Quebec City.

The Old Quebec City was a delight to explore

We had an amazing time in Quebec City in WinterThere was so much to see, do and enjoy. We were glad we had set aside some time for exploring the Old Town.

We learned so much about the history of Quebec City as we walked through Old Quebec City. The Upper Terrace’s sights brought us back to the area several times. We were also charmed when we visited Petit Champlain beneath the cliffs.

Enjoyed your wanderings in Old Quebec City? Do you have any suggestions for our next visit?

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