Attractions

Wandering at random through the streets of Vieux-Québec is a singular pleasure, comparable to exploring a provincial capital in Europe. On the way, you can happen upon an ancient convent, blocks of gabled houses with steeply pitched roofs, a battery of 18th-century cannons in a leafy park, and a bistro with a blazing fireplace on a wintry day. The Old City, Upper and Lower, is so compact that it's hardly necessary to plan precise sightseeing itineraries. Start at the Terrasse Dufferin alongside the Château Frontenac and go off on a whim, down Breakneck Stairs (Escalier Casse-Cou) to the Quartier du Petit-Champlain and Place-Royale, or out of the walls to the military fortress of the Citadelle that overlooks the mighty St. Lawrence River and onto the Plains of Abraham, where Generals James Wolfe of Britain and Louis-Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm of France fought to their mutual deaths in a 20-minute battle that changed the destiny of the continent.

Most of the historic sights are within the city walls of Vieux-Québec's Haute-Ville (Upper Town) and Basse-Ville (Lower Town). It's all fairly easy walking. While the Upper Town is hilly, with sloping streets, it's nothing like, say, San Francisco, and only people with physical limitations are likely to experience difficulty. Other sights are outside the walls of the Upper Town, along or just off of the grand boulevard called Grande-Allée. If rain or ice discourages exploration on foot, tour buses and horse-drawn calèches are options.

If you're planning to hit up several museums, consider getting a Québec City Museum Card. Good for 3 consecutive days, the pass gives entry to 24 museums and attractions, including many mentioned in this section, and includes two 1-day bus passes. The price is C$40 (US$35/£17); there are no discounts for seniors or children. The pass is available at all participating attractions and at the Québec City Tourism Information Bureau at 835 av. Wilfrid-Laurier, in the Discovery Pavillion. To find out more, call tel. 418/641-6172 or visit www.museocapitale.qc.ca/cartema.

Vieux-Quebec: Basse-Ville (Lower Town) -- The Escalier Casse-Cou connects the Terrasse Dufferin at the top of the cliff with rue Sous-le-Fort at the base. The name translates to "Breakneck Stairs," which is self-explanatory as soon as you see them. They lead -- very steeply -- from Haute-Ville to the Quartier du Petit-Champlain in Basse-Ville. A stairway has existed here since the settlement began. In fact, in 1698 the town council forbade citizens from taking their animals up or down the stairway. If they didn't comply they were punished with a fine.

2008: Québec Throws Itself a Party

In 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded a settlement at Kebec, at the foot of Cape Diamond. That settlement became the city of Québec. For the last few years, the city has been sprucing itself up and planning blowout celebrations for 2008, to commemorate its 400th anniversary. Among the happenings:

A spectacular closing event featuring Cirque du Soleil on October 19.

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Click the names below for more detailed information.

• Basilique Notre-Dame
• Château Frontenac
• Chapelle/Musée des Ursulines
• Espace 400e
• Hôtel du Parlement
• La Citadelle
• Maison Chevalier
• Musée de l'Amérique Française
• Musée de la Civilisation
• Musée des Beaux-Arts du Québec
• Musée du Fort
• Parc de l'Artillerie
• Parc des Champs-de-Bataille
• Place-Royale

Maps

• Quebec City Attractions

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Montreal and Quebec City 2008 Author: Leslie Brokaw Pub Date: December 17, 2007 Price: $17.99				Related Titles: Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies For Dummies, 2nd Edition Frommer's Algonquin Provincial Park, 2nd Edition Frommer's Banff & Jasper National Parks, 4th Edition