Old Quebec (Vieux Quebec)
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Tip - What to See & Do,
Neighborhood
Vieux Québec is the crown jewel of French Canada and if you're coming for the first time, look out - there's simply no other place like it in North America. Narrow cobbled streets are lined with 17th- and 18th-century houses and almost every step will bring you to another historical plaque, a leafy park with a battery of 18th-century canons, a grand 17th-century plaza, and other historical sites. In fact, wandering around Vieux Québec is like exploring an old European city.
Vieux Quebec is compact and easily walkable. On a daytime stroll, you can browse the shops along Rue Ste-Jean, wander among the grassy knolls in the Plains of Abraham, climb to the top of the Citadel, walk the Fortifications, then follow the river boardwalk (the Promenade des Gouverneurs) down to the Victorian waterfront. From there you get the classic view of Quebec City’s most famous building, the Chateau Frontenac. Then, head over to Basilique Notre-Dame and before you know it you’re back at L’Oncle Antoine sipping another ale.
Be sure to take time to visit the Musee de la Civilisation and Musee des Beaux-Arts du Québec for rich Quebecois cultural exhibits.
Latest Reviews
Review by salmorej, July 2012
Doing what: Quebec City Walking Tour
This is a great introduction to Old Quebec. The tour and the guide were both great. A good mix of history and sightseeing.
Review by kellythepea, USA, October 2010
Vieux Québec is the only walled city in North America. The Fortifications encircle the entire area, which is divided as Upper Town and Lower Town. To get a nice overview of the area, take a ride on the Funicular, which provides stellar views of the St. Lawrence River, the Laurentian Mountains, and the Vieux Québec.
Summer is a great time to visit, as fascinating street life unfolds everywhere you go, from musicians to acrobats to actors in period costume. There's also terrific festivals and oodles of special museum exhibitions and tours. Fall and spring bring beautiful colors, and in the winter, the annual Winter Carnival draws crowds from around the province.
