By Katy DeHaven
Continuing
our look at ports of call found on Canada and New England itineraries we are
next going to take a look at Québec City, Québec, Canada.
Québec
City is one of the largest and most expensive cities in Canada, most of the
residents speak French and only about 1.5 percent of the population speaks
English. The city is known for the world-famous Château Frontenac, a
château-style hotel in historic Old Québec, built by the Pacific Railroad
Company in 1893. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1981. The city
is also known for its European architecture and fortifications. The city is
considered to be a piece of Europe in Canada. If you get a chance to visit this
beautiful city make sure to try the local cuisine!
Today
the Château
Frontenac is managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. The building has 18
floors, 611 guest rooms and has expanded on three occasions with the last
major expansion in 1993. Check out this link for
peak inside a Deluxe River-view King Room.
The
oldest church in Canada is the Cathedral-Basilica
of Notre- Dame de Québec. It was also the first church in Canada to be
elevated to the rank of minor basilica, by Pope Pius IX in 1874. The original
cathedral was first constructed in 1647, and it was twice destroyed by fire.
The current structure was built after a fire in 1922. Four governors of
New France and the bishops of Québec are buried in the crypt. Click here for a virtual tour.
Quartier
Petit-Champlain is the oldest shopping district in North America and a great
area to pick up souvenirs of your trip to Québec City. The area is located on
the southeast edge of Old Québec. Make sure you save time to ride
the funicular to
the top to enjoy beautiful views of Old Québec. Check out this quick
peak of the area.
For
a look at the history of human society in Québec check out the Museum of
Civilization. Through the use of interactive exhibits the museum
draws a connection between the past and the present. Visitors enjoy the many
specialized exhibits including life in the city through different generations
and Québec’s culinary heritage. The museum offers virtual experiences of some
of their exhibits online here.
Fans
of colonial history will enjoy exploring Battlefields Park (Parc des
Champs-de-Bataille), sometimes referred to as the Plains of Abraham, which
is located just west of Old Québec. The Battle of Québec (the pivotal moment of
the French and Indian War when the French were forced to cede Canada to Great
Britain) took place here. For a short tour and information click here.
If
you are visiting with children consider a trip to Aquarium du Québec. The aquarium
has over 10,000 marine animals and two polar bears, Taiga
and Eddy. Kids enjoy the water games in the outdoor area in the
summer months, a Tree-to-Tree circuit, and kid special kid-friendly
events through out the year. Check out this peak inside.
Another
great spot for kids or adults that are still kids at heart is Les
Galeries de la Capitale the largest amusement park in
eastern Canada. This popular attraction has 18 rides, the largest indoor
skating rink in Canada, and the first spokeless Ferris Wheel in
Canada.
Located
just a few minutes from Old Québec City is Montmorency Falls a
large waterfall on the Montmorency River. The waterfall is 272 feet tall, a
full 99 feet taller than Niagara Falls. During the summer months the
falls give off a yellow glow due to the high iron content of the waterbed.
There is a suspension bridge over the crest of the falls which provides access
to both side of the park. Check out this quick look at the falls.
To see what this beautiful city looks like during the holiday season, click here.
We hope
you enjoyed your trip to Québec City! This virtual trip has me adding it to my
own bucket list!
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