Quebec City is a stronghold of seventeenth century French and British architecture, that has a calming & sophisticated air that will lull you into a dream world of rest and relaxation. Visit Quebec City in 2008 as the city is celebrating its 400^th birthday.

Historical Quebec City

By: Kindah Mardam Bey

For all the diversity and style that Montreal has to offer, Quebec City has an equal but differing quality about it altogether; a city you can really sink your teeth (and heart) into. Quebec City is rich in formative Canadian history, and with a 96% Francophone population you are guaranteed an opportunity to work on your polite French dialogue. Mind you, if you don’t know the difference between ‘Bonjour’ and ‘Bonsoir’ then this incredibly friendly city will be more than willing to assist you in learning the language. Quebec City is a stronghold of seventeenth century French and British architecture, it is also a labyrinth of cobblestone roads which will lead you to such a luring locale as an out-of-the-way café like Chez Temporel, and it has a calming sophisticated air that will lull you into a tourists’ dream world of rest and relaxation. Speaking of which, perhaps you might want to visit Quebec City in 2008 as the city is celebrating its 400^th birthday with year long festivities.

The history of Quebec is the history of Canada, and what the colonist Maisonneuve is to Montreal, the likes of Champlain, Wolfe and Montcalm are to the history of Quebec City. Samuel de Champlain, talented mapmaker, founded Quebec in 1608, and the famous statue commemorating his achievement (placed where Champlain’s original house was) had a recent ‘spit and polish’ last year as the statue was removed and cleaned up. Apparently this had also been done in 1898 as a time capsule was found in the statue with currency of the day, newspapers, and a detailed map showing all the houses and families living within the houses at the time. An invaluable historical document discovered within Champlain’s statue was both romantic and poetic.

However, a pithy and dramatic declaration of nation was actualized some hundred and fifty years later as two opposing forces set out to establish their claim on Canadian soil, Wolfe headed the British army and Montcalm the French. A riveting battle ended in both leaders dying on the battlefield, but a legacy that would shape the history of Canada was established on the Plains Of Abraham in 1759. You see Wolfe won the battle for the British Empire, but the French insisted on a few core elements of their own politics and culture to remain in the newly forming country. Quebec is French because the ‘losing team’ were able to diplomatically stronghold on their beliefs. Now the area just outside the walled city of Quebec has been integrated into the cities cultural landscape as the Carnaval de Quebec (The Quebec Winter Festival) is held, and Remembrance Day ceremonies are appropriately performed. This sprawling park is a place for Quebec citizens to enjoy their city in outdoor leisure.

On a brief note on the history and architecture of Quebec City, as mentioned, a seventeenth century feel is captured by the stone façade of the buildings, of both French and English decent. Chateau Frontenac, constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1893 is a virtual French castle at the heart of Old Quebec, whereas the Parliament buildings are a definitive reflection of British political architecture that would sit comfortably as an appendage to the British House Of Parliament. The newest addition, proudly welcomed by Quebec City is a gift from retail guru Simons who purchased a stunning fountain from Bordeaux, France and transplanted the aqu-artefact in front of the House Of Parliament. A stunning and welcome piece that seems to fit in the Quebec City landscape as if it was made for the locale it now calls home.

Old Quebec is divided up into two separate locations, upper and lower town as the older part of the city is built on a hillside. A mini gondola type devise known as the Funicular will take you from upper to lower (and vice versa) town for a $1.75. The upper and lower towns were divided up both geographically and economically as the working classes tended to live in lower town by the port. A must see in upper town is Artist’s Alley and a must see in lower town is the Museum of Civilization. A beautiful mural done in 1999 of the history in Quebec City from Champlain to present day is an optical illusion and a stunning addition to lower town.

Heading just outside of Quebec City and you are sure to experience an entirely different scope of this area. Ile D’Orleons is similar to Martha’s Vineyard in the US and has a cozy cottage feel to it whereas one can also go to Montmorency Falls and discover the falls that are taller than Niagara.

For an earthier search of the Quebec City area, it might be a pleasure to drive over to an outdoor bread oven and sample homemade bread with some sweet maple butter on top, or aim for a Sugar Shack where Maple Syrup is made from maple tree sap. Enjoy a family kitchen-style feast of everything drizzled or cooked in Maple Syrup (from maple pork and beans, maple gravy with potatoes, to maple roast ham, tourtiere pie and crepes for dessert…with maple syrup of course!).

The rich Roman Catholic history in Quebec has another massive religious building known as the St. Anne de Beaupre Shrine built to flock to. It is the home of healings where pillars are stacked with crutches, canes and other shed forms of braces of illness by the uncanny miraculous help of St. Anne, who is Mary’s (Mother to Jesus) mother. A dynamic and completely separate style to The Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, St. Anne de Beaupre Shrine is awash with white and light colours, opulent and magnanimous in essence.

Quebec City offers an old-fashioned elegance wrapped in a small-town feel that few cities can offer. It is an understated city that speaks for itself. The people are wonderfully friendly and the European feel of Quebec City has much to offer in North America. I do urge you to take a trip in 2008 as the city is currently hard at work for this special anniversary and I believe that a visitor to the City will be able to emerge themselves in history and culture and café au lait all at the same time.

To read about Cosmopolitan Montreal click here.

To read about the Great Canadian Holidays and Coaches trip to Montreal and Quebec City click here.