Quebec Travel Guide

Geography

Quebec City is divided into old and new sections. Most of Vieux Quebec (Old Quebec) sits at the top of the cliff in an area that is called Haute Ville (Upper Town). The other part of the old city is crammed between the base of the cliff and the river—it's known as Basse Ville (Lower Town). It has some memorable old structures, as well as shops and restaurants. Quartier Petit Champlain is just below the Chateau Frontenac. Vieux Port (Old Port) lies just north of this district. Most of the city's interesting sites are situated in the upper and lower parts of Vieux Quebec.

The more modern side of Quebec City (parks, office buildings, shopping malls and urban sprawl) is found on the high bluff beyond the walls of Vieux Quebec. The newer section of the city, just west of the old walled city, is the Haute Ville district of Faubourg Saint Jean. The borough of Sainte-Foy is southwest of Quebec City.

History

The Iroquois are thought to have been the first people to paddle through this area. The First Nations called the place Kebec, which in Algonquin means "place where the river narrows." Quebec City is located on the north shore at the narrowest point of the St. Lawrence River. Although historians are unsure of the precise location, they know that the Iroquois established a village named Stadacona within what is now Quebec City. French explorer Jacques Cartier landed there in 1535, and in 1608 Samuel de Champlain founded a fur-trading post there.

A steady supply of animal pelts transformed Quebec City into a major port, and it was highly sought after by both the British and the French in the wars of the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1759, the city finally fell under English control after a short, decisive battle on the Plains of Abraham (just outside the city walls). French Canada became a British colony and later the province of Quebec in an independent Canada.

Although many Quebecois continue to advocate Quebec independence from Canada, the issue has lost steam in recent years. A 1995 referendum on sovereignty failed narrowly and has not been repeated. Still, the issue has not been put to rest—particularly in Quebec City, where nationalist sentiments traditionally run high.

But whether an independentist or a federalist, francophone, anglophone or allophone, all residents of the city (and indeed the entire province) are alike in their fierce pride of Quebec's capital: The year-long, feverish and spectacular celebration of the city's 400th anniversary that took place in 2008 is a case in point.

Sightseeing

Explore Quebec City by starting in the upper portion of Vieux Quebec, where the fortification wall still surrounds the old city. The best way to get your bearings is to take a caleche (horse-drawn carriage) tour. It's pricey (most start at Can$100 for a 45-minute tour), but the drivers are interesting and knowledgeable. Afterward, stop by the visitors center on Rue Ste. Anne, grab a walking-tour map and hit the cobblestones. Take your time, because there's plenty to see and do along the worn streets.

Nightlife

Quebec City can't compete with Montreal's exuberant nightlife, but it manages to hold its own. There are casual bars and cafes throughout Vieux Quebec, where you'll find locals out strolling and holding hands or engaged in lively exchanges. Street musicians, singers and acrobats also wander through the streets of the old town, providing plenty of sidewalk entertainment.

Two of the most exuberant areas to begin an evening in Quebec City are along Grande Allee Est and on Rue St. Jean. Bars and dance clubs generally get going around 10 pm, and most stay open until 3 am.

Note: The province of Quebec prohibits smoking in restaurants, bars, private clubs, bingo halls and casinos, and any other facility open to the public. Smoking is still permitted on some patios in Quebec.

Dining

Baked beans, poutine, pea soup, meat pies and maple syrup: These are some of the staples of traditional Quebec cookery. You'll also find some of the most sophisticated cuisine on the continent in Quebec City—prepare to eat well and often.

You should also try as many different French Canadian dishes as possible—in particular, cipaille (a pie containing wild fowl, game or beef with vegetables), poutine (french fries with cheese curds and gravy), trempette (bread doused with maple syrup and topped with creme fraiche or whipped cream), Brome Lake duck (cooked in Calvados and stuffed with apples), tourtiere (meat pie) and pot-en-pot (a seafood-and-potato dish).

Traditional French restaurants are abundant. Seafood bisque, consomme and cream sauces over seafood are common, as are quiche, crepes and croissants.

If you have a sweet tooth, check the menu for tarte au sucre, or maple sugar pie. This unbelievably sweet concoction is delicious, but it sets some people's teeth on edge. Do make a point of experiencing a sidewalk cafe: A frothy bowl of cafe au lait accompanied by a buttery croissant is mandatory.

Restaurants tend to be expensive, so take advantage of the table d'hote menus—three or four courses at a fixed price. Many expensive restaurants offer great deals at lunch. General dining times are 7-11 am for breakfast, noon-1:30 pm for lunch and 6-10 pm for dinner. Restaurants, cafes and bars in Quebec are smoke-free.

Expect to pay within these guidelines for a meal for one, not including drinks, tax or tip: $ = less than Can$15; $$ = Can$16-$25; $$$ = Can$26-$40; $$$$ = more than Can$40.