Historic places in Quebec City

Historic places in Quebec City

1. See

   57-63, rue Saint-Louis

   A national historic monument comprising houses from the 18th and 19th century.

2. See

   Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec

   This cathedral and historical monument with its assymetrical towers is the seat of the Catholic archdiocese of Quebec, and adjacent to the Séminaire de Québec. The church has been rebuilt several times, and the current house of worship finished in the 1920s is built in a mix of neobaroque and neoclassical style.

3. See

   Cathédrale de la Sainte-Trinité

   This neoclassical cathedral is the seat of the Anglican diocese of Quebec. It was consecrated in 1804 as the first Anglican cathedral outside the British isles and is the third largest church in the city.

4. See

   Chapel of the Ursuline convent

   Monastère des Ursulines de Québec

   The monastery comprises a whole block in the old town, though only the chapel and the museum are open to visitors. It was founded in 1639 by the French nun Marie de l'Incarnacion (later canonized) as the first female Catholic order in the Americas. The chapel dates from 1730 and is with its wooden altar considered a masterpiece of Franco-Canadian woodwork. In the museum you can learn about the activities of the Ursuline order in Quebec throughout history, and on display there are things related to its curriculum such as embroidery and musical instruments. Also the museum, in a building from 1687, has beautiful details preserved since construction including wooden staircases and windows.

   May-Sep: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00; Oct-Apr: Tue-Sun 13:00-17:00·$10

5. See

   Escalier Casse-Cou

   A steep staircase between Côte de la Montagne and Rue du Petit Champlain. The name means "Breakneck Stairs", and comes from the fact that historically cattle was marched this way and often the poor animals tripped over and broke their necks.

6. See

   Hôtel-Dieu

   This is the oldest hospital in the Americas north of Mexico, and a national historic site. Founded in 1639 by the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus, it was administered by them until 1962. Nowadays it's part of a network of university hospitals.

7. See

   Morrin Centre

   English-language culture centre in the southwestern corner of the old town. The building is a national historical site.

   Tour: Fri-Sun 10:00-16:00·Tour: $17 adult, $15 concession, $48.50 family, children free

8. See

   Musée de la civilisation

   Museum of Civilization

   Museum devoted to the world's peoples, with a well-done if still somewhat dull permanent exhibit on the history of Quebec.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00·$24 adult, $23 senior, $19 young adult, $8 youth, $5.5/child

9. See

   Musée naval de Québec

   Maritime museum, showcasing the naval history of the region in objects and photos. There are both a permanent and temporary exhibitions.

10. See

    Notre-Dame-des-Anges

    An tiny independent parish municipality, administered by the monastic congregation of the Augustinians of the Mercy of Jesus and surrounded by Quebec City. The municipality includes a monastery, museum, the General Hospital of Quebec and its cemetery. All of the buildings have been classed as a historic site.

11. See

    Palace of Justice

    Palais de justice de Québec

    A neoclassical grand building next to Place d'Armes by Eugene-Etienne Tachet and finished in 1877. The current tenant in the building is the provincial ministry of finance.

12. See

    Park d'Artillerie

    In the 18th century the site of fortifications, later a garrison and until 1964 a munitions factory, there are two buildings left in this National Historic Park. In the former brick foundry there's a museum exhibiting the history of the city, and in the former building of the arsenal there's a weapon exhibition. Another attraction in the park is a Celtic cross commemorating the Irish famine and Irish immigration to North America.

    Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow

13. See

    Place d'Armes

    The main square of the old town, first mentioned in 1648, is surrounded on three sides by historical buildings such as the former Palace of Justice and Cathédrale de la Sainte-Trinité, and on the fourth side the city wall. As the name reveals, it was used for military parades and exercises. In the middle of the square there are benches, and a memorial to the Franciscan order.

14. See

    Quartier Petit Champlain

    North America's oldest shopping quarter, in 17th-18th century buildings along Rue Petit Champlain, at the southern end of Basse Ville. Can get pretty busy during the day, so if you're not there for shopping (the selection tends to be rather touristy too), but rather to see the houses, go early in the morning or late in the evening. There's a huge mural on House 102 presenting the history of the quarter.

15. See

    Séminaire de Québec

    A Catholic seminary and historical monument, founded in 1663 by Saint François de Montmorency-Laval to educate missionaries for spreading the Christian faith in the New World. It is at the edge if Quartier Latin, the historical university quarter of the city.

16. See

    Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires

    Next to Place Royal, this is considered the oldest stone church in North America. The first small church was built to celebrate a victory over the British in 1690, was finished in 1723 but was destroyed in a British attack on the city in 1759. Construction of the current church started soon after, and one of the builders was the master carpenter Jean Baillargé. It was declared a historical monument in 1929.

17. Do Not mapped

    Winter Carnival

    City-wide, first two weeks of February and spanning 3 weekends. A truly spectacular event, the Winter Carnival is a hundred-year-old tradition in Quebec City. Each year, a giant ice palace is built in the Place Jacques-Cartier as the headquarters of the festivities, but there's activities all during the week. The International Ice Sculpture Competition sees teams from around the world build monumental sculptures. There are 3 parades during the event in different quarters of the city, and other winter-defying competitions including a canoe race across the St. Lawrence and a group snow bath. The festival's mascot, Bonhomme Carnaval, a sashed snowman, is the city's most famous logo. $12 (2010) will get you a rubber snowman to attach to your parka for entrance into the festivities on the Plains of Abraham.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Quebec City (CC BY-SA 4.0).