Contents
Quebec Driving Day Trip - From Montreal
This day trip to Quebec is from theMontrealI left the city and found a weekend to drive to Quebec. Quebec City is the oldest city in North America, and naturally, Old Quebec is the highlight of the city, so this day was spent mainly in the Old Town area. The Old Town area is listed as a World Heritage Site. Spending a day here to explore the old streets and buildings, though not for a long time, is one of the most beautiful memories of the whole trip to Canada East.
The drive from Montreal to Quebec lasted a little over two and a half hours, which I thought would be a little long, but I didn't realize that the scenery along the St. Lawrence River was quite nice, and the weather was sunny all the way, so I didn't feel tired at all.
Because there was only one day, the itinerary was also very compact, mainly focusing on Old Quebec City, according to the order to visit the following places
- La Promenade Samuel-De Champlain: A riverfront park near downtown Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River, with a nice view.
- Battlefields park
- Star Fortress Citadel
- Lower Town: Little Champlain Street, Royal Plaza
- Uptown: Chateau Fantine Hotel, Dufferin Terrace
- Wall of Old Quebec
On this day, because of the music festival, the traffic in Quebec City had to be controlled at night, so we had to leave earlier than originally planned, if we could have stayed a little later, we could still have a good time walking around the old town.
By the time we left, the St. Louis gates were filled with cars rushing to get into the city, and the area around the parking lot we were parked in had been turned into the festival grounds, so we had to make our way around the crowds to get in and get a feel for what it was like to be a part of the festival.
Scenic Spot Records
La Promenade Samuel-De Champlain Park
Along the St. Lawrence River, just before you get to downtown Quebec, you pass by this park, La Promenade Samuel-De Champlain. This riverfront park has a riverfront bike path and a pedestrian boardwalk with beautiful sculptures along the way, so take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the panoramic view of the St. Lawrence River. Quebec's high latitude makes it cool on a sunny day.
Battlefields park
Battlefields park was our first stop in Quebec City, the city's main point of defense. It is a huge 255 acres of highland, and it takes more than three hours to take a serious tour of the park.
Military remains can be seen here, including the four surviving turrets. Overlooking the St. Lawrence River from where the turrets stood, it is easy to see why this was a good location for defense.
The Plains of Abraham in the park is a place of great historical significance to Canada. In 1759, Britain and France fought on the Plains of Abraham, after which France ceded Canada to Britain. If you have time, you can visit the Plains of Abraham Museum to learn more about this history. The Plains is also the place where the Canadian national anthem was first played, which is a very historic place.
Star Fortress Citadel
The Citadel, Canada's oldest military building, was originally built by the British Army in 1820, but the war was over by the time it was finished, so it was never really used.
Louisman
Although it was never actually used, the Royal Canadian Army is still stationed here.
The coat of arms on the gates reads 22, representing the 22nd Regiment stationed there, and underneath it reads Je me sourviens, meaning "I keep it in my heart," a phrase from a poem that is a metaphor for the history of Quebec, and which can be found in many places in Quebec.
Registration for the tour is available at the Visitor Center. The tour guide will begin by explaining the three phases of Quebec City's history, including the French colonization, the British colonization, and the period of Canadian independence.
The fortress is huge, and when you walk in, some parts of it don't feel like a military base. Most of the places in the fortress look more like a rich people's neighborhood.
You don't get the feeling of a military base until you get to the waterfront where a row of gun emplacements have been put in place, or you walk near the city walls.
Handover Ceremony
If the time is right, you can see the guards at the city gates handing over the goats to the guards, and you will see live white goats wearing blue satin being led by the guards to take part in the handing over ceremony. It was a bit of a pity that we came here this time. We could see from afar that the ceremony was almost over and there were a lot of people, so if you want to see it clearly, you'd better come earlier to find a seat. The white goat represents the British royal family. It is said that the earliest white goat was a gift from the Queen of England to the commander of the fort, and the white goats participating in the ceremony are still its descendants. If you don't have time to watch the handover, you can also see a specimen of the white goat in the indoor museum.
Our guide also took us on a tour of the fort and the military prison, which are now military museums. The fort is very well preserved, after all, it was never used in a real war.
In addition to learning about Canadian history, the Star Fortress is also a great place to see Quebec City. You can see the whole landscape including the Chateau Hotel from the top, and the whole old town is visible, and the beautiful view makes everyone stay here for a long time.
Downtown
The Old Town area is roughly divided into the Upper Town area and the Lower Town area. Going towards the heart of the area, towards the Chateau Fontana Hotel, pass the square next to the Chateau Fontana, and you will come to the Lower Town area.
Little Champlain Street
Little Champlain Street in the lower town is named after Champlain, the founder of Quebec City. From where the photo was taken, there is a straight line of stairs leading down to the Little Champlain Street, which is called the Severance Stairs because it is very steep. It's fine in summer, but it's really dangerous in winter. In fact, there is a cable car for tourists to ride, after all, not everyone has the means to climb these stairs.
Look down the broken staircase. It's easier to take the cable car up the stairs.
The narrow streets of Little Champlain are lined with stores and restaurants. Strolling along the old stone streets is a relaxing way to see the bustle of the city.
Mural paintings depicting life in the old city are one of the specialties of Old Quebec. The life-like murals always attract visitors to stop and look at them. One of the most famous murals, called Fresque des Quebecois, is located near Place Royale.
Fresque des Quebecois
Royal Plaza
The Place Royale, with its retro atmosphere and the bust of Louis XIV in the center, is a reminder of Quebec's history as a French colony. The buildings around the square are centuries old, and it was from here that Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608.
Our Lady of Triumph Church in the Royal Plaza, built in 1687, is one of the oldest churches in North America. Champlain lived here at one time.
Uptown
Hotel Chateau Fontina
A Quebec City landmark, the Château de la Fontaine is an elegant, vintage-inspired hotel that offers a tour of the public areas as well. Built in 1892, the hotel has been home to many celebrities over the years, including President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who stayed here during the 1943 Allied Conference in Quebec City. The Chateau Hotel is 18 stories high and has a number of peaked towers that are spectacular from all angles.
Dufferin tableland
The Dufferin Terrace outside the hotel is another historic attraction in its own right. The wooden terrace dates from 1879 and is even older than the hotel. It's a great place to take in the views of the Chateau Hotel and the St. Lawrence River. At the end of the trail you can climb all the way up to the Queen's Castle Park above.
In summer, the weather is very hot, people walking on the Dufferin Terrace almost have a handful of ice, we also ordered chocolate ice cream as a snack in AU1884, it was very delicious. In fact, there are many famous dessert stores in Quebec, but we had to miss them because of the time constraint, so we will have to come back next time.
Walking the Old City Wall
From the St. Louis gates, you can walk up the old wall of Quebec and take a stroll along the walkway above the gates. On the left, you can see the new town, and on the right, the old town.
Food Record - La Buche
Quebec is a gourmet city, French cuisine is especially famous, this time the time is limited, only lunch a meal opportunity, choose in theLa BucheThis is one of the most famous restaurants in the Old Town area. The cuisine of this restaurant is traditional Quebec cuisine since the 17th century. Brunch can be served directly, but at other times you need to make a reservation in advance, so although there are many guests, you won't feel crowded.
Dining outdoors in Quebec in summer is very cozy. I ordered the salmon crepe from the brunch menu and the rabbit leg, which was very tender. The fried pork skin is also a signature dish, topped with maple syrup and crispy pork skin, it was my favorite dish in this short lunch. Quebec's famous dish is also rabbit poutine, but unfortunately I didn't get to try it this time.
Salmon Crepes rabbit leg Fried Pork Skin
Thank you for visiting our website.
All the content on this site is original and shared with the purpose of providing valuable information. We sustain the operation of this site through a small amount of advertising and sponsored links. If you click on links to third-party merchants on our site and make purchases, we may receive a portion of the sales as a commission. If you click on links to third-party merchants on our site and make purchases, we may receive a portion of the sales as a commission.
Find more posts on a map Here.
My recommended resources for hotel bookings.
Recommended travel credit card for US-based travelers
Travel with just a backpack!
Buy me a coffee and support my contents!
If you are interested in quoting this article or using any part of its content and images on your website or publication, please contact us via email to request permission.