Québec, one of the largest of Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories, is situated in the east of the country in a vast region that has many lakes and rivers. Nature is within easy reach of any city; the cities themselves being full of history and culture as well as diverse, creative, and lively places to visit all year round. Québec is also the only province with a predominantly French-speaking population; indeed, French is the sole official language.
Image Credit: Chun Yip So
Montréal
Image Credit: abdallahh
Founded in 1642, today’s city of Montréal shows vestiges of colonial era architecture, but also looks to the future with its modern buildings. The city also contains an Underground City connecting up offices, trains, restaurants, shopping malls, and hotels with 20 miles of passageways beneath street level; particularly popular during the cold winter months.
Image Credit: abdallahh
The Old Port by the St Lawrence River has a scenic boardwalk, activity-packed piers, a zip line, river cruises, ice skating in the winter and a beach in the summer. Old Montréal is full of cobbled streets, performers, and the Notre-Dame basilica.
Image Credit: Christopher Neugebauer
Montréal is also home to numerous friendly and relaxed festivals throughout the year; the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, the Just for Laughs comedy festival, the FrancoFolies, the Formula 1 Grand Prix during the summer, and the Montréal en Lumière in winter.
Image Credit: Patrick
Food is also incredibly important to the city, with the largest number of restaurants per resident in all of North America. Try a typical smoked meat sandwich, the unique wood-fired bagels, or the poutine, which is a mix of fries, gravy, and cheese curds. The public markets contain many treats for the nose and mouth; the Jean-Talon Market is open 361 days per year and offers products sourced within 60km of the city.
Image Credit: Bryce Edwards
Québec City
Image Credit: Dennis Jarvis
Old Québec is the only fortified city north of Mexico and is full of cobblestone streets; it’s a real UNESCO World Heritage treasure with over 400 years of history.
- Take in the spectacular views from Dufferin Terrace, the boardwalk which stretches from the foot of the Citadelle to Château Frontenac and overlooks the Ile d’Orléans, the St Lawrence River, and Québec City’s Lower Town.
- Explore the Rue du Trésor, where artists display their work on the walls of the narrow streets.
- Ride the toboggan slide on Dufferin Terrace, flying downhill at speeds of up to 70km an hour.
- Visit the Parliament Building, Québec’s oldest historical site and seat of government, which was erected between 1877 and 1886 and was inspired by the architecture of the Louvre Palace in Paris; the Fontaine de Tourny which stands in front of the building originally came from Bordeaux but was presented to the City by a businessman for its 400th anniversary.
- Explore restaurants and cafés on Grande Allée, where the New Year is seen in annually.
Image Credit: Guilhem Vellut
The Great Outdoors
Image Credit: Gilles Douaire
Québec is full of lush parks and reserves which can be enjoyed by those looking for peace outside the cities, or by those seeking more of a thrill.
Image Credit: Dhinakaran Gajavarathan
At Montmorency Falls Park, you can marvel at the height of the waterfalls and fly over the void on a zipline, and at Canyon Sainte Anne, you can cross the deep canyon using one of three suspension bridges. Take a trip to the Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier Sépaq, a mountainous plateau with deep gorges and rapids, to hike through more than 100km of scenic landscapes.
Image Credit: Richard Wetzel
For those who enjoy culture, explore Québec’s rich Aboriginal heritage. On the shore of Lac Lemoine, you can explore the fascinating culture of the Anicinabe through guided tours, cultural workshops, and exhibitions. Travel north to Nunavik for a real change of scenery; spend the night in an igloo, discover Inuit traditions of hunting and fishing, and admire the beautiful natural surroundings. Visit Wendake from 28-30 June 2019 for the International Pow Wow, which showcases First Nations’ dance and drum competitions, traditional cuisine, conferences, food tasting, and craft exhibitions.
Title Image Credit: a.canvas.of.light (Image Cropped)