Quebec Things to Do Tips by tvor

Public art, galleries and shopping Walking around Vieux Quebec Review

Vieux (Old) Quebec is a quaint area on the riverfront below the cliffs. It's the oldest part of quebec city and the buildings are now restored and house restaurants, galleries and lovely shops featuring souvenirs and Canadian made craft items. There are only a few streets and they are narrow and cobbled. The main one is Rue de Petit Champlain, crossed by Rue sous-le-fort.

Not far from here is the Museum of Civilization and around the corner from there is Rue St. Paul which is lined with antique shops leading to the old Port where there's a good market. You can climb up the steep streets or the staircase to the upper part of the city but there is also an old funicular behind a historic house that will take you up for a mere $2.00. You come out beside the dominating old hotel, Chateau Frontenac.

One of the drawing points of the lower Old Quebec are the elaborate murals detailing life and history in Quebec, past and present.

The upper part of Quebec City within the walls is also old though a bit newer. Here are more good places to eat, and visit with museums and galleries, churches, the citadel and Notre Dame cathedral. Stroll along Grand Allee with the large elaborate buildings or explore the Citadel. You will find plenty of places to eat and drink and shop as well.

Directions: below the cliffs by the Chateau and Citadel, along the waterfront of the River.

Historic Citadel Citadelle de Quebec Review

The Citadel type of defence system was designed by a Frenchman. This fort in Quebec City was built by the British military and has been occupied by the military ever since. Currently it is the home of the 22nd Regiment of the Royal Canadian Regiment, or "Van Doos" which comes from the French for 22, "Vingt-Deux".

According to the official website "La Citadelle comprises two buildings constructed under the French regime, the only real gate into Old Quebec City, the official residence of the Royal 22e Régiment, the Royal 22e Régiment Museum and the residence of the Governor General of Canada, among others."

They have a changing of the guard ceremony in the summer though we were visiting too early in the season for it. We visited on an overcast misty day in May but were lucky to get a time when there were only a handful of people wanting the walking tour. Our guide, Charles, was very knowledgable as he led us around the buildings, explaining the history of the fort. the tours are said to take an hour but ours lasted longer as there were only 8 of us and it was not a busy time of year so Charles took his time and allowed us to linger in the museums longer.

There are two museums we were able to visit, one a more general museum to do with the fort and Quebec itself and the other is the 22nd Regiment museum. There's a regimental chapel as well but it's not open to the public though is still used. The views over the St. Lawrence, over the city dominated by the old Chateau Frontenac hotel and over the parks built on the battlegrounds of the Plains of Abraham were shrouded in mist and fog for us but the views would be spectacular on a sunny day.

The more general museum is in a 300 year old magazine battery with its thick stone walls protecting against a blast. There are dioramas and memorabilia covering several hundred years of Quebec history.

The 22nd Regimental museum is housed in a building that used to be a jail. You can see one cell still set up. In the other cells are various exhibits about the history of the 22nd. There are archives, uniforms, memorabilia, medals (including one whole room lined with cases of medals). A current exhibition in one of the rooms shows items taken from the 21st century Afghanistan tour of duty. There is also a WWI Victoria Cross, the highest military honour given. With the 100th anniversary of the regiment due in 2014, there is a major upgrading and updating of the museum planned.

There's a small gift shop and very basic cafe in the entrance building. Photography without a flash is permitted in the museums.

Open all year round, it costs 10$ per adult with discounts for children, seniors and has group rates. There's some parking available and they do English and French tours which are included in the cost of admission as well. Not all of the grounds is mobility accessible.

There's a travelogue here as well with additional photos

Address: Cote de la Citadelle

Phone: 418-694-2815

Website: http://www.lacitadelle.qc.ca

Taller than Niagara Montmorency Falls Review

Just outside and east of Quebec City is a large park with the focus on a tall waterfall, Montmorency Falls. The falls are 83 m. high (272 feet) nearly 100 feet higher than the famed Niagara falls though not as wide. The falls, set in a green park and surrounded by cliffs, are spectacular. We saw them on a sunny day and rainbows coloured the rolling mist at the bottom where it crashes into a river leading out to the St. Lawrence river.

There's a set of cable cars, the best way to go from the visitor centre to the top of the cliffs for excellent views of the falls. There's also a bridge across and down the cliff on one side is a staircase with periodic observation decks that has 487 steps! Not for the faint of foot! In summer they have a fireworks festival over the falls and in winter, after the mist freezes on the cliff sides, the adventurous ice climb! There's a lovely building housing a restaurant and meeting facilities with good views over the river, falls and the park.

There is a snack bar and gift shop in the main entrance building. Lots of parking both at the base of the park and up at the top of the park.

It costs 10.39$ per adult for a round trip on the cable car and various group rates. Park is closed in November and limited to group reservations most of December.

Address: 2490 avenue Royale

Phone: 418-663-3330

Website: http://www.sepaq.com/ct/pcm/en

Miracles do happen Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre Basilica Review

The early 20th century basilica replaced an older one that burned down. It's located about 20 miles east of Quebec city and is a place of pilgrimage. Saint Anne is known for healing and there are many cases of people that were healed after praying to Saint Anne who was the mother of Mary and who is the patron saint of Quebec.

In 1658, a few acres was donated to the church for a chapel. Miracles started happening while the chapel was being built and continued. The chapel was enlarged into a basilica eventually, welcoming thousands and thousands of pilgrims every year. In 1922 the basilica burned down and the present one was started soon after, taking about 20 years to complete.

The basilica is really very nice inside, with high arches and scenes from the life of Saint Anne throughout in stained glass and paintings. Downstairs, there is the arched ceilinged chapel of Immaculate Conception, lights reflecting off the blues and golds on the arches. There are little mosaics on the corners of the pillars and posts.

The church is completely accessible with a lift and ramps. Across the road is a large field for camping in season. On the hill behind the church is a memorial chapel with stations of the cross and a set of stairs that pilgrims often climb.

Even if you aren't there to do a pilgrimage, or are overly religious, this is a beautiful basilica to visit.

There's now a large plaza in front of the church with a fountain. There are touristy type b uildings around it, with restaurants and gift shops and there's a museum as well.

Address: 10018 Avenue Royale

Directions: East Out of Quebec City on 138

Other Contact: http://www.shrinesaintanne.org/e

Phone: 418-827-3781

Website: http://www.ssadb.qc.ca