What an amazing place full of history of wonder nestled in beautiful Quebec . I must see if it's…read morefor a short time and enjoy the small cafés and restaurants and stores in the area walk along cobblestone streets free of cars beautifully done.

This is the tourist center in Québec, both for the history and the modern-day ambiance that comes…read morewith the restaurants, patios, and shops that now fill the historic structures. Place-Royale is widely considered to be the birthplace of the French colony and French North America. It stands on the site of Québec's actual foundation, the spot where, in 1608, Samuel de Champlain erected a fur trading post that soon grew into the capital of French America. Named in honor of Louis XIV whose bust adorns it, Place Royale is the largest surviving ensemble of 17th- and 18th-century buildings in North America. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this area of Old Québec acted as the French colony's center of business and industry, supporting a thriving marketplace and housing many wealthy merchants. While exploring this quaint area, you'll come across several notable tributes to its French Colonial past, like- - including a striking bust of Louis XIV (one of France's most famous kings), - the Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, - as well as the Fresque des Québécois, which illustrates 400 years of the city's history. In summer, the area is home to outdoor dining areas. In winter, the snow transforms the old streets and stone buildings into a postcard-perfect scene. This is a beautiful area to wander through in the day or evening and at any time of year. Restroom: if you need one, there is a very clean and spacious restroom right there at the square. Just beside the cafe [Café La Maison Smith Notre-Dame], it's there. see attached photo.

The Saint-Louis Gate is one of the entry points in the fortified walls surrounding Old Québec. On…read morethe inside of the walls, rue Saint-Louis stretches from the gate to Château Frontenac, while on the outside can be found the Parliament Building and Grande Allée. Climb the stairs to the top of the gate to admire rue Saint-Louis and Parliament Hill. These stairs also open up onto the walkway running along the top of the fortifications. As you follow this walkway to the Saint-Jean Gate, you will marvel at the view of Old Québec afforded from this vantage point. Only three other gates that were part of the original fortifications survive the Kent, Saint-Jean, and Prescott gates.

OUTSTANDING tour of about an hour in length. We were blessed to have a very knowledgeable, english…read morespeaking tour guide in Alize, she is fluent in both French and English. This was her first tour using entirely English; in our opinion, she did an exceptional job. The artifacts and physical space in which we toured was amazing. Thank you. Penny & Dan Cote

The Fortifications de Québec National Historic Site is one of the most significant pieces of Québec…read moreCity's history. Walk through the gates and upon the ramparts and take in the gorgeous views of Old Québec. The only fortified city north of Mexico, one cannot visit Québec City without admiring the fortified walls and ramparts which were the city's defensive system built between 1608 and 1871. Today, the fortifications of Québec consist of 4 gates, 3 Martello towers, the Citadelle, and 4.6 km of ramparts, complete with cannons, which encircle Old Québec's upper town. In the more than 300 years of its history, Québec has come to possess a variety of fortifications, all of which can be explored on an hour-long circular walk. The bastions, walls, towers, gates, and countless old cannons show how well the former French colony was protected. the four and a half kilometers of defensive ramparts on the west flank of the Old City were constructed of granite and sand, the only fortifications of this kind in North America. Numerous pieces of weaponry are a constant reminder of Québec's troubled past. There are 4 gates in this fortification (enter /exit from upper Quebec) 1. St. Jean Gate 2. Kent Gate 3. Prescott Gate 4. St Louis Gate

This popular shopping street is especially lively in the summer. Snap pics of it from atop…read moreSaint-Jean Gate or when it's closed to traffic on summer days. We were staying in nearby AIRBNB and every morning we started our day from Place D'Youville and passed through St jean street to Upper/lower Quebec. what beautiful streets, full of souvenir shops, and famous cafes [Baguette & Chocolate, Paillard] If you're heading into Old Quebec City from the west end, then you'll likely be passing through Porte Saint-Jean (the old city walls that you can walk on top of). Just beyond the city wall is where you'll find one of the main walking streets on Rue Saint-Jean. Rue Saint-Jean is one of Québec City's oldest commercial stretches. In the 19th century, merchants settled there in droves in houses that doubled as their place of business, lending the street its special charm. Their shops did so well that soon the street had to be widened. On winter evenings, the skating rink and festive lights are simply magical!

POPULAR AREA IN OLD QUEBEC…read more Rue Saint Jean is one of the main streets in Old Quebec. The changing street names can be confusing - the street starts out as Cote de la Fabrique and then becomes Rue Saint Jean at the intersection of Rue Couillard. Exit Old Quebec to the Quebec City neighborhood known as Saint Jean Baptiste through Porte Saint Jean (Saint Jean Gate), one of the historic stone arch gates that is part of the Fortifications of Quebec. We enjoyed visiting shops along Rue Saint Jean including the large bookstore Librairie Pantoute (it was fun seeing French translations of our favorite children story books). There are also many restaurants here and during our late summer trip, a part of Rue Saint Jean was closed to car traffic for outdoor dining. Not sure how McDonald's managed to get a foothold inside historic Old Quebec but it was weird to see the fast food chain next to popular local spots such as Paillard Bakery, Casse Crepe Breton and L'Entrecote Saint Jean.

bad luck strikes again - construction work was going on and we could not get a chance to go closely…read moreand observe this... anyway Near Place Royale, right where Côte de la Montagne curves around to intersect Rue Notre Dame, is the first and probably most known mural in Quebec City. La Fresque des Québécois was completed and installed in 1999 by Cité Création and local artists. you will see a mixture of different periods of history, elements from French settlers, British settlers, and immigrant groups, along with what looks like modern-day students, shoppers & tourists. There are also several important historical figures represented. Within the mural are 16 key figures important to the history of Quebec City, including: *** Samuel de Champlain - called the 'Father of New France,' Champlain was an explorer who founded Quebec City in July 1608, made the first accurate map of the area, and worked to find the first settlements. *** Marie Guyard de l'Incarnation - a nun, declared a saint, who established the Ursuline Order and who also founded the first girls' school in the New World. *** Lord Dufferin - Governor General of Canada, he was the first to make the Citadelle of Quebec a vice-regal residence and saved the city walls from destruction. The is also the 'Dufferin' of Terrasse Dufferin fame. and many more

BASSE VILLE'S WONDERFUL TROMPE L'OEIL MURALS…read more We enjoyed two trompe l'oeil murals located in the Basse Ville section of Old Quebec. Both murals were public art projects involving the joint efforts of French and Quebec artists. The first mural, Fresque des Quebecois, is a towering mural painted on the side of a tall building. It is a fun mural mixing historical figures in contemporary vignettes. We felt like we could step into the corner book store and browse through the books. The second mural is called the Fresque du Petit Champlain (also known as Fresque du Cap Blanc). This mural rips away the walls of rooms featuring glimpses into the lives of everyday people living in 1600-1800s Cap Blanc, then a working class fishing neighborhood in Quebec. There is a fence that prevents visitors from walking up close to the mural.

Don't use the directions on Yelp. It's nearby…read more Where to start to see some of these old school. Lots of busy roads in and out of this old town. Can see the juxtaposition of old and new. Hubby wasn't keen on stopping much to walk, felt rushed to move along.

Old Quebec is amazing with such great history, food, views, and. architecture. Quebec is our…read morefavorite city we visited. Be sure to check out both the upper part of Old Quebec, the Chateau Frontenac where we stayed but can also tour, Dufferin Terrace, and Lower Town. The Citadel and Parliament are must sees as well as the Plains of Abraham (although I wish we looked around more and saw the museum) and the Museum of Civilization is amazing too

I took an English‑language tour of the National Assembly of Québec, and it was excellent -- very…read moreinformative and well organized. You do need to show a piece of ID to enter, so it's good to have that ready. The building's architecture is stunning both inside and out. The exterior is remarkable, surrounded by a lovely park with benches where you can sit and relax before or after the tour. Inside, I was pleasantly surprised to see a work by folk artist Patrick Lavallée, and the portrait gallery of the presidents was a highlight. The modern section is especially interesting because each president chooses the artist who paints their portrait -- and finding a portrait by Jean‑Paul Lemieux, one of my favourite French‑Canadian artists, was a wonderful surprise. The tour takes you through many parts of the building, including the restaurant and the library, and ends near a boutique selling souvenirs. A very worthwhile visit.

Dominated by the majestic outline of the Parliament Building and graced by a splendid fountain in…read moreits forecourt, Parliament Hill exudes style. The spaciously laid out district, southwest of the old Upper Town, is the seat of Québec's provincial government. National Assembly and Legislative Council- these are open to the public. They would ask for some verification IDs, and you are good to visit this. The main façade is adorned with 26 bronze statues of men and women who shaped the province's history. Take a free guided tour of the building. The building can be explored by guided or unguided tours that take you through the lovely hallways, rooms, and legislative channels of the building's historic core. Its architecture, inspired by the Louvre Palace in Paris, makes it one of the only French-style institutional buildings in Québec City. It is Québec's oldest historic site and the seat of Québec's government. The building's main facade boasts 26 bronze statues erected to the memory of key historical figures Parliament Hill is located in the Upper Town, just outside the fortifications. It's home to several government buildings, the famous Plains of Abraham, and the festive section of Grande Allée. Tony Fountain is just in front of this amazing building.

The stone houses on this street are utterly romantic. There's an incredible low-eye view of Château…read moreFrontenac from the corner of Rue Saint-Pierre. Take the time to explore all the nooks and crannies of this picturesque neighborhood where every house has a story. it starts from Funicular and is an extension of Quartier Petit Champlain Street. it was raining and we were like the day was running but after the rain stopped, reflections of shops in small water poodles, shining streets made this whole street beautiful. Photos of Funicular at the end of the street - looks postcard types.