We decided to drop in for a tour here on our second visit to Quebec City, mostly just to try…read moresomething new. The tour was about an hour long and our tour guide's English was great. Plenty of jokes and interesting descriptions about the history of the place. This building was originally a jail when it was built, intended to reflect the ideology of a British man who was set on reforming prisons. Like many countries when faced with an influx of immigration, the population housed in the jail were disproportionately made up of immigrants being punished for minor offenses. It was later converted to an English-language college that didn't last very long. The building finally wound up becoming an English-language library that now serves as the English-language cultural center of Quebec City. The library is filled with artifacts as well. And that old library smell is heavenly! The tour was a little boring, but not terribly, which is the only reason I give it 4 stars. I would have liked some more photographs from that time to be displayed throughout (even though I know they're probably incredibly rare). I did find myself checking my watch, but probably because we came in starving. If you're a history buff, library nerd, or jail hobbyist (lol), definitely try to check this place out.

This was a very enjoyable tour of a building that has been through a lot in it's life. The tour of…read morethe jail and the glimpse of living conditions during Quebec's history was excellent. The library was very beautiful. Definitely worth 90 minutes of your time.

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

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.

I have purchased many beautiful Inuit prints and sculptures over the last few years from Inuit Art…read moreZone and each one has arrived quickly, without tarrifs and in perfect condition. I recently purchased Ullumi Tatsirtuq (Foggy Day) by OOLOOSIE SAILA, which is way more beautiful in person than on the screen, and two large bear and owl sculptures that are the highlight of my collection. The prices are incredibly reasonable compared to other dealers and the service is AAA+++.

Such a beautiful promenade. The hotel Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is gorgeous, obviously. The…read morewalk way and glassy areas are spacious, great for the many crowds that come in for a visit. This green ticket booth has a unique view of the Forts-et-Chateaux-Saint-Louis, or in English: the Saint Louis Forts and Chateaux National Historic site. Very much worth checking out how the ruins underneath had old historic cellars and kitchens.

What a amazing site the absolute beautiful architecture there's so many beautiful things there…read morerestaurants shopping. It's definitely a stop you should make.

USE THE CHARLES BAILLARGE STAIRS - A DIFFERENT WAY TO VISIT THE LOWER TOWN…read more Having walked down the Breakneck Stairs once, we looked for an easier and less crowded way to revisit the Lower Town. On Google Maps, we found a different staircase that we did not know had a history as well as a name :o) We later learned that this staircase was called the Charles Baillarge Stairs. Formerly known as the Buade Stairs, the staircase was renamed in 1980 to honor Charles Baillarge who was Quebec City's chief engineer in the late 1800s. Monsieur Baillarge was behind many urban projects that included replacing the wood stairs of Breakneck Stairs with wrought iron stairs. Compared to Breakneck Stairs, the Charles Baillarge Stairs is a wider and less steep staircase with fewer stairs. It is also conveniently located near the Monument de Francois de Laval and the old post office building and a short distance from Notre Dame de Quebec Basilica. Follow Google Maps - walk down the staircase to Cote de la Montagne - Cote de La Montagne will then lead you to the same Lower Town - Quartier Petit Champlain shopping area where Breakneck Stairs also ends.

what a view of Petit Champlain Street, and the perfect place to take photos as well (of course be…read moremindful of fellow tourists). it offers a wonderful view of one of Canada's most picturesque streets: rue du Petit-Champlain. This outdoor staircase, the oldest in Québec City, dates back to the beginning of the French colony. The 59 steps of the Breakneck Stairs connecting côte de la Montagne to rue du Petit-Champlain are just one of the ways to move between Upper and Lower Town. first, when I was researching about this, I was like "It might be like 200-300 steps to reach the upper side" but it's fairly easy. I did not even break a sweat. locals told us that in the winter, the scene is even more sublime when Christmas lights are twinkling and the snow gently falling. In the summer, the ultimate experience on the Stairs consists of eating or having a drink at one of the restaurant terraces located on the different landings.

Quebec City has invested in and maintained huge murals throughout the city, they are very realistic…read morelooking, causing a double take if you aren't expecting it. It's easy to find yourself standing and craning your neck upward, finding little details near the end of Rue du Petit Champlain, is Fresque du Petit-Champlain, created in 2001. The mural shows life in the history of this small, working-class neighborhood of Quebec City. In addition to elements of seaport life and trade and a woman depicted as a sailor's wife awaiting his return, in the mural, look out for Lord Nelson - This is the same Horatio Nelson of the Battle of Trafalgar fame where he defeated Napoleon. (If you're not a history buff, just think Trafalgar Square in London, he's atop the column in the center.

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 outdoor mural is called the Fresque du Petit Champlain (also known as Fresque du Cap Blanc). This mural rips away the walls of rooms offering glimpses into the everyday lives of people living in 1600-1800s Cap Blanc, then a working class fishing community in Quebec. You can almost hear the boisterous shouts of the workers hauling up the net full of fish and smell the ocean air as you watch the boat builders and sail makers work. A fence prevents visitors from walking up close to the mural. The second 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 start browsing through the books.

My family and I loved the experience! Even the 3 year old and 6 year old loved it. So much to do,…read moresee, and interact with. There is something for all ages. When we arrived there was a Titanic exhibit. Unfortunately we ran out of time and energy to go to it. Hoping to be able to come back and see it. It's a wonderful learning experience - a lot of wow moments and moments of tears as we learned about the rich history of the area. There are many different "rooms" to explore, it can get crowded, so keep an eye on the little ones, as they can easily move to other rooms with the waves of people. The family favorites - the singing station, the fire exit interactive board, and "crowd surfing", influencing peoples choices through doors, by pressing colors, looking for the squirrels and of course the cafe. LOL The gift shop was great too. I was able to purchase locally made gloves, which ended up being perfect for walking around the Christmas markets. I highly recommend visiting this museum - if you are looking to do a little learning and need some indoors time.

We enjoyed this museum as a family and it was a good opportunity to learn more about the history…read moreof Quebec. There was lots of cool First Nation objects and ancient things like that. They also had some cool artsy/psychology exhibits if that's something you're into.