Watch out, or you may fall under Québec City’s spell-the only fortified city in North America! As you explore the winding side streets, on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage, the romance of the city will enrapture you. Curious about the past of this historical city? Stroll through its oldest neighbourhoods, like Petit Champlain, Place-Royale and the Old Port. Even though this capital city is steeped in history, the year-round activities are truly up to date: world-class winter carnival and summer festival, theatre, exhibitions...and the accommodations and dining are topnotch!
Wonders on the Capital’s door step
The outskirts of Québec City are simply enchanting. In just a few minutes, you could find yourself deep in the countryside or in the heart of one of the large natural parks. The Chute Montmorency alone (83 m / 272 ft. high) is a magnificent waterfall well worth the detour. Characterized by abrupt dips in the landscape, the Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier is sure to leave you speechless. Venture through the marshes at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area to observe up close 300 species of birds, including the tens of thousands of snow geese that visit twice a year, in the spring and fall. This region is a sports lover’s paradise both in summer and winter, with spectacular golf courses and majestic ski slopes like Mont Sainte-Anne and Stoneham.
An endless list of vacation ideas
This region, the birthplace of the province, features many ancestral villages all along the legendary Chemin du Roy, the first vehicular highway in Canada, and on Île d’Orléans, whose rural charm was so perfectly described in the songs of Félix Leclerc. On the edge of the downtown area, discover the traditions of the Huron-Wendat people in the village of Wendake at the Onhoüa Chetek8e site. The Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica is a pilgrimage site that attracts over one and a half million visitors each year. Interested in exploring the area by bicycle? Check out one of the trails on the Route verte, such as the Chemin du Roy, or the Corridors des Cheminots and the Corridor du Littoral, along the St. Lawrence River towards Beauport and the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency. Finally, for a winter experience beyond compare, spend a night or two at the ice hotel, built every year near Lac Saint-Joseph!
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Nature and culture… it’s all yours in the Québec City region!