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As a site of yearly pilgrimage for busloads of eager elementary and high school students from Ontario and Quebec, in addition to the five million tourists who flood into the ancient city walls every year, Quebec City is known across the nation as one of the most historic cities in Canada. Whether it's the Winter Carnival or one of the many music festivals that bring the city to life every summer, it remains a top destination within the Province of Quebec.
Founded in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain upon the site of the former Iroquois village of Stadacona, what became Quebec City is today the second oldest city in Canada after St. John's, Newfoundland (est. 1583). As the capital of New France, a massive dominion that once spread from Hudson Bay to New Orleans and accounted for roughly one third of the continental United States and roughy half of Canada, Quebec City held a prominent position upon the banks of the St. Lawrence River. As a strategic trading post and defensive position, its stone ramparts and fortifications rose high above the cliffs of the frigid swift-flowing waters down below.
During the French Regime, which lasted from 1608 to the British Conquest of 1763, Quebec City enjoyed its place in the spotlight as both the colonial seat of government and the centre of colonial Catholic power and administration for all of New France. The architecture that remains from this era reflects the importance of the capital's position, with heavy stone to protect les habitants from the cold. The inherent permanence of the material helped to preserve many of the original structures of New France to the present.
Seen above, one of the oldest buildings in the vast complex of the 1663-founded Séminaire de Québec, was built between 1678 and 1681 in the style common to French seminary colleges during the seventeenth century. The Notre-Dame-des-Victoires below, constructed between 1687 and 1723, is highly representative of the colonial architecture of New France, the ancient stone church built upon the original site of Champlain's 1608 Habitation. Badly damaged during the bombardment of Quebec that preceded the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759, in which the Capital fell to the British, the structure and surrounding Place Royale were reconstructed following the 1763 Treaty of Paris and the start of British Rule.
Despite the failure of the city's stone fortifications to ward off the British during the Siege of Quebec in 1759, they have remained as an integral part of the rich historic legacy of Quebec City to this day. Their sturdy stone permanence is a testament to the Provincial Capital's symbolic place in public memory. It must be noted that it was the work of the British-born Lord Dufferin, Governor-General of Canada from 1872 to 1878, who was responsible for the restoration of the City Walls, including the reconstruction of the Gothic-Revival-influenced City Gates, which can be seen today.
A lover of history, Lord Dufferin kept the 'Old' in Old Quebec, seeing to the preservation of many of the city's landmarks, including the Citadel and Plains of Abraham, and ensuring that Quebec City's place in Canada's history would remain for future generations.
Within the walled portion of Quebec City, known more commonly as Upper Town, many of the city's most famous landmarks can be found, including Le Château Frontenac — designed by American architect Bruce Price — whose dominant position amid the historic skyline has loomed large over the ancient city since its construction in 1893. Today owned and operated as part of the Fairmont brand, Le Château Frontenac was originally one of the Canadian Pacific Railway's fleet of luxury hotels which can still be found in nearly every major Canadian city and tourist destination on a rail line.
Expanded over the years, Le Château Frontenac is perched atop the steep embankment which divides Upper Town from Lower Town, affording guests with a spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River while simultaneously ensuring that the grand hotel remains the main attraction on the Quebec City skyline.
Though nowhere near as imposing as Le Château Frontenac, the equally popular Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec, is just as architecturally impressive. The current structure dates back to its reconstruction between 1786 and 1822, following its destruction during the Siege of Quebec in 1759. Located at the site of the original 1647 church that preceded the current edition, Notre-Dame de Québec is the primatial church of Canada and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec, the oldest such structure of its type in the Americas north of Mexico. The current structure was designed by a collection of highly skilled Quebecois architects in the years and decades that followed its initial destruction, resulting in one of the finest example of Neoclassical architecture in Quebec.
Making one's way down to Lower Town — either on foot down the the notorious 'L'Escalier Casse-Cou,' known in English as the 'Breakneck Steps,' or via a pleasant ride down the funicular — the history of Quebec City continues with some of the oldest buildings in the city.
Among the most popular destinations in Lower Town, the Place Royale — site of the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires mentioned above, which was constructed between 1687 and 1723 — is a pleasant spot to slow down and take in the sights. Many of the quaint stone houses date back to the French Regime and have today been turned into boutiques, restaurants, and cafes.
While the stone fortifications of Old Quebec have been swallowed up whole by the surrounding inner and outer suburbs of Quebec City, the historic integrity of Upper Town and Lower Town remains a major tourist attraction, especially when combined with many of the Provincial Capital's best restaurants and nightlife. Home as well to countless major festivals throughout the year, Quebec City has been well served by its fascinatingly long and rich cultural past.
On the city's previously extensive streetcar network, visitors to Quebec City were at one time able to sight-see in style aboard one of the many open-air 'Char Observatoire,' or Observation Cars, which were part of the regular streetcar fleet.
Despite being forced to explore the Upper Town and Lower Town on foot, modern-day tourists will find an ample collection of shops, restaurants, museums, and galleries dotted across the city. The distinctive Old World Charm of Old Quebec is a dream come true for history enthusiasts, urban explorers, and photographers alike.
A prime year-round destination, Quebec City remains one of the most beautiful, photogenic cities in Canada. Its wealth of historic architecture, spanning more than 400 years of Canadian history, makes the ideal backdrop for both amateur and professional photographers looking for something truly unique. More than this, for lovers of Canadian history and architecture, the dualistic, French-and-English historical narratives of Quebec City play out right before one's eyes. The progression of historical structures that populate the cobblestone streets of the ancient Capital, are like a real life time machine, capable of transporting one from the seventeenth to early-twentieth century.
Cityscape will return soon with a brand new installment. In the meantime, SkyriseCities welcomes new suggestions for additional cities and styles to cover in the weeks to come. Got an idea for the next issue? Let us know!
