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| Quebec | ||
| province | Quebec | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 531.902 (2016), 549.937 (2020) | |
| height | 98 m | |
| Tourist info web | www.quebecregion.com/en | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Quebec is the capital of the Canadian province Quebec.
background
Québec was founded by the French as the first settlement in North America. The name Québec comes from the Algonquin language and means "The place where the river narrows". In fact, the St. Lawrence River is only 600 meters wide and difficult to navigate because of its shallows.
Today Québec is the capital of the province of the same name. Québec lives from the status of provincial capital with government-related services; Educational institutions such as Laval University, high-tech companies (Ubisoft, Beenox etc) tourism and various industries. Americans in particular value the city as a “piece of France” nearby.
The city itself has about 500,000 inhabitants. Québec likes to give the population of the metropolitan area, but it fluctuates between 600,000 and 800,000 depending on the brochure or tourist information.
Districts
Québec has six districts:
- La Cité-Limoilou with the Old town („Vieux Québec“)
- Les Rivières with the districts of Vanier and Lebourgneuf
- Sainte-Foy-Sillery-Cap-Rouge
- La Haute-Saint-Charles
- Charlesbourg
- Beauport
Lévis, on the other bank of the Saint Lawrence River, no longer belongs to the city of Québec.
getting there
By plane
Québec Airport is served by all major Canadian, various US and French airports. Almost all passengers from Europe have to change trains at one of the airports to get to Québec. Alternatively, you can also go to Montreal fly and from there travel by bus, train or car to Québec.
By train
With VIA Rail you can go directly from Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal drive to Québec. The journey by train (please refer Canada # train) is not the cheapest, but one of the most enjoyable ways to travel around Canada. There are two long-distance train stations:
By bus
The bus company Orléans Express connects Québec to the Montreal bus station every hour. The journey takes about 3:15 hours and costs around CAD 40-60.
In the street
In addition to arriving with your own car or rental car, there is also the possibility of using a lift. This type of transportation is usually much cheaper (e.g. from Montreal approx. 15-25 CAD) than by bus or train and, depending on the traffic situation, even a little faster.
By boat
mobility
The urban transport company RTC operates a dense busnetwork in the city and the neighboring communities. Network plans can be found here and the exact routes of all buses here. To find out which bus lines operate at a certain point, you can go to Google Maps, zoom in on the point in question, and then keep an eye out for the next blue and white bus symbol; there is a stop. If you click on the bus symbol, the number of the bus appears in the box on the left.
If you have a car in Québec, you have to weigh up whether you want to take the car or the bus. Despite possible parking fees, the car is usually the cheaper means of transport for families or groups of at least 3 people, especially if only 2 trips are planned on one day. Anyone who has 3 or more journeys on a day can buy at the Advance booking office best for $ 8 one carte 1 jour (= Day ticket); Weekend tickets and 5-day tickets (Mon-Fri) are also available. Single tickets are also available at the advance booking office ($ 2.90, children 6-18 years old $ 2); acquiring them is particularly worthwhile for frequent travelers and families. Everyone else can basically make themselves comfortable and just have $ 3.25 counted ready when they get on the bus (like everywhere in North America, the money goes in a box and the driver doesn't give out any change). (Status: summer 2015)
Due to the large differences in altitude and steep climbs, the city is only partially pedestrianfriendly.
A Ferry, also for cars, over the St. Lorenz there are between Gare fluviale de Québec and Traverse Québec-Lévis from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every 40 minutes. Adult price 3.65 C $ (May 2020).
Tourist Attractions
Old town
The main tourist attraction is the old town, Vieux Québec. There is, among other things, the dramatically towering Château Frontenac, which is actually a luxury hotel. Walks through the historic Upper Town and the Lower Town below are one of the most attractive things to do in Québec.
Upper town and lower town
Château Frontenac
Rue Saint-Jean
Rue Saint-Louis
.jpg/220px-Rue_Sous-Le-Fort_–_Old_Québec_(14580743318).jpg)
Lower town
Place Royale
.jpg/220px-Rue_Sous-Le-Fort_–_Old_Québec_(14580743318).jpg)
Other districts
Buildings
- Provincial Parliament. The parliament building is in the upper town outside the city walls, near the citadel.
- Edifice Marie-Guyart, 1035 Rue de La Chevrotière. This office tower, built in 1972 in brutalist style, is the tallest building in the city. 31 floors or 132 meters. There is an observation deck on the top floor that offers 360 degree views.Open: In summer daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: Admission $ 10.45 (Students and Seniors $ 8.40, Children 12 and Under Free).
Museums
- Musee national des beaux-arts du Quebec. The city's largest museum, comprising several buildings, is located in the Plaines d'Abraham park, southwest of the old town. Wikipedia.
Streets and squares
- Grande Allée. Boulevard southwest of the old town. The street begins a little beyond the city wall at the level of the Fontaine de Tourny, then leads past the Parliament building, the Place de la Francophonie and the Place George-V. This is followed by a whole mile of street cafes that extend to the Cours du Général de Montcalm. The touristic part ends there.
Parks and promenades
- Governor's Promenade. This over 1 km long walk, which consists of a mostly narrow wooden path and numerous stairs, starts at the Château de Frontenac and from there leads south around the citadel to the Plaines d’Abraham. Wonderful view of the river. At the southern end of the promenade, on Avenue du Cap Diamant, is the only free public car park in the district, which is mostly overlooked by tourists. 50 parking spaces.
- Plaines d'Abraham. The park in the upper town is right next to the citadel and offers plenty of green space for walking, relaxing and playing. There is also a flower arrangement (Jeanne d'Arc garden) on the edge of the park.
- La Promenade Samuel-De Champlain, Boulevard Champlain. 15 minutes by car southwest of the upper town, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, this promenade is embedded in a green area and, among other things, extremely varied with works of art.
- 1 Montmorency Park, 2490 Ave Royale. A quarter of an hour's drive northeast of the old town is this park, the main attraction of which is an 83 m high and quite impressive waterfall. The main attraction of Québec outside of Old Town. Admission free, but parking is chargeable.
Governor's Promenade
A stop on the Samuel-De Champlain promenade
Montmorency waterfall
activities
- The biggest winter carnival in the world is that Carnaval de Quebec or Quebec City Winter Carnival with a total of over a million participants in 17 days. The official ambassador is a snowman named Bonhomme Carnaval. There are night parades, snow baths and concerts and an ice sculpture festival in which ice sculpture teams from all over the world take part.
- Summer festival. For 40 years now, the Québec City Summer Festival has staged hundreds of artists from around the world in a dozen locations in the heart of the city within easy walking distance (early July).
- Grands Feux Loto-Québec fireworks festival. This internationally renowned fireworks competition takes place in the Chute-Montmorency Park (late July to early August).
- Plein Art Québec. At the Plein Art Québec festival, more than 100 craftsmen from Québec show their skills: ceramics, textiles, jewelry, etc. (Beginning of August).
- New France Festival. Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France SAQ: The New France Festival celebrates the history of the first European settlers on the American continent. Over 1,000 historical performances are held in the heart of Old Québec each year (early August).
shop
- Galeries de la Capitale. A quarter of an hour west of the old town, directly at the interchange 73 & 740, are the Galeries de la Capitale, a two-storey shopping mall with the usual department stores, retailers and service providers (chains). Best Buy (computers and consumer electronics). Large Renaud Bray bookstore, which is currently (June 2015) closed. Anyone who has ever been there and would like to buy French books can do so at Archambault (1580 Boulevard Lebourgneuf), a little north of the mall, opposite the Walmart.
- Laurier Quebec, 2700 Boulevard Laurier. One of Canada's largest shopping malls can be found in the south of Québec. Around 350 vendors on 3 floors, including a Best Buy and a large Raynaud Bray bookshop.
- 1 IGA extra, 5555 Boulevard des Gradins. Large supermarket in the north of the city.
In Lévis:
- 2 Galeries Chagnon, 1200 Boulevard Alphonse-Desjardins, Lévis. Shopping mall with almost 98 vendors, including a Raynaud Bray bookstore.
kitchen
See also: Québec / Old Town. Only restaurants outside of the old town are listed below.
Cheap
- 1 Bachir, 54, Boulevard René-Levesque Ouest; near the Grande-Allée. Very popular restaurant with quick Lebanese cuisine. Shish Taouk (marinated chicken, grilled on skewers) is a must-try.Price: Mains $ 8-18.
- 2 La Galette Libanaise, 641, Grande-Allée Est. Another very good Lebanese fast-food restaurant specializing in filled flatbreads. Large portions and lots of fresh ingredients for little money.
medium
Upscale
- 3 Le Bistro du Clocher Penché, 203 St-Joseph E, a little west of the old town. Price: 2-course French lunch menu from $ 17.
- Louis Hébert restaurant, 668 Grande-Allée Est. Upscale restaurant with French cuisine.Price: 2-course lunch menu with tea or coffee $ 16–21.
nightlife
Quebec's nightlife is nowhere near comparable to that of Montreal. In the upper town there are only a few pubs that close at 1 or 2 a.m. There are a few night clubs in Neustadt. The drink prices are also quite high, which of course gives little boost to the nightlife. During the Carnival, the local specialty is popular caribou drunk to warm up. A mixture that varies depending on what is available, mostly port or red wine with vodka, schnapps or even sherry.
accommodation
Quebec offers many accommodations of all kinds. From the spartan guesthouse to the luxury hotel, everything is available. Similar to the restaurant prices, the accommodation in Quebec, especially in the old town, is very expensive, especially in the high season in summer. Therefore one should reserve in advance. It is cheaper outside the old town, even if there is not too much tourist going on there.
Cheap
medium
- 1 Hotel & Suites Le Dauphin, 400, rue Marais. Barely a quarter of an hour northwest of the old town, directly on the Félix-Leclerc motorway, is this independently run, relatively young, middle-class hotel with a disgusting exterior. 83 functionally and modern furnished rooms and suites on 4 floors. Rooms with refrigerators, microwaves, Keurig coffeemakers, and computers. Small indoor pool. Own parking lot. Good address for families. Drive diagonally across from the shopping center Bus number 85 (Direction Place Jacques-Cartier) to the city center. Tickets from drivers for $ 3.25 (pre-sale $ 2.90; as of summer 2015).Price: From $ 105, including buffet breakfast.
Upscale
Learn
Work
security
Quebec is very safe. Violent crime is very rare. Of course, as everywhere, you shouldn't leave any valuables in the car.
health
Practical advice
trips
- Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, 10018 Avenue Royale, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. A good ½ hour northeast of Québec, near the St. Lawrence River, is the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, a much-visited pilgrimage church that is well worth seeing. (Wikipedia).
- Canyon Sainte-Anne, 206 Route 138 East, Beaupré. Forty minutes northeast of Québec, not far from the basilica, is the Canyon Sainte-Anne, a spectacular canyon dug by the Sainte-Anne-du Nord River, in which the river plunges a 74 m high waterfall. The brave can cross the gorge on three narrow pedestrian suspension bridges.Open: daily 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. in midsummer.Price: Admission $ 13 (children ages 6-12 $ 7, ages 13-17 $ 10). Free parking.
- Jacques Cartier National Park. Half an hour north of Québec is Jacques Cartier National Park, which was established in 1981 to protect the flora and fauna of the Laurentine Mountains. The region is home to moose, caribou, white-tailed deer, gray wolves, foxes, Canadian lynxes, black bears, beavers, river otters and porcupines. Hiking trails and opportunities for cycling, kayaking, fishing and skiing, among other things.Price: Admission $ 8.50 (children 17 and under free; as of summer 2015).
Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré
Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré
Canyon Sainte-Anne
Jacques Cartier National Park
