Things to do in Quebec City

Quebec’s first inhabitants were Indians and Inuit who migrated from Asia thousands of years ago, before the continents drifted apart. The first Europeans to visit the shores of Quebec’s fertile St. Lawrence Gulf were Basque whalers and cod fishermen. Commissioned by François I, the King of France, Jacques Cartier landed in the Gaspé in 1534. After Cartier claimed possession of this immense territory for France, the European presence in New France began to grow.

Quebec City is the only fortified city in North America, and from the top of its ramparts visitors can admire the maze of narrow, winding streets and sloping roofs. Perched atop Cap Diamant, surveying the St. Lawrence River, Quebec City is one of the landmarks of North American history. Included on UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage List, Quebec City has retained its European atmosphere completely.

The winding cobbled streets are flanked by 17th and 18th century stone houses and churches, graceful parks and squares, and countless monuments. The cuisine is also one of Quebec’s treasures and its cafés allow guests to soak in the ambiance while enjoying a croissant and a steaming cafe au lait. The city’s name is from an Algonquian word meaning “where the river narrows.”