Quebec City looks really good for just having turned 400 on July 3rd. If I had to guess I would say the city is not a day over 250. In celebration Quebec City has plans all summer and fall to make year 400 a memorable one, so even though the official day has past, there’s still plenty of party left (including a concert by Quebec’s own Celine Dion and a special show by Cirque du Soliel). Check the official Quebec City site for the events still to come.

Commemorative beers at the parade’s end? Double check!

I had to be there for the big day, slogging up the old city’s hill in the pouring rain to the start of the commemorative parade. Mounties? Check. A period costumed Samuel Champlain (aka founder of the city)? Check. Commemorative beers at the parade’s end? Double check! Quebec’s finest beers are served up in the incredibly well preserved L’Oncle Antoine on St-Pierre, which has both a cave-like stone interior that’s at least a couple of centuries old, and outdoor umbrellas over their tables. After the parade and beers, we had about eight hours to kill until the nightly screening of The Image Mill, a very creative 40-minute montage of images depicting the history of Quebec projected onto the waterfront silos.

Rained out? No way! Quebec City’s parade.

And, tonight, the big fireworks show to follow. In keeping with the days’ theme we decided to explore the more historical aspects of Quebec City. Quebec started off as a colony of France. Eventually, in a big battle on the Plains of Abraham (still there, go see them), New France fell to the British, and became the Canada we know today. Though this happened a few hundred years ago, Quebec is not really into acknowledging it. In my book its still New France.

French is the dominant language, though they will happily accommodate English if you look too confused or start speaking English to them, French is just their first choice. And the food is decidedly French, charming bistros with classic French cuisine are on every block. In fact, I would argue that in this time of unfavorable Euro exchange rates that anyone who’s not near Europe and missing France should just head up to Montreal and Quebec City. I might get in trouble for saying so, but I’d say you get 85% of the experience (food, art, architecture, culture) for a fraction of the price.

Chateau Frontenac

Quebec City is a highly walkable city. One trudge up the hill, and its pretty flat after that (and downhill at the end). You can also get up the hill the lazy way, via funicular. Our route explored the battlements uphill, the shops along Rue Ste-Jean, and looped back around to the Plains of Abraham, the Citadel and followed the river boardwalk (the Promenade des Gouverneurs) down to the Victorian waterfront.

From there you get the classic view of Quebec City’s most famous building, the Chateau Frontenac. The Chateau Frontenac is now a Fairmont Hotel, but it is perfectly preserved. Jog over to Notre-Dame and before you know it you’re back at L’Oncle Antoine sipping another ale. If you’d rather not blaze your own trail, check out the highly rated Quebec City Walking Tour, the reviews say you won’t be disappointed. After another meal of hearty New France cuisine, we headed to the waterfront for the fireworks display. Before the event began a 20-something Quebec native hyped it to us as “Its going to be like, the best fireworks show, ever.”

And I have to say we were impressed. A solid thirty minutes of the biggest and brightest fireworks did not disappoint the crowd, and the evening was rounded out with a standing ovation from the waterfront. Joyeux Anniversaire Quebec!

– Kelly G

Heading to Quebec? Check out the things to do in Montreal or Quebec City. Or maybe you fancy a birds-eye view from a hot air balloon? Bon voyage!

This entry was posted on Friday, July 11th, 2008 at 12:59 am and is filed under Destinations, Suggested Itineraries, Travel Inspiration, USA, Canada, Mexico. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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