I will Remember this beautiful city.
Quebec probably has more history than almost anywhere in North America. It was the first city settled over here, 400 years ago in 1608 Samuel de Champlain established a permanent settlement here, one year before the first settlement in the USA.
The city was fought over between the French and British for the next 150 years before the Brits finally won in 1759, just a few years before the treaty of Paris booted France out of Canada.
But- not entirely! French influence abounds here, from the architecture to the language. The Hotel Frontenac (above) may have been built in the 19th century, by the Canadian Railway Company, but it is distinctively French. And some 97 per cent of the people of Quebec have French as their first language, although most speak English too.
This is the only surviving walled city in North America, and together with the escarpment facing the river formed one of the best defensive positions anywhere that I have seen. The name Quebec means the narrows, and considering that much of the St Lawrence is many kms wide for a lot of it's length it was a stroke of genius that this first city was founded overlooking the narrowest part of the river for many miles, just 1 km wide.
During the American war of independence the British were worried that the Americans would try to annexe Canada, so they built the Citadel, a large defensive fortress on the highest point to the West of the city, which still serves as a military base for the Canadian forces. Canada's governor, who is the representative of the Queen here, has a second home within the Citadel, where he spends some time each year.
We've had a couple of days here, with mixed weather, learned a lot about the city and province, and enjoyed every minute. The people are as friendly as we have met anywhere in Canada, despite what we have been told before arriving here. This city is certainly the most interesting place we have visited so far this trip.
Another view of the citadel
The view of the river from the Citadel.
A relic of the last battle?
The provincial parliament lies just outside the old city.
Our walking tour guide (with the flag!) was great, two and a half hours of solid information
The Pains of Abraham, just outside the city, where General Wolfe took the French by surprise and defeated them. Both Generals died that day.
One of the very old streets in the lower part of the city.
Preparing for the summer in the main square of the city
The Catholic Cathedral has a Saint's door to the left.
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