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La Vieille Capitale

Quebec City architecture

Quebec City is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico and its fortified old town (Vieux-Québec) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain and is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in Canada. It is the most French city in North America — French is not just official here but is the living, first language of nearly 95% of residents, making Quebec City feel genuinely European in a way that distinguishes it completely from other North American cities.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 1685Oldest · Quartier Petit-Champlain
  • 96 mTallest · Château Frontenac
  • 4Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoQuebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)

    Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport is a modern regional airport handling a growing number of direct international routes alongside its domestic Canadian connections. The airport has expanded its terminal in recent years to handle rising visitor numbers, particularly in winter when the famous Quebec Winter Carnival brings visitors from across North America and Europe. A taxi or bus ride to the old city takes about 20 minutes.

  • CurrencyCanadian Dollar ($)
  • LanguageFrench

    French is the official language and the daily language of the vast majority of residents — Quebec City is the francophone heart of Canada. The local Québécois French dialect has distinct vocabulary, expressions, and sounds that differ significantly from Parisian French. English is understood in tourist areas and hotels, but making even a small effort to speak French is warmly appreciated and transforms the experience. The city's cultural life — literature, music, theatre — is entirely in French.

  • Getting aroundRTC Buses & Funicular

    Quebec City's public transport is run by the RTC (Réseau de transport de la Capitale) bus network. The old city's Upper Town and Lower Town are dramatically connected by the famous Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec — a heritage funicular that has carried passengers up and down the steep cliff face since 1879. The old city's cobblestone streets are best explored on foot, and in winter, snow adds a fairy-tale quality to the stone fortifications and steepled churches.

5 landmarks in Quebec City

  1. Château Frontenac
    Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Château Frontenac

    1 Rue des Carrieres, Quebec City, QC G1R 4P5, Canada

    The most photographed hotel in the world according to Guinness World Records, the Chateau Frontenac was built in 1893 as a grand railway hotel by the Canadian Pacific Railway and towers over the St. Lawrence River from the cliffs of Old Quebec.

    Built
    1893
    Architect
    Bruce Price
    Style
    Chateau style
    Height
    96 m (315 ft)
    Stories
    18
    Today
    Luxury hotel

  2. Citadelle of Quebec

    1 Cote de la Citadelle, Quebec City, QC G1R 3R2, Canada

    A star-shaped fortress built between 1820 and 1850 on the Plains of Abraham overlooking the St. Lawrence River — the largest British fortification built in North America. It is the official residence of the Governor General of Canada when in Quebec.

    Built
    1850
    Architect
    Elias Walker Durnford
    Style
    Star fort (Vauban)
    Stories
    2
    Today
    Active military garrison & museum
  3. Plains of Abraham
    Photo: Guillaume Cattiaux, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Plains of Abraham

    835 Avenue Wilfrid Laurier, Quebec City, QC G1S 3C4, Canada

    The historic battlefield where British General James Wolfe defeated French General the Marquis de Montcalm in 1759 in a battle that lasted only 15 minutes but determined the future of North America. Today the site is a 98-hectare urban park (Battlefields Park).

    Built
    1759
    Architect
    N/A (battlefield park)
    Style
    Landscape park
    Stories
    1
    Today
    National historic site & urban park
  4. Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec
    Photo: GarrettRock at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec

    16 Rue du Petit-Champlain, Quebec City, QC G1K 4H5, Canada

    A heritage funicular that has connected Quebec City's Upper Town to the Lower Town since 1879, ascending the dramatic cliff face below Chateau Frontenac. The current car follows the same route and serves as both practical transport and a heritage experience.

    Built
    1879
    Style
    Victorian industrial
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Heritage funicular & tourist attraction

  5. Quartier Petit-Champlain

    Rue du Petit-Champlain, Quebec City, QC, Canada

    North America's oldest commercial district, with origins in the 17th century when it served as the trading heart of New France. Its steep cobblestone streets and pastel-painted stone houses are now a National Historic Site.

    Built
    1685
    Style
    New France vernacular
    Stories
    2
    Today
    Heritage commercial district

More cities in North America

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