Québec, Canada celebrated its 400^th anniversary in 2008, and is one of the oldest cities in North America. Cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriage rides, museums, culture, gastronomy, and the opportunity to speak French, make this city oh so charming.

Québec, also known as Québec City, has a population of 491,000 and is the capital of the Province of Québec.

We stayed at the luxury hotel, Auberge Saint-Antoine, where we were immersed in the history of Québec from the moment that we stepped out of the limousine and noticed three black "waves" in the street that upon closer inspection learned that the marks denoted the changing river shoreline from 1600.

Auberge Saint-Antoine Entrance

The hotel opened in 1992 and was expanded in 2003 to 82 rooms and 12 suites. During the excavation, they found an abundance of artifacts some that dated to the 1600s, which they have artistically incorporated into the architectural design. The result is a stunning composition of historic and contemporary elements.

Artifact Cannon From Excavation

Although small in stature, the hotel is large on amenities and has two restaurants, their award-winning Panache Restaurant that features the inspired cuisine of Executive Chef François Blais and focuses on "French Canadian cuisine with a twist," and Café Artefact; LeGym their fitness center, a Business Center, and a special welcome Cocktail Hour on Wednesdays for guests.

Auberge Saint-Antoine Lobby

Read about the Auberge Saint-Antoine and the Restaurant Panache in the Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, and Chefs' Recipes sections.

Auberge Saint-Antoine
8, rue Saint-Antoine
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1K 4C9
Telephone:       +1-418-692-1022
Toll Free:          +1-888-692-2211
Fax:                  +1-418-692-1177
www.Saint-Antoine.com

Next door to the Auberge Saint-Antoine is the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization), which we could see from our terrace at the hotel. A few highlights of our visit were the permanent exhibition, "People of Quebec ... then and now," which provided the history of the 400 year old city, and the very interesting temporary exhibition, "Fascinating Egyptian Mummies" (runs until April 2010) which provided an in-depth look into the history behind the 2500-year old custom.

The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and is closed on Mondays and December 25. Admission: Adults: $11.00, Seniors (65+ with ID): $10.00, Students (17+ with ID): $8.00, Children (12 - 16): $4.00, Children (11 and under): free.

Musée de la civilisation

Musée de la civilisation
85, rue Dalhousie
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1K 4H3
Telephone:       +1-418-643-2158
Fax:                  +1-418-646-9705
www.MCQ.org

Strolling through the cobblestone streets of Old Québec on the way to Place-Royale, we noticed the very interesting mural that covered the entire wall of a building and tells the history of the city throughout the years celebrating its religious traditions, the four seasons, and the people.

Continuing on, we stopped at Place-Royale in front of the bust of Louis XIV, and noticed the interesting architecture. Before 1600, the houses were made of wood resulting in several fires, and from 1685 it became obligatory to make houses of stone with stone firewalls between the houses to prevent the spreading of fires to nearby homes. It was also interesting to note the different types of roofs, depending on the wealth of the owner.

Louis XIV Bust and Architecture

We also visited the Église Notre-Dame-Des-Victoires, built between the years 1687 - 1688. The small church is filled with lovely details that include the high altar designed and created by David Ouellet in 1878, the votive offering of a replica of the ship La Brézé, and the chapel of Saint Geneviève, paintings, and frescoes from 1888.

Église Notre-Dame-Des-Victoires

Église Notre-Dame-Des-Victoires
Place-Royale
Québec, (Québec), Canada
Telephone:       +1-418-692-1650
Fax:                  +1-418-692-3546

Also near the hotel is the Maison Chevalier, with its stunning stone façade facing the Saint-Lawrence River that was the home of Jean-Baptiste Chevalier (1752), and is now a museum. The house is filled with furnishings and clothing from the 18^th century on the first floor, and on the upper floor, 19^th century popular and bourgeois furniture and household items.

A few of the many highlights of the museum were the ballet slippers (1835), purse (1850), and dance card from the first half of the 19^th century, along with the Louis-Philippe boat bed (1825-1850) that was made in France, and in Québec is called a sleighbed or a carriole. Descriptions of the exhibitions are provided in English and in French. The Maison Chevalier is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and is closed on Monday. Admission: Free.

Maison Chevalier

Maison Chevalier
At the corner of rue de Cul-de-Sac and rue Notre-Dame
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1K 4H3
Telephone:       +1-418-643-2158
Toll-Free:         +1-866-710-8031 (Canada and United States)
www.MCQ.org

Marché du Vieux-Port 

We also visited the Marché du Vieux-Port (Market at the Old Port), on a recommendation from Chef François Blais of Panache Restaurant, which is the source to taste and purchase artisanal Québec products including cheeses, sausages, locally made wines, cider, liqueurs, vinegars, and honey. Fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables, flowers, and gifts, round out the offerings.

Debra with the Good-Luck Elephant at Marché du Vieux-Port

There are two ways to reach the top of the old fortification part of the city, if you are traveling without a car, which is either by walking up the steep stairs, or by taking a short funicular ride. We opted to ride the Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec, which has been in operation since 1879, has a height of 195 feet (59.4 m), length of 210 feet (64 m), with an angle of 45-degrees.

We entered through the Maison Louis Jolliet, built in 1683, and boarded the glass-enclosed car that provided us with excellent views of the Saint-Lawrence River and the city, and also helped us conserve our energy for exploring. The Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec, Inc is open daily from 7:30 am - 11:00 pm, with extended hours in summer. Admission: $1.75 one-way.

Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec, Inc.
|16, Petit-Champlain
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1K 4H4
Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.Funiculaire-Quebec.com

A short stroll from the Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec is the Musée du Fort, which we visited to learn about the interesting history of the city, including its many battles. The Musée du Fort is open daily from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm from February 1 - mid-October, and from Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm from mid-October - February 1. Admission: Adults: $8.00, Seniors (65+): $6.00, Students: $4.00. Special rates for groups.

Musée du Fort
10, Saint-Anne Street (opposite the Château Frontenac)
Québec, (Québec), Canada
Telephone:       +1-418-692-2175
www.MuseeduFort.com

Interior of Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec  

We also visited the impressive Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec, which has a long history dating to 1633 with subsequent fires throughout the years. Beautifully restored,  a few of the many points of interest is the hand-painted ceiling of a blue sky with clouds, an elaborate gilded sanctuary, and the stained glass windows. Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec opens daily at 9:00 am.

Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec
16, rue De Buade
Québec (Québec), Canada G1R 4A1
Telephone:       +1-418-692-2533
Fax:                  +1-418-692-4382
www.Patrimoine-Religieux.com

We continued our education on the history of Québec at the Musée de Amérique française, which focuses on the "birth of French culture in North America," and also found their Museum Chapel to be very interesting.

The Musée de Amérique française is open daily from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm from June 24 - September 7, and for the rest of the year, they are open Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. The museum is closed on Monday and December 25. Admission: Adults: $7.00, Seniors (65+ with ID): $6.00, Students (17+ with ID): $4.50, Children (12 - 16): $2.00, Children (11 and under): Free. Tuesday from November 1 - May 31: Admission is free; Saturday during the months of January and February, admission is free from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Musée de Amérique française
2, côte de la Fabrique
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1R 4R7
Telephone:       +1-418-692-2843
Toll Free:          +1-888-710-8031
Fax:                  +1-418-646-9705
www.MCQ.org

We also took a tour of La Citadelle de Québec, and entered just before the Saint-Louis Gate. On the tour we learned about the fascinating history of the star-shaped Citadelle with four bastions, that is the official residence of the Governor General of Canada, and home to the Royal 22° Regiment, and visited the many museums on the premises, as well as had incredible views of the city.

 
La Citadelle de Québec

A few of the highlights included learning about the iconic bearskin hat that was worn for the first time on July 1, 1928 by the Royal 22° Regimental Guard of Honor. Officers wear hats made from female bearskin, and soldiers wear hats made from beaver.

Also of interest was learning about the Regimental Mascot, a goat named "Batisse" that was a gift to Queen Victoria from the Shah of Persia in 1884. Everyday in summer, during the Citadelle's Parade Changing of the Guards, "Batisse" (which is now number 10) arrives by car dressed with gold painted hooves and horns to accompany the regiment. We also learned that all of the male goats are named "Batisse," the females are named "Catherine," and all of the babies are named "Junior."

La Citadelle de Québec Mascot

We also visited the French Powder Magazine (1750), and the former prison, which now houses a large collection of medals, and saw the British Powder Magazine that was transformed into a chapel in the 1920s.

The Citadelle de Québec is "the largest military fortification in North America" and is still an active military base; as such, it requires that all visitors be escorted on guided tours, which last 60 minutes and are offered in French or English. Written information is also available in German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese. Tour times vary throughout the year, April: daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; May and June: daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; July to the first weekend of September: daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; September: daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; October: daily from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm; and from November to April: Bilingual tours are offered daily at 1:30 pm. Admission: Adults: $10.00, Seniors (65+): $9.00, Students: $9.00, Children (17 and under): $5.50, Children (7 and under): Free, Family rate: $22.00. Special rates for groups.   

La Citadelle de Québec
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1R 4V7
Telephone:       +1-418-694-2815
Fax:                  +1-418-694-2853
www.LaCitadelle.qc.ca

For the best view in Québec, we visited the Observatoire de la Capitale, which stands 725 feet above sea level is the city's tallest building. During our visit, in addition to the spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of the city and views all the way to the Appalachian Mountains and the Laurentians, there was a wonderful photographic exhibition, "Québec as seen by Kedl," highlighting the impressive work of Eugene Kedl (who died in 2008) that captured 400 years of the city's passion, along with additional photographs by his son, André Kedl.

View of Québec from Observatoire de la Capitale

The Observatoire de la Capitale is open daily from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm from February 1 - mid-October, and from Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm from mid-October - February 1. Admission: Adults: $5.00, Seniors (65+): $4.00, CAA/AAA/ARP: $13.00, Students: $4.00. Children (12 and under): Free.

View of Québec from Observatoire de la Capitale

Observatoire de la Capitale
Édifice Marie-Guyart
1037, rue De La Chevrotière, 31^st Floor
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1R 5E9
Telephone:       +1-418-644-9841
Toll-Free:         +1-888-497-4322
Fax:                  +1-418-644-2879
Email:              This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.ObservatoireCapitale.org

We also stopped to admire the impressive Hôtel du Parliament built between 1877 - 1886 with its 26 statues on the façade, 4 wings, and a crown at the top, which is lit when Parliament is in session. Directly in front of Parliament is the Tourny Fountain that was created in 1852 to celebrate running water in Bordeaux. The fountain was purchased in France and shipped to Canada and presented to the City by the Simons family (of Maison Simons Department store) to celebrate Québec' 400^th anniversary.

Hôtel du Parliament

Hôtel du Parliament
1045, rue de Parlementaires
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1A 1A3
Telephone:       +1-418-643-7239
Toll Free:          +1-888-337-8837
www.assnat.qc.ca

Another highlight was visiting the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Fine Arts Museum of Québec) where the sculptures of Jean-Paul-Riopelle caught our attention before we even entered the museum.

Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec

During our visit, we had the opportunity to see the exhibition, "La Collection d'art Inuit Brousseau," which provided a fascinating look at the culture and the art of the Inuit, that included impressive work by George Arluk who started carving at the age of 13.

The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is open Monday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, and Wednesday from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm during the summer season: June 1 - Labor Day); and Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Wednesday from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm, and is closed on Monday during the Winter season: the day after Labor Day until May 31.

Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec

Admission: Access to all Galleries housing the museum collection: Free. Temporary Exhibition Admission: Adults: $15.00, Seniors: $12.00, CAA/AAA/ARP: $13.00, Students (with ID under age 30): $7.00, Students: (12 -17): $4.00, Family: $30.00, Children under 12: Free.

Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Parc des Champs-de-Bataille
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1R 5H3
Telephone:       +1-418-643-2150
Toll Free:          +1-866-220-2150th
Email:               This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   
www.mnba.qc.ca

Near the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is the Plains d'Abraham (Plains of Abraham, the Battlefields Park), which we visited. The Plains of Abraham is one of the largest urban parks in the world. Lined with canons, the park is historically significant, and it is also a wonderful place to stroll the many gardens, ride a bicycle, or simply relax and enjoy the excellent views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Plains d'Abraham Reenactment

Expanding our cultural appreciation of Québec, we spent an enchanted evening at the Opéra de Québec seeing the performances of two famous Italian operas, Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticicana, followed by Ruggero Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci, sung in the original Italian with French subtitles at the Grand Théâtre de Québec.

Cavalleria rusticicana

The Opéra de Québec Box Office is open during the year from Monday - Friday from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm, and from 1:30 pm until 5 pm, From May 25th until September 4th 2009, it is open from 9:00 am until 12 pm, and from 1:30 pm until 4:00 pm. Check their website for upcoming their upcoming performance schedule.

I Pagliacci

Read about the Opéra de Québec, Cavalleria rusticicana and I Pagliacci in the Arts - Performances section.

Opéra de Québec
1220 avenue Taché
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1R 3B4    
Telephone:       +1-418-529-0688
Email:              This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.OperadeQuebec.qc.ca

Taking a break from our explorations of the city of Québec, we ventured outside the city visited the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency to view the breathtaking Montmorency Falls, which at 272 feet (83 meters) are 98.5 feet (30 meters) higher than Niagara Falls.

Although there is a cable car that provides an aerial view of the falls, as well as panoramic stairs (487 steps) it was quite windy during our visit, and we opted to see the falls from the ground. Parc de la Chute-Montmorency is open year-round.

Cable Car - Parc de la Chute-Montmorency

Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
2490, avenue Royale
Beauport, (Québec), Canada G1C 1S1
Telephone:  +1-418-663-3330
Fax:            +1-418-663-1214
Email:          This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.sepaq.com/chutemontmorency

We spent the rest of the morning exploring the nearby island of Île d'Orléans, located only 15 minutes from the city, yet once you cross the bridge, you feel like you have entered into another world where the landscape is dotted with quaint houses, orchards and farms, and the island is renowned for its artisan cheeses, wines, and liqueurs.

Bridge to Île d'Orléans

For lunch, we stopped at the charming, antiques-filled Auberge Restaurant La Goéliche located on the Saint Lawrence riverfront, where dining on the restaurant's glass enclosed terrace provided us with sweeping views of the river.

A few of the highlights of our lunch, besides the views, included the Potage des legumes, a hearty vegetable soup accompanied by a wooden bowl filled with warm rolls; Le Parisien, a ham, brie, mushroom, and asparagus sandwich made with ciabatta bread; and the Assiette Garnies, featuring an assortment of local cheeses accompanied by a mesclun salad. La Goéliche is open for lunch and dinner.

Assiette de Fromage

Auberge Restaurant La Goéliche
22, chemin de Quai-Sainte-Pétronille
Île d'Orléans, (Québec), Canada G0A 4D0
Telephone:       +1-418-828-2248
Toll Free:          +1-888-511-2248
Fax:                  +1-418-828-2745
www.Goeliche.ca

The Île d'Orléans has many artisanal wine and spirit producers, and we toured Cassis Monna & Filles followed by a tasting. Bernard Monna, who is a fourth generation distiller, was the first producer of cassis in Québec. His daughters have joined him to carry on the spirits making tradition, producing cassis, which is used in the famous cocktail, the Kir Royale (Champagne and Cassis).

Tasting at Cassis Monna & Filles

Cassis Monna
721, chemin Royal
Saint-Pierre, Île d'Orléans, (Québec), Canada G0A 4E0
Telephone:       +1-418-828-2525
Fax:                  +1-418-828-1940
Email:              This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.CassisMonna.com

We also visited the vineyard, Isle de Bacchus, owned by Donald Bouchard and his son, Alexandre Bouchard, where we enjoyed a wine tasting and a visit of their wine cellar. The family began planting grapes in 1982 and their wines have continued to garner many awards throughout the years.

Isle de Bacchus
1071, chemin Royal
Saint-Pierre, Île d'Orléans, (Québec), Canada G0A 4E0
Telephone:       +1-418-930-0010
Email:              This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.IsledeBacchus.com

Edward at Isle de Bacchus

The culinary scene in Québec is excellent, offering visitors a wide spectrum of dining options ranging from tiny casual cafés to fine dining restaurants. We had a fantastic gastronomic evening dining at the award-winning Panache Restaurant at the Auberge Saint-Antoine where Chef François Blais' culinary focus is on traditional Québec recipes with contemporary flair that he describes as "French Canadian cuisine with a twist."

Panache Restaurant

The restaurant, which opened in 2004, is housed in a 19^th century building that was once a maritime warehouse featuring stonewalls, pine floors, wood beamed ceilings, and eclectic art. The ambience is at once welcoming, comfortable, with sophisticated polish and attentive service.

A few of the many highlights of the dinner included Lobster and Shrimp Remoulade; Pan Seared Scallop, Classic Hollandaise, Morels and Asparagus; and Grilled Rib Eye of Angus Beef, Morels and Foie Gras Feuilleté.

Grilled Rib Eye of Angus Beef

Panache Restaurant is open for lunch Monday - Friday from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm; and for dinner daily from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm, with the exception of holidays.

Read about Panache Restaurant in the Restaurants and Chefs' Recipes sections where Executive Chef François Blais shares a taste of "French Canadian cuisine with a twist" in English and in French. Read about Auberge Saint-Antoine in the Hotels and Resorts section.   

Panache Restaurant
Auberge Saint-Antoine
10, rue Saint-Antoine
Québec, (Québec), Canada
Restaurant:       +1-418-692-1022
Telephone:       +418-692-2211
Toll Free:          +1-888-692-2211
Fax:                  +418-692-1177
www.Saint-Antoine.com

We also had an excellent pre-Opera dinner at Restaurant Le Graffiti where Executive Chef Robert Saulinier focuses on Italian cuisine offering fresh seafood, meat dishes, and housemade pasta.

Restaurant Le Graffiti

Located on avenue Cartier, and within walking distance to the Opéra de Québec, Restaurant Le Graffiti has been a favorite of locals for the past 25 years, winning many awards for their wine cellar as well as for the restaurant. A few of the many highlights of our dinner included Shrimp and Scallops in Flaky Pastry with Spinach; Veal Scaloppini; and Tagliatelle Pasta with Lobster, Shrimp, Scallops, and Vegetables.

Wine Cellar at Restaurant Le Graffiti

Restaurant Le Graffiti is open for lunch from 11:30 pm - 2:00 pm, and for dinner from 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm.

Executive Chef Robert Saulnier

Read about Restaurant Le Graffiti in the Restaurants and Chefs' Recipes sections where Executive Chef Robert Saulnier provides a delicious taste of the restaurant in English and in French.

Restaurant Le Graffiti
1191, avenue Cartier
Québec, (Québec), Canada G1R 2S9
Telephone:       +1-418-529-4949
Email:              This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.RestoBooking.com/resto-graffiti.htm

After spending several days experiencing Québec and discovering its many fascinating secrets, we bid a fond farewell to this most charming city and boarded a VIA Rail Canada for our next stop, Montréal, Canada's second largest city.

Saint Louis Gate

Important Information for Québec:

The currency of Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). As of May 2009, the exchange rate was 1 US Dollar (USD) to 1 Canadian Dollar to 1.17 Canadian Dollar (CAD), 1 (EUR) to 1.59 Canadian Dollar (CAD). The Canadian Dollar is divided into 100 cents, with coin denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 1 dollar, and 2 dollar; bank note denominations are: 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars.

Electricity is 110 volts/60 cycles, which is used throughout North America. Bring a converter if your appliances do not have dual voltage and plug adapters if traveling from outside North America.

French is the official language of Montréal, and while many people speak English, it is always helpful to have some basic language knowledge when traveling.

Read other articles on Québec in the Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, and Arts - Performances, and Spas sections.

For more information on Québec, please visit the websites: www.QuebecRegion.com and www.bonjourQuebec.com.

For information on traveling by train in Canada, please visit the Via Rail Canada website at: www.ViaRail.ca or contact them at: +1-888- 842-7245.

For weather information in Canada, please visit the websites: www.Weather.EC.qc.ca and www.TheWeatherNetwork.com.

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