Best of Quebec City

	Entrance to Old Quebec1

BEST VIEW OF THE CITY

To get a sense of the layout of Quebec City visitors can take in a panorama from the top of one of the province's tallest buildings. The sky-scraping Observatoire de la Capital stands at a towering height of 221 m (725 ft) above sea level on the 31st floor of the Marie-Guyart Building. A 360-degree window offers guests a spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River and the city's historical buildings. Visitors can quiz each other on how many of the city's streets they can name from above. Guided tours, a coffee shop and permanent and temporary exhibitions are located at the Observatoire.

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac at Twilight2

BEST PLACE TO STAY

The elegant Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac resembles a fairy-tale setting. The iconic castle-like structure, complete with turrets, is perched on a cliff in Old Quebec and is supposedly the most photographed hotel in North America. Built in the late 19th Century as a stopover for Canadian Pacific Railway passengers, the Chateau Frontenac has become a frequent destination for celebrities, monarchs and politicians. The hotel features 618 luxuriously furnished guest rooms and suites. Attractions within the hotel include four restaurants with gourmet cuisine, an indoor swimming pool, a health club and a business centre. Guests and visitors can converse over a drink in the hotel's St-Laurent Bar & Lounge, which overlooks the scenic St. Lawrence River. The bar is known for its skillfully mixed martinis named after former hotel guests, such as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

BEST WAY TO ENJOY THE COLD

Every year, Quebec City undergoes a magical transformation into a winter wonderland as the keys to the city are handed over to the grinning snow figure known as Bonhomme Carnaval. For 17 days from late January to mid February, Bonhomme, a living incarnation of a snowman, invites locals and visitors outdoors to enjoy the world's largest winter carnival. Festivities at the Carnaval de Quebec include snow sculptures, dog sled competitions, games, parades and canoe races. To stay warm, adults can sip on Caribou, which is a strong alcoholic concoction made with brandy, vodka, sherry and port. The carnival is an age-old tradition in Quebec City as a way to spread cheer during the dark and bitterly cold winter days. In 1955, the carnival was re-launched as an annual event and the lovable Bonhomme became the festival's official mascot. As the carnival's guest of honour, Bonhomme receives a new ice palace every year. The gigantic glittering structure can take up to two months to build and serves as the headquarters for the festival.

	Place-Royal 3

BEST POSTCARD PICTURE

Place-Royal, the 400 year-old plaza regarded as the birthplace of French civilization in Canada, is a frequent backdrop for photos of Quebec City. The public square has been in use since legendary French explorer Samuel de Champlain decided to turn the area into a habitation in 1608. Hundreds of years later, Place-Royal continues to be a busy spot with its well-used cobbled streets and restored buildings. A dominating structure within the plaza is the impressive Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Victories. Built in 1688, the Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Victories is the oldest stone church in Quebec. Other attractions include a colourful wall mural called La Fresque des Quebecois. The mural is the masterpiece of twelve different artists and depicts prominant figures in Quebec City's past, including Samuel de Champlain. Bright lights in the evening spotlight the enormous 39-sq-m (420-sq-ft) painting. Those who want to learn about Place-Royal's long past can do so at the Centre d'Interpretation de Place-Royale. The centre's multimedia show highlights the history and development of the plaza.

BEST AREA TO STRETCH OUT IN

The serene and meticulously well-kept urban park, Battlefields Park, had an entirely different feel to it back in the 1700s. Where the park's lush green grass now grows was once the scene of a horrific battle between the French and the English in 1759. On the Plains of Abraham, which is part of the park, the English defeated the French to secure control of Quebec. In 1908 the site where the bloody battle occurred became Battlefields Park, a peaceful place in the city for residents to experience nature's beauty. The park sprawls over 266.9 acres (108 ha) and is often used as a venue for public events, sports and various other activities. Close to 6000 trees and shrubs inhabit the grounds and border walking paths. Inside the park's Joan of Arc Garden, vibrant flower beds create a rainbow of colours with annuals, bulbs and perennials. Those who lost their lives during the battle on the grounds of Battlefields Park are not forgotten. Positioned throughout the park are monuments, commemorative plaques and interpretive panels that share stories of the 1759 Conquest.

Royal 22e Regiment4

BEST FORT TO EXPLORE

The sight of soldiers clad in scarlet uniforms accompanied by traditional music of the Regimental band is an everyday occurrence in Quebec City during the summer. From late June to early September, the changing of the guard takes place at North America's largest fortified group of buildings still occupied by troops. The Citadelle covers 34 acres (13.8 ha) of land and is home to the Royal 22e Regiment, which is the only fully Francophone unit in Canada's armed forces. The massive structure was built in fear of an American attack, which never came. Construction to the site began in 1820 and finished 30 years later. Guests can attend daily one-hour guided tours of the Citadelle and look at the collection of artifacts at the on-site Royal 22e Regiment Museum.

BEST AREA TO SHOP

The streets of Old Quebec contain countless hidden gems when it comes to exploring the city's shopping scene. Souvenier shops and clothing stores dot the area, but there are also places where shoppers will find one-of-a-kind products. For those looking for a special keep-sake item to remember Quebec City by, Verrerie la Mailloche in Old Quebec is noted for handcrafted glass works. Gorgeous vases, bottles, dishes, perfume bottles and more items are found inside the colourful glass blowing store. The narrow streets in Old Quebec's Quartier Petit Champlain consist of tiny boutiques with items that range from rare books, antiques and vintage clothing to Inuit art. A diverse selection of bistros line Quartier Petit Champlain where hungry shoppers can try French Canadian eats such as poutine, a dish consisting of French fries topped with brown gravy and cheese curds. If shopping for food, the scent of fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses and honey will appeal at the year-round farmer's market, Marche du Vieux-Port in Lower Town.

1. Entrance to Old Quebec; Quebec City, QC, CAN
2. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac at Twilight; Quebec City, QC, CAN
3. Place-Royal; Quebec City, QC, CAN
4. Royal 22e Regiment; Quebec City, QC, CAN