On Monday, we set out to explore the Petit-Champlain neighborhood. A quick description from the tourist office describes the neighborhood as having picturesque pedestrian streets (confirmed!) and as being the first permanent French settlement in North America, over 400 years ago. It’s a lively area to stroll around, day or evening! Our day started here then ended here too, with dinner in the neighborhood.
Another map although a flat surface doesn’t describe the extreme (to a flatlander’s eyes and legs!) variations in altitude! The red circle is where we’re staying, gray loop is the old city, purple loop is petit-Champaign. the star shaped structure on the left is the citadel, which we explored on Sunday.
Quebec City is built on a bluff and petit-Champaign is at river level so there are a lot of stairs to takeSt Lawrence river headed to sea, on a clear day! Cannons. There are so many cannons in this very fortified city. Charles dickens called Quebec City the Gibraltar of North America. Chute = fall which makes me think of the board game chutes and ladders! it’s also used to warn that snow may fall off a roof. One of many shopping streets in petit Champaign Monument to Louis Jolliet! Namesake of Joliet, Illinois! The FUNicular, for people who don’t think stairs are FUNCharming!A fun tourist and a funicularThe town is getting ready for Christmas – we’re here in the off season but Christmas time is meant to be super niceSt Lawrence river with very cool bumpers for the ships to rest againstLooking back up at the city from the riverInterpretive sign in the petit Champaign area. The historical record tends to start with statements like this: From the moment Quebec was founded in 1608, the English had their eyes on it.
The city is very walkable and after the visit in P-C, we looped around back up to our Airbnb. We came across more explanation of the Celtic cross mentioned yesterday – the Irish roots in Quebec were centered at McMahon and st Stanislas streets.
These Irish nationals are staying in the top of this building – I know what you’re thinking, more stairs!Nice cozy apartmentLots of options for relaxing!
