It is home to vibrant cities such as Montreal, Quebec City, and highlights like the Saint Lawrence River, Mont-Tremblant, and many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From the majestic Fortifications of Quebec to the charming streets of Petit Champlain, there’s a wealth of history to uncover. Immerse yourself in the city’s rich past, learn about its cultural heritage, and witness stunning architecture. Quebec City, a captivating blend of European history and Canadian charm, offers a unique and unforgettable experience. With its cobblestone streets, historic architecture, and vibrant culture, this city has something for everyone. Whether you’re a history buff, outdoor enthusiast, or foodie, you’ll find plenty to explore and enjoy.

Parliament Building

The city walls extend 4.6 kilometres (2.9 miles), with the southern portions of the ramparts forming a part of the Citadelle of Quebec. Since the 1970s, Quebec has operated under a two-party system that pits the pro-separation Parti Quebecois against the anti-separation (or “federalist“) Quebec Liberal Party. Both parties are essentially nationalist, yet Liberals believe Quebec’s interests can be addressed by working within the existing Canadian system, while separatists believe only independent nationhood can give Quebecers the fair deal they deserve. In 2018, a new party, the Coalition Avenir Quebec (coalition for Quebec) was elected to power for the first time. It is a European-style conservative populist-nationalist party that has promised to not reopen the separatism debate.

  • Since 1959, the Saint Lawrence Seaway has provided a navigable link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.
  • Located at the meeting point of St. Lawrence and Saint Charles Rivers, is Quebec City – which serves as the capital and the 2nd largest city of Quebec.
  • Within the metropolitan region, Autoroutes 40, 73, and several spur routes link the city centre with its suburbs.
  • The traditional Quebecois cuisine descends from 16th-century French cuisine, the fur trade and a history of hunting.
  • In 2013, the Quebec government proposed a “Charter of Values” that would have, among other things, forbade any provincial employee from wearing what were deemed “ostentatious” religious headgear (as depicted in the second half of the above guide).

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Of this number, 78,000 are employed by the banking sector, 53,000 by the insurance sector and 20,000 by the securities and investment sector.298 The Bank of Montreal, founded in 1817 in Montreal, was Quebec’s first bank but, like many other large banks, its central branch is now in Toronto. Several banks remain based in Quebec National Bank of Canada, the Desjardins Group and the Laurentian Bank. Thanks to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Quebec had, as of 2009update, experienced an increase in its exports and in its ability to compete on the international market. International exchanges contribute to the strength of the Quebec economy.273 NAFTA is especially advantageous as it gives Quebec, among other things, access to a market of 130 million consumers within a radius of 1,000 kilometres. Trois-Rivières was founded at de Champlain’s request in 1634.34 Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve founded Ville-Marie (now Montreal) in 1642. She loves traveling with her husband, Salil and soaking in experiences across Canada, India and Europe.

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Quebec is the only Francophone-majority province of Canada and represents the only major Francophone centre in the Americas other than Haiti. The economy of Quebec is mainly supported by its large service sector and varied industrial sector. For exports, it leans on the key industries of aeronautics, hydroelectricity, mining, pharmaceuticals, aluminum, wood, and paper. Quebec is well known for producing maple syrup, for its comedy, and for making hockey one of the most popular sports in Canada.

Interesting facts about Quebec, Quebec City & Montreal

This charming square is surrounded by historic buildings, including the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church, one of the oldest stone churches in North America. So, whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a solo adventure, Quebec City is the perfect destination. Start planning your trip today and discover the magic of this enchanting city. While French is the official language of Quebec, most information is also available in English. Quebec City has the oldest educational institution for women in North America, led by the Ursulines of Quebec, which is now a private elementary school. The Université du Québec system administrative headquarters and some of its specialized schools (École nationale d’administration publique, Institut national de la recherche scientifique and Télé-université) are in the Saint-Roch neighbourhood.

Why Visit Québec City?

Most Quebecers remain ethnic French-Canadians descendant from a fairly small group of 17th century colonial settler families, and many of the province’s most famous cultural tropes harken back to that community’s centuries-old shared rural past. Traditional French-Canadian meals remain hearty “peasant” dishes like pea soup, meat pie (tourtière), and cipaille, a kind of stew. The proud Canadian cliche of maple syrup originates from Quebec, where it was originally harvested by forest-dwelling farmers in cabanes à sucres (literally, “sugar shacks”). French-Canadian folk songs, such as Alouette or Les Raftsmen, are often about rural chores, exploring the wilderness, or farm life. Today, Quebeckers enjoy a host of French language TV channels and radio stations, and often have very different pop culture tastes than English Canadians in the other provinces. Quebec is Canada’s largest province in terms of landmass, but much of its territory is uninhabited — and uninhabitable.

The Second Quebec Conference was held in 1944 and was attended by Churchill and Roosevelt. They took place in the buildings of the Citadelle and at the nearby Château Frontenac. The name “Canada” was given to the colony that developed around the settlement at Quebec. Although the Acadian settlement at Port-Royal was established three years earlier, Quebec came to be known as the cradle of North America’s Francophone population. Old Québec City is a neighbourhood of Québec City that refers to the historic district. Old Québec (also called Québec City Old Town) became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Quebec City was built on the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River, where it narrows and meets the mouth of the Saint-Charles River. Old Quebec is located on top and at the foot of Cap-Diamant, which is on the eastern edge of a plateau called the promontory of Quebec (Quebec hill). Because of this topographic feature, the oldest and most urbanized borough of La Cité-Limoilou can be divided into upper and lower town.38 North of the hill, the Saint Lawrence Lowlands is flat and has rich, arable soil.

The Fleurdelisé replaced the Union Jack on Quebec’s Parliament Building on January 21, 1948. In 1977, the Quebec Parliament declared June 24, the day of La Saint-Jean-Baptiste, to be Quebec’s National Holiday. La Saint-Jean-Baptiste, or La St-Jean, honours French Canada’s patron saint, John the Baptist. The song À la claire fontaine363 was the anthem of the New France, Patriots and French Canadian, then replaced by O Canada, but “Gens du pays” is preferred by many Quebecers to be the national anthem of Quebec. The traditional Quebecois cuisine descends from 16th-century French cuisine, the fur trade and a history of hunting. Quebec’s cuisine has also been influenced by learning from First Nation, by English cuisine and by American cuisine.

  • The calculation of annual cutting possibilities is the responsibility of the Bureau du forestier en chef.189 The Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) seeks to protect the interests of its members, including forestry workers, and works jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
  • Quebec has hosted several major sporting events, including the 1976 Summer Olympics, the Fencing World Championships in 1967, track cycling in 1974, and the Transat Québec-Saint-Malo race created in 1984.
  • Development and security of land transportation in Canada are provided by Transports Québec.323 Other organizations, such as the Canadian Coast Guard and Nav Canada, provide the same service for the sea and air transportation.
  • The Court of Quebec is the main criminal trial court, and also a court for small civil claims.
  • While Montreal has always housed sizable Jewish, Italian, and Irish communities, new waves of immigration from outside Europe have helped reshape the city’s demographics, cuisine, and culture.

The idea that Quebec exists as a unique “nation” within North America is quite old, but taking things a step further and arguing Quebec should leave Canada altogether and form its own country is relatively newer. This ideology, known as separatism, really came into prominence during the 1960s, when a poorly-performing economy coupled with the post-Quiet Revolution culture of self-empowerment made previously unthinkable ideas suddenly more attractive. Just as colonized peoples in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East were abandoning their imperial masters, many Quebeckers began to dream of completing their long escape from English domination. This includes the St. Lawrence River, one of the longest rivers in the world which flows for about 1200 kilometres through Quebec. Rail transport is operated by Via Rail at the Gare du Palais (‘Palace Station’). The station is the eastern terminus of the railway’s main Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.

After having fought as a Patriote, George-Étienne Cartier entered politics in the Province of Canada, becoming one of the co-premiers and advocate for the union of the British North American provinces. Correct local time in Quebec, Canada timezone, official time change dates winter time 2025 daylight saving dates, DST, clock change, GMT/UTC difference. Quebec shares a border with Ontario (west), Newfoundland and Labrador (northeast), New Brunswick (southeast), and US states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.

At the supralocal level, the province is subdivided into 86 Regional County Municipalities and 2 Metropolitan Communities. At the local level, the province comprises a total of 1,117 local municipalities, 11 agglomerations (which includes about 42 local municipalities), and 45 boroughs (that are located within 8 local municipalities). Quebec, the largest Canadian province, encompasses an area of 595,391 square miles. It shares borders with Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, and New Brunswick to the southeast.

The Conscription Crisis of 1944 occurred and the Bloc Populaire emerged to fight quebex conscription.86 The stark differences between the values of French and English Canada popularized the expression the “Two Solitudes”. Whenever there are countrywide promotional campaigns usually Quebec and/or its residents are excluded! This is because Quebec is the only province in Canada to have a juridical legal system under which civil matters are regulated by French-heritage civil law. Quebecers’ identity as a unique and special people is tied to their distinctive Francophone culture, often described as a blending of European traditions and North American attitudes.