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City Guide - Quebec City - Sightseeing | ||
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Sightseeing Quebec City is a delightful place to wander around for a few days, although that may not give enough time to see all of the specific museums and attractions. The main areas of interest are in Vieux-Québec (Old Quebec), which is divided between Haute-Ville (Upper Town) within the city walls and Basse-Ville (Lower Town) at the foot of the cliff on which Upper Town stands. Attractions in the Upper Town include many museums devoted to recounting historic events ant those set up by religious organisations such as the Musée des Augustines de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, recounting the history of the nuns who founded the first hospital north of Mexico, and the Musée des Ursulines. There are also some delightful churches, historic houses and tourist attractions such as the Québec Experience multimedia show and the diorama that is the centrepiece for the show at the Musée du Fort. In the Lower Town, the charming Quartier Petit Champlain is a cobblestone street filled with restaurants and boutiques, it is supplemented by history museums and the renowned Musée de la Civilisation that hosts excellent archaeological and anthropological exhibitions. Adjacent to the Lower Town and bordering the St Lawrence River, the Vieux-Port (Old Port) has been converted into a riverside promenade with entertainment and dining and a couple of small museums devoted to the port's history and seafaring in general. To the southwest of Upper Town, the imposing Citadel was added to supplement the fortifications guarding Old Quebec; it protected the city from attack to the southwest, where the Plains of Abraham stretch as far as the Musée du Québec. Parallel to the plains, and separated from it by the bars and restaurants of Grand Allée, is Parliament Hill, where the provincial legislature sits in the ornate Second-Empire Hôtel de Parlement. Summer hours for attractions typically begin on the Fête St-Jean (June 24th) and end Labour Day weekend in early September. Tourist Information Bureau d'information touristique du Vieux-Québec 835 avenue Wilfrid-Laurier Tel: (418) 649 2608. Fax: (418) 522 0830. E-mail: bit@cuq.qc.ca Web site: www.quebecregion.com Opening hours: Late Jun-mid-Oct daily 0830-1930; mid-Oct-late Jun Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Fri until 1800, Sun 1000-1600. Run by the Greater Quebec Area Tourism and Convention Bureau, this centre covers Quebec City and vicinity. The Discovery Pavilion downstairs provides information on the Plains of Abraham. Centre Infotouriste (Tourisme Québec) 12 rue Ste-Anne Tel: (514) 873 2015 or (877) BONJOUR (266 5687). E-mail: info@tourisme.gouv.qc.ca Web site: www.bonjourquebec.com Opening hours: late Jun-early Sep daily 0830-1930; early Sep-late Jun daily 0900-1700. The Centre Infotouriste provides information on the whole of the province (including Quebec City), and shares its location with bureaux de change, tour operators and car hire and travel agencies. Passes The Military Passport (C$20; concessions available), will appeal to history buffs as it includes access to five attractions (La Citadelle de Québec, Centre d'interprétation des Champs de Bataille, Parc de l'Artillerie, Fortifications de Québec and Fort No. 1 at Pointe de Lévy) in Quebec City and others in the surrounding area including the Observatoire de la Capitale. The Three-site Discovery Package allows entry to the Musée de la Civilisation, Musée de l'Amérique française and Centre d'Interprétation Place-Royale for C$11. |