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A taste of old Europe in Canada |
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By Clint Leung » Newcomers looking to settle in a destination with a European flavour
will have their dreams answered in Quebec City, capital of the province
of Quebec.
About a three hour drive from Montreal, Quebec City is becoming
increasingly popular with both French-speaking immigrants as well as
visitors from all over the world. The dramatic rise in number of
tourists from the United States and Europe may be partly due to the
fact that even some cruise ships originating from eastern US ports are
now including Quebec City as a port of call.
Back in 1608, explorer Samuel de Champlain saw the potential of the
natural citadel here and founded a fur trading post. With the
fortifications of the Upper Town of Quebec City became the area where
government and religious institutions set up.
Meanwhile, merchants and craftsmen settled in the Lower Town along the
St. Lawrence River. Quebec City was fought over by the English and the
French many times during wars in the 17th and 18th centuries. The
English finally took the city over in 1759 resulting with New France
becoming a British colony.
Quebec City is still considered as the cradle of French civilization in
North America. The old quarter of the city was declared a world
heritage site by UNESCO in 1985 and is the only fortified city in North
America.
Today, the winding streets and alleys of the old quarter of Quebec City
are filled with elegant restaurants, bistros, cafes, museums, art
galleries and retail shops. There are artists selling their artwork in
some of the alleys.
Most of the restaurants in the old quarter are smaller, independent
business rather than large chains and they fill up quickly during busy
periods.
One of the landmarks of Quebec City is the huge medieval looking hotel,
the Château Frontenac which along with the adjacent Terrasse Dufferin,
overlooks the St. Lawrence River. A one of a kind funicular connects
the Upper Town with the Lower Town. There are also several smaller
hotels right in the old quarter. The old quarter can be visited by car
and there are parking areas strategically located.
Just outside the walls of the old quarter is the rest of downtown
Quebec City where newer high rise hotels such as the Hilton and Loews
are located. Along the main street of Grand Allee is another section of
restaurants and cafes, many of them priced a bit lower than the ones
within the old quarter which provides more dining choices. It is a very
easy walk from Grand Allee to the old quarter.
Some 30 minutes east of Quebec City is the small village of
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre which has one of the most famous churches in
North America, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre Basilica. This site was built in
the mid 17th century and receives 1.5 million visitors per year. Along
the way is a 272 foot high water falls visible from the highway called
the Chute Montmorency.
Quebec City hosts the Carnaval festival in February and the major ski
resort Mont Sainte-Anne is busy with the ski and snowboard crowds all
winter. Most skiers and snowboarders going to Mont Sainte-Anne use
Quebec City as the base for accommodations and dining. An added winter
attraction during the last few years has been the Ice Hotel near Lac
Sainte-Joseph which was modeled after the one in Europe.
With its exciting lifestyle, year-round attractions and its old
European charm, Quebec City is the closest thing to being in Europe
without actually leaving North America.
Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery,
an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native
American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit
Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of
authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.
Source: EzineArticles
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