Quebec Trip #3: About Quebec: UNESCO Site, Upper and Lower Towns

Rob and Tom in Old Quebec

In May we vacationed in Old Quebec City, and had a wonderful time. It's the only walled city in all of North America. Today we'll provide a background on the founding of this amazing, charming city, tell you what makes it a UNESCO site and explain the upper and lower towns.

FOUNDER OF QUEBEC - Quebec City was founded by the French explorer and navigator Samuel de Champlain in 1608, commencing a string of French colonies along the St. Lawrence River, creating a region named "le Canada".


UNESCO SITE - Founded in 1608 and granted UNESCO World Heritage City status, Quebec and especially the Old Quebec are brimming with history and attractions. While walking in the "Upper Town" (there's also a "Lower Town") of Old Quebec, we found the monument dedicated to the UNESCO status.

Quebec from NASA's Aqua satellite in space. Credit: NASA

WHAT MAKES IT A UNESCO SITE? - Criterion (iv) :  A coherent and well-preserved urban ensemble, the Historic District of Old Québec is an exceptional example of a fortified colonial town and by far the most complete north of Mexico.

Criterion (vi) : Québec, the former capital of New France, illustrates one of the major stages in the European settlement of the colonization of the Americas by Europeans.

ABOUT QUEBEC AND WHAT WE WILL SHOW YOU-

UNESCO World Heritage City marker 

Over the next several weeks of blogs, you'll join us to explore its stone buildings and narrow streets. This area is the site of the towering Château Frontenac Hotel  (which we'll show you) and Citadel of Québec. The Petit Champlain district’s cobblestone streets are lined with bistros and boutiques.

Québec City lies along the St. Lawrence River and has many museums and interpretation centers. We'll take you on guided historic and ghost walking tours. The city has a unique atmosphere of the French quarter. like nowhere else in North America, and we'll even take you to some of the great bakeries.

View of the Upper Town from the Lower Town

PHOTO LEFT - Hotel Frontenac in the upper town was taken from the lower town.
  
THE UPPER AND LOWER TOWNS The Upper Town, built on the cliff, has remained the religious and administrative center, with its churches, convents and other monuments like the Dauphine Redoubt, the Citadel and Château Frontenac. Together with the 

Lower Town and its ancient districts, it forms an urban ensemble which is one of the best examples of a fortified colonial city.  


NEXT: The Historic Ghost Walk