Old Quebec
To discover
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12 days: Splendors of Eastern Canada
Jewel of Unesco's heritage, this historic district boasts an architecture mixing French and British influences. With its narrow streets, its stone houses and its charming and eponymous pedestrian street lined with artisan shops, one of the oldest in America, the
Petit-Champlain
offers an ideal setting for a magical stroll in winter. Nearby,
Place Royale
recalls the founding of Quebec by Champlain while the Musée de la Civilization offers exhibitions on ancient and current civilizations. Surrounded by fortifications, the Upper Town invites you to dive back into history at the
Citadel
and the
Battlefields Park
and strolling on rue Saint-Jean and on Place d'Youville, a true cultural crossroads.
Without forgetting to admire the view from the Dufferin terrace at the foot of the iconic Fairmont Château Frontenac which stands proudly on the heights of Cap Diamant.
Our advice:
A return trip on the Québec-Lévis ferry, whose terminal is a stone's throw from Place Royale, allows you to enjoy a magnificent panorama of the city from the river.
Practical information :
The Upper Town and the Lower Town are connected by numerous stairs and steep streets.
A funicular ($ 3.75 per trip) allows you to quickly go from the Dufferin terrace to the Petit Champlain or vice versa.
Old Montreal
Notre-Dame Basilica and Place d'Armes in Old Montreal.
Tourism Montreal / Marie Deschene
Unmissable district of this cosmopolitan that is Montreal, Old Montreal evokes the old walled city with its cobbled streets, winding alleys and stone buildings. In season,
Place Jacques-Cartier
comes alive as you discover artists, restaurants, art galleries in its adjoining alleys and sip a drink on its terraces and rooftops. The
Place d'Armes
, place of commemoration of Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance, founders of the city, is bordered by the
Notre-Dame basilica
, a majestic neo-Gothic church. The enchanting setting of the
Old Port
is suitable for walking or cycling along the river and on its quays, where there are many family activities.
Opposite the Pointe-à-Callière History and Archeology Museum, the Grand Quai offers a breathtaking view of the river and the city.
Our advice:
Discover the Notre-Dame basilica in a different way when its impressive vault is draped in the lights of the bewitching multimedia show
Aura
(several evenings a week).
Practical information :
More info on the Old Montreal website.
Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park
The northern gannet colony on Bonaventure Island is one of the largest in the world, with an average of 110,000 birds nesting there.
Mathieu Dupuis / Quebec Maritime
The Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park encompasses the territory of the emblematic symbol of the Gaspé Peninsula and the fascinating Bonaventure Island.
The limestone giant and its natural arch can be seen from all angles, from the coast, from Cap Mont-Joli, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence where it stands or from the suspended glass platform of the Geopark.
Not far from the rock, Bonaventure Island turns out to be a true seabird sanctuary, but it is the exceptional access to one of the largest colonies of northern gannets in the world, around 110,000, which flies star.
The gray seal can be observed in the waters, on the rocks that emerge or on the beach of Baie des Marigots.
Our advice:
Four trails lead to the northern gannet nesting site in the east of the island.
Prefer a morning departure in order to have enough time to make the round trip before the island closes.
Practical information :
The Tektonik immersive experience of the Percé Geopark (adult $ 15 children $ 10) traces the history of the formation of the Appalachians and the rock.
Read alsoCap gourmet on the Gaspé Peninsula, in eastern Quebec
The Magdalen Islands
The Magdalen Islands and the famous red sandstone cliffs of the Dune du Sud beach.
Tourism Magdalen Islands
Love at first sight for this string of islands located in the middle of the gulf. With its 300 kilometers of beaches and dunes, its superb red sandstone cliffs, including those of
Belle-Anse
or overlooking
the Dune du Sud beach
, and its green hills punctuated with pretty colored houses, the archipelago leaves no one behind. indifferent. Each of the islands has a special charm. Discover on foot the breathtaking
Entry Island
(the only inhabited island that is not connected to the others), be contemplative at the superb
Grande Échouerie beach
, stroll around the historic site of La Grave or meet sea wolves.
The more adventurous will paddle in a kayak to observe the beauty of the coast and the eroded caves of Gros-Cap and will try to tame the waves and the wind by kitesurfing.
How to get there :
By plane or ferry with CTMA from Souris, Prince Edward Island.
The duration of the crossing is five hours.
Our advice:
The tourist craze for the archipelago being palpable at each summer period, it is better to book your accommodation and your passage on the ferry well in advance.
The Saguenay Fjord
L'Anse-Saint-Jean from Anse à la Tabatière, Fjord-du-Saguenay.
Yves Ouellet
Bordered on both sides by the Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park, the majestic fjord captivates with its incredible beauty.
It is tamed from the trails that cross centuries-old forests that offer breathtaking panoramas, in its charming villages, including
L'Anse-Saint-Jean
and
Sainte-Rose-du-Nord,
from the water, by boat or by kayak at the foot of vertiginous cliffs.
In summer, we climb the rock faces above the magnificent
Baie-Éternité
while in winter we indulge in ice fishing in Baie des Ha!
Ha!.
In the magnificent
Baie Sainte-Marguerite
, white whales can be observed from the shore.
Our advice:
Give priority to July and August to meet beluga whales.
The weaker currents and the warmer water of Sainte-Marguerite Bay are therefore conducive to the birth and suckling of these marine mammals.
Practical information :
Maritime shuttles allow you to stop from one shore to the other on foot or by bike.
The St. Lawrence river
The St. Lawrence River borders magnificent parks, including Bic National Park in the Bas-Saint-Laurent.
Mathieu-Dupuis / Quebec Maritime
At the same time river, estuary and gulf, the St. Lawrence is at the very heart of Quebec's identity.
Whether from its shores or on its hundreds of islands that mark its course: we eat it, we sail it, we tame it.
In Bas-Saint-Laurent, we marvel at its beauties from Bic National Park and the spectacular sunsets that unfold on the other shore;
in the Gaspé, it borders the cliffs of the splendid Forillon National Park and its treasures are found in abundance on the tables;
on its small and large islands, notably Île d'Orléans, Île Verte, Île d'Anticosti, and many others, it often sets the pace for island life.
Practical information
Exploramer, in Saint-Anne-des-Monts in Gaspésie (min adult $ 18, child $ 12) offers a plethora of activities to raise awareness and discover the marine environment of the St. Lawrence.
Mount Royal
View from the Kondiaronk belvedere of the Parc du Mont-Royal.
Mathieu Dupuis
Montreal's true green lung, Mount Royal towers over the city from its height of 233 meters.
Suitable for walks on its quiet trails, winter activities and snowshoe hikes, it offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city center, the St. Lawrence River and, on a clear day, the Montérégiennes hills, from the
Kondiaronk lookout
.
At its feet, life pulsates in the restaurants and terraces of the effervescent neighborhoods of Mile End and Plateau Mont-Royal.
Our advice:
Another interesting observation point allows you to gaze at the east of the city, the Camillien-Houde belvedere.
Practical information :
More info on the activities offered in Mount Royal Park.
The North Shore
Whale watching during a Zodiac excursion in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park.
Marc Loiselle-Tourisme Côte-Nord - Manicouagan
Tadoussac
, located at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence, is renowned for its spectacular bay and the dozen species of whales that can be found there.
About twenty kilometers from the village,
Les Bergeronnes
offers exceptional camping sites where you can wake up to the breath of these giants of the seas.
Beyond, the Whale Route continues along the 138 dotted with stops to perpetuate the seafood orgy, bordered by fine sandy beaches and fabulous landscapes, such as the Mingan Archipelago and its exceptional monoliths. .
Our advice:
Whales are observed from May to October, but they are most active and numerous in September and October as they prepare for a migration to their breeding grounds.
Practical information :
Take care to dress warmly for zodiac excursions, the air is cool flush with the river.
The interpretation centers of the marine park are worth the detour to learn about marine mammals.
Excursions starting at $ 79.
Charlevoix
One of the beauties of Charlevoix, the splendid Hautes-Gorges-de-la-rivière-Malbaine national park which bears witness to the passage of the glaciers that shaped it.
Mathieu Dupuis / Tourism Charlevoix
Between river and mountains, Charlevoix offers a bucolic and grandiose setting where the splendor of the landscapes seduces the eyes.
In Baie-Saint-Paul and in the villages of poetic beauty, you can feel the pulse of artistic life, meet producers and savor local Quebec products while L'Île-aux-Coudres lets you discover its charms. by bike.
The passage of glaciers that shaped the relief of the region can be seen in the spectacular parks of Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie and Grands-Jardins.
The kingdom of hiking!
Our advice:
To discover the region in a different way while further along the river, the Charlevoix train travels between Quebec and La Malbaie over more than 125 km and stops in seven coastal towns and villages.
Quebec fall, the only Indian summer
The superb fall colors and Lake Wapizagonke in La Mauricie National Park.
Olivier Croteau
In autumn, the blaze of colors seizes Quebec forests and hiking is essential in the many national and regional parks of the province.
La Mauricie Park and the Laurentians, Lanaudière and Eastern Townships regions are just a few places offering these flamboyant shows.
This is the perfect time to learn about bubble and domed accommodation, or to paddle lakes and rivers.
Our advice:
The color season is short, approximately from the end of September to mid-October, and differs according to the different regions of Quebec.
An interactive map shows the progress of colors by sector.
