Cross-country skiing replaces running
In January, along the St. Lawrence River, the average temperature is between -8 and -18°C, but here, the cold is not a valid reason to cancel the daily practice of an endurance sport.
Thus, instead of sneakers, Quebecers put on their
cross-country skis
and rush with enthusiasm on the groomed loops of the city.
At the Parc de la rivière Saint-Charles, a classic and very accessible cross-country trail is maintained daily over more than 8 km, along the districts of Limoilou, Saint-Sauveur and Saint-Roch.
Similarly, on the Plains of Abraham, a huge urban park and historic site south of Old Quebec, 14 km of trails are laid out for different levels, with a view of the river.
This site is also recognized by the world elite of the discipline and received a stage of the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup.
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Extreme sports go urban
The Montmorency Falls located 5 minutes from the center of Quebec attract a lot of tourists throughout the year.
Francis Gagnon
There is a sport whose practice seems inconceivable elsewhere than in a wild and mountainous environment and which nevertheless has its place in Quebec:
ice climbing
.
Facing the Île-d'Orléans bridge, the Montmorency Falls located 5 minutes from the center attract a lot of tourists throughout the year.
The place is spectacular and the falls of 83 m exceed those of Niagara by 30 meters!
On the cliffs surrounding the waterfall, the ice here offers climbers with crampons and ice axes routes ranging from 40 to 100 meters for all levels (grade 2 to grade 5+).
A climber who arrived at the summit all smiles gives us his feelings:
“It's extraordinary, the exposure is ideal, you have the fall that 'clashes' next to it… It's crazy!
And all of this right in the city!
»
Now is the time to test an equally extreme activity:
ice canoeing,
on the St. Lawrence.
What was originally a means of transport between the shores of Quebec and Lévis has become a sport in its own right, with its licensees and its competition circuits, the best known of which has been taking place for 67 years at the occasion of the Quebec Carnival in February.
With an experienced crew and incredible equipment: neoprene socks and boots, shin guards, crampons and… A life jacket (!);
we find ourselves on the frozen banks, facing a canoe 8.60 m long and 100 kg.
The crew of rowers must cross the river by pushing the canoe on a maze of ice and when it becomes liquid again, jump into the boat to row between real icebergs: they call this "trotting on the pack ice".
A memorable experience,
Sliding brings everyone back to childhood
Neighborhood skating rink in Quebec.
Cecile Benoit
While walking under the snowflakes, we discover at the bend of each street corner ice rinks from which resound the cries and the laughter of young and old splitting the ice.
In Quebec, there are 96 outdoor skating rinks.
These fields are also the places where the sport that runs in the veins of every Canadian is practiced:
hockey
!
There are so many of them coming home from school, in the evenings or on weekends, to put on jerseys and protective gear, grab their crosses to pass the puck at full speed.
These
neighborhood rinks,
often free, alternate hockey schedules with time slots for public skating practiced by the whole family.
Sliding at Village Valcartier.
Jean-Francois Hamelin
And who says sliding, of course, says sledging and this, whatever the age: on the one hand the emblematic
slides of the Terrasse Dufferin,
which have made young and old scream, opposite the Château de Frontenac, since 1884. And a stone's throw from there, the largest winter games center in America:
Village Valcartier
.
A site of 43 tracks shaped and dedicated to sliding pure and simple, on huge inner tubes... Or how to find your 10 years in a slide.
Certainly this country is synonymous with wide open spaces, nature, wild, beautiful is omnipresent and it only takes a few minutes to drive in it, follow the tracks of bears, fish in frozen lakes and drive your dog sled. … But the simple happiness of playing in the snow and sliding on the ice, Quebecers know how to seize it in the very heart of the city, and thus keep their spirits light!
Good addresses in Quebec
Family cross-country skiing on the Plains of Abraham.
NP
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
The Plains of Abraham:
free access to the 13.9 km of trails for beginners, intermediates and experts.
Two heated relays and an equipment rental point are also available.
835, avenue Wilfrid-Laurier - Quebec, QC.
Such.
: +1 418 649 6157. www.lesplainesdabraham.ca
Pointe-aux-Lièvres site:
the trail extends over 8 km, from the Aqueduc footbridge to the Dufferin-Montmorency bridge, along the edge of the Saint-Charles river.
A rental trailer is located at Parc de la Pointe-aux-Lièvres.
Free access.
332, rue Domagaya - Quebec, QC.
Such.
: +1 418 691 4710. www.societerivierestcharles.qc.ca
ICE CASCADE
Due to work on the site of the Montmorency falls, the practice of ice climbing is currently impossible.
But many other sites exist outside the city, such as Saint-Alban in the Portneuf Regional Natural Park, ideal for beginners and intermediates, about an hour's drive from the center of Quebec.
And also:
initiation and improvement in Grimpe en ville in a magical setting in the heart of downtown Rivière-du-Loup.
Aventurex, 5300 Boulevard Sainte-Anne, Beauport, QC.
Such.
: +1 418 647 4422.
ICE CANOE
Ice canoe, an outing recommended for sports enthusiasts.
Francis Gagnon
A 3-hour outing, timed according to the tides, includes supervision, equipment, basic training on technique and helmsman's terms, and one hour on the river.
Count 185 Canadian dollars per person.
Canoe à Glace Québec, Salle du Quai du Cap Blanc - 615 Boulevard Champlain, Québec.
Such.
: +1 418 438 2996.
SKATING
Place D'Youville, there is the must-see skating rink in the city, with music and outdoor light effects facing the Capitol.
Free access, $8 skate rental.
995, place D'Youville - La Cité-Limoilou.
Such.
: +1 418 641 6256.
The site of the city of Quebec informs daily about the state of its many skating rinks: www.ville.quebec.qc.ca heading leisures.
SLIDES
The Dufferin terrace
: 80 m high, the view of the Château Frontenac, the St. Lawrence River and the Lower Town is breathtaking.
A tourist must-have that still allows you to spin at 70 km/h!
$3 a slide.
Place Terrasse Dufferin, Quebec, QC.
Such.
: +1 418 528 1884. www.au1884.ca
Village Valcartier
: an amusement park atmosphere but terribly effective in terms of sliding.
Laughter and adrenaline guaranteed.
From 26 dollars the entrance, also open in the evening.
1860 Valcartier Boulevard, Valcartier.
Such.
: +1 888 384 5524. www.valcartier.com
Travelogue
GETTING THERE
Air France, Air Canada or Air Transat offer several daily flights from Paris.
To lower the price of the ticket, opt for a Paris-Montreal and join the city of Quebec by bus (on average 3 hours drive).
OR SLEEP ?
Le Germain
Very nice boutique hotel ideally located in the heart of the historic Old Port district.
Unparalleled welcome and service and tastefully decorated and very comfortable room.
At the same time warm and elegant atmosphere.
We like hot chocolate and tea served at will throughout the day.
From $163 per double room.
Hotel Le Germain, 126 rue Saint-Pierre, Quebec.
Such.
: +1 888 833 5253.
Le Capitole
The historic 1900 theater reopened its doors last fall, totally renovated and equipped with a hotel with 109 luxurious rooms, with a panoramic view of the Old Town and the Laurentians.
From 119 dollars per night in a double room.
Le Capitole, 972 rue St-Jean, Quebec.
Such.
: +1 418 694 4444.
GOOD TABLE
Arvi
This is the address that is on the rise at the moment.
The menu is unique and comes in 5 courses.
Seasonal and local products are in the spotlight: lobster from Gaspésie, strawberries from Quebec, organic vegetables from Charlevoix… And the chef, French, makes the boundaries between the dining room and the stoves and the waiters and cooks disappear.
$70 menu.
Arvi Restaurant, 519 3rd Ave.
Quebec.
Such.
: +1 581 742 4202.
Find out more:
www.quebec-cite.com & www.quebecoriginal.com.