- -- Quebec City: so near, so friendly, so Europe; and especially great in summer 2008
"I took my kids to Europe last weekend". That's how it felt when we visited Quebec City during winter Carnival, and Quebec City is a wonderful place to visit in summer, too -- especially this summer, when Quebec City celebrates 400 years.
Quebec City: background
Quebec City is in the French-speaking province of Quebec, in Canada; but don't worry, everyone in the tourist trade speaks "Anglais" too. The "Quebecois" are warm, vivacious, and proud of their culture. (If you've seen Cirque de Soleil, you've seen some sample creativity.)
Quebec City -- about two hours' drive from Montreal -- is so rich in history, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quebec City was the center of New France, a vast area that extended down to Louisiana ( - see Quebec City history). One of the decisive battles between Britain and France took place at in 1759 in Quebec City, on the Plains of Abraham.
Must-Sees for Visitors
-Wander the "old town" areas, with charming historic streets and restaurants with names like Le Cochon Dingue ("The Crazy Pig", a good place for hot chocolate.)
-Visit the Plains of Abraham: though of great historic import, and a National Battlefield, this wide stretch of land right in the city is also where people play: it's the site of Quebec Carnival in winter, and also the site of a free Celine Dion concert this summer -- see below.
- Museum of Civilization: families should be sure to visit this imaginative and interactive (and bilingual) museum designed to keep kids' riveted. For instance, a recent exhibit took a comprehensive look at dragons: from myths to paleontology to fantasy fiction. Admission cost is modest, and free for kids under 12.
Quebec City: 400 Years, in Summer 2008
2008 is a very special summer, rich with celebrations, and many events can be enjoyed free of charge. Below are some highlights for families; most take place in Old Quebec and are in walking distance from one another. For the show-stooper events -- Celine Dion concert and Cirque de Soleil --(scroll down.
VivaCité Trail: All through 2008 and into 2009, a special path (with signs and maps) leads walkers through Old Quebec, passing historical sites, museums, parks, and shopping ops.
The Image Mill: a gigantic projection of images, in the Port of Quebec: a forty-minute visual and audio production projected against massive grain silos: "a sort of animated mosaic that, moving from engravings to paintings and from photos to videos, creates an impressionistic portrait of the city over time:. Starts at sunset, June 20 and continues to August 24, 2008
Espace 400e, in the Old Port: 11 original gardens; Encounters Park; free shows and entertainment daily in the Grand Square; exhibits, such as Passengers multi-media vision of the different peoples in Quebec City history; Image Mill at night, for 40 evenings.
Funicular: get a bird's-eye view, as you ride up the hill from one historic part of the town to another.
The Louvre: From June 5 to October 26 2008, The Fine Arts Museum of Quebec presents "Le Louvre à Québec", bringing over 270 works of art from the famous Paris museum to Quebec City.(Focus is on artifacts fro China, Egypt, Greece and Rome.)
Quebec City Summer Festival: July 3 to 13 2008; annual outdoors arts festival, with music, street art, events for every taste.
Bird Clan Tale: multiple dates; multidisciplinary creation, with magic and technology, mythical characters, animals and humans in a story created by Québec City Symphony Orchestra.
Wonders in the Sky - Quebec Air Show, at the Jean Lesage International Airport; June 13 to June 15 2008.
Place-Royale Interpretion Center: historic location; interactive exhibitions, and hands-on room where families don costumes and travel back in time.
Celine Dion: expect a huge and joyous crowd on August 22, 2008, when famous Quebecoise Céline Dion -- one of a family of 14 children -- performs in a free concert on the Plains of Abraham. Other performers will be there, too.
Cirque de Soleil: also sure to be an emotional moment, a unique Cirque de Soleil show will close the celebrations. Four performances; from October 17 to 19 2008.
-- see dancing, circus, and many more More Quebec City 400th Anniversary Events
