Thankfully, the temperature had dropped in the early hours of the morning, bringing some relief from the heat. We felt drained, but energized knowing we were heading to Quebec City.
After a short highway drive, we navigated the roads, looking for parking. We found many parking lots, unfortunately, they weren’t laid out for RV’s. We tried Museum parking space with the same results. We eventually found a long term camper parking lot next to the cruise terminal at an exorbitant price.
We unloaded the bicycles, put Chloe in her cycling backpack, and rode the well marked cycling trails.
We were amazed by the unfolding historical panorama of stone buildings, tall and short, wide and narrow, row upon row, and Château Frontenac standing magnificently on top of Cap Diamant.
Samuel de Champlain chose the Upper Town as the site for Fort Saint Louis in 1608. It has remained the city’s military and administrative centre because of its strategic position atop the promontory of Cap Diamant. It was occupied mainly by British government officials and Catholic clergy after the British Conquest, while French and English merchants and artisans lived in Lower Town.
Military use did hamper growth in the Upper Town for many years, and a movement arose in the late 19th century to demolish the fortifications as obsolete and as an obstacle to urban development. It was Lord Dufferin who successfully persuaded officials to preserve and rebuild them.
The area declined and fell into disrepair in the 1950s but new building began in the 1970s.
Erected in 1896, Quebec City Hall is situated in Upper Town. Most of the buildings date to the 19th century, although some 17th and 18th centuries remain as well. The area has several commercial streets like Saint Jean, Sainte Anne and De Buade. Some public administration and other institutions in the Upper Town are the Quebec City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian Monastery and l’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec. There are many hotels, including the Château Frontenac, the Old City being a very popular tourist destination.
Parks in the Upper Town include De l’Esplanade, Artillerie, Des Gouverneurs and Montmorency parks as well as the grounds of l’Hotel-de-Ville.
The Lower Town is a historic district located at the bottom of Cap Diamant. During 1608, Samuel de Champlain built a habitation where its remains can be found with Place Royale as its centre. It was restored with the goal of reconstructing the French flair from its origins. Construction of the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires started during 1687 at this location and was completed during 1723. The Musée de la civilisation, the Musée naval de Québec, the caserne Dalhousie and the Théâtre Petit Champlain are among some of the museums, performance halls, theatres and exhibition venues in Lower Town.
Erected in 1687, the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is one of many buildings in Lower Town dating back to the 17th and 18th century.
Places such as the Louise Basin, Brown Basin, La –Pointe-à-Carcy, the Gare du Palais and the Marche du Vieux-Port can be seen from the Port of Quebec.
A funicular car allows for easy transportation up Cap Diamant connecting to Upper Town from the narrow Petit-Champlain road at the foot of the Cape to the top with a marvellous view of the city.
We had lunch in one of the many courtyards, then explored the lower town, pushing our bicycles so we could take our time.
We eventually returned to our vehicle, and drove the truck and 7000 lb trailer through upper Town, squeezing our way between busy traffic, very narrow streets, and distracted pedestrians. Now I know how toothpaste feels when squeezed from a tube.
Faithfully following our GPS, we left the congested pedestrian areas, and joined the commuter rush hour. We crossed over to the south side of the St Lawrence River, and make our way east to boondock at the La Pocatière Walmart.
The hot and humid air hanging like a heavy blanket over the parking lot, we went to bed, reflecting on the stunning city we visited before slipping into a well earned slumber.