Celebrating at Le Carnaval De Quebec

Sure of its charms and with a French joi de vivre, Quebec City’s gracious yet simple style delights visitors with rich history and contemporary flair. Founded in 1608 on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the capital of Canada’s Quebec Province is one of North America’s oldest cities and the only walled city north of Mexico. Old Quebec was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Narrow winding streets invite visitors to enjoy the sidewalk cafes, art galleries, museums and boutiques. History is everywhere both inside and outside of its four centuries-old gates. A funicular connects the Upper Town (Haute Ville) and Lower Town (BasseVille), which dates from colonial times. In Lower Town, the Petit Champlain Quarter brims with art and antique galleries. The Old Port is a perfect spot for a river cruise, while river-front Parc des Champs-de-Batalle is idyllic for cycling.

While most visitors come to Quebec City in the summer, the rest of year and, in particular winter, have their own pleasures.  At the top of my list of winter joys is the Carnaval de Quebec, which fills the streets of the historic town for ten days in February.

During our recent visit to Quebec City for the Carnaval, guide Steeve Gaudreault showed us around.  In the Market Old Port of Quebec, I spoke with him about the festival and the city.

For information on the Carnaval de Quebec, Quebec City and the entire Quebec region visit QuebecRegion.com. And watch my Quebec City summer adventure on PBS or stream on Amazon.