Some of the best Christmas moments captured through a lens
This wonderfully nostalgic mode of transport links the Haute-Ville (Upper Town) at Dufferin Terrace to the Basse-Ville (Lower Town) at Rue du Petit-Champlain. It has been hoisting passengers in the heart of Quebec City since 1879, and commands glorious view of the vicinity along the way.
The tallest lighthouse in Canada stands in Forillon National Park, at Gaspé. Built in 1858, the structure stands 34.1 m (112 ft) tall. Still functioning, the lighthouse is a designated National Historic Site of Canada and is open for tours during the summer season. If you're lucky, you might spot a whale or two from the top of the tower!
The unassuming riverside town of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré near Quebec City is renowned nationwide as a place of pilgrimage centered on the religious landmark of the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. The sanctuary receives up to half a million people every year, the peak period being around July 26 during the feast of Saint Anne, the patron saint of sailors.
An idyllic destination in summer, the island attract watersports enthusiasts and flocks of ornithologists to its shores. Île du Havre aux Maisons is especially picturesque for its gentle hills and traditional houses.
Bonaventure Island (île Bonaventure) is anchored in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence off the southern coast of Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula near the village of Percé. The island is home to one of the largest colonies of gannets in the world, over 50,000. In fact Bonaventure is an important sanctuary for visiting, migrating, and resident birdlife and draws wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers from around the world.
Montreal's magnificent urban green space serves as a year-round retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. From snowshoeing, tubing, and skating in winter, to barbecues, biking, and concerts in summer, Mount Royal also affords a jaw-dropping panorama from Kondiaronk Belvedere, set at the park's highest point.
Located west of Quebec is Hudson Bay. This vast body of water and its landscape constitutes one of the most remote areas of Canada, with some areas reaching into the Arctic Circle. Magnificent polar bears number among the wildlife that call this stark and beautiful region home.
Sources: (The Canadian Encyclopedia) (Dictionary of Canadian Biography) (Le Québec maritime)
See also: New York City: the best city to experience international Christmas spirit
Must-see gardens include the Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, First Nations Garden, and Alpine Garden, each of which celebrates the traditions of their respective culture. For a special treat, time your visit to coincide with the Garden of Light event (pictured).
Distinguishing the outer tip of the Gaspé Peninsula is Forillon, the first national park in Quebec, created in 1970. Wild and rugged in character, the park is the preserve of numerous nesting colonies of sea birds as well as woodland wildlife like black bear, moose, and lynx.
One of Quebec's most recognized natural landmarks is Percé Rock. This huge sheer rock formation in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula is known for its impressive arch—one of the world's largest located in water.
Set in Montreal's Parc Maisonneuve, the botanical gardens enclose several outdoor and greenhouse gardens. This is one of the most important botanical gardens in the world due to the extent of its collections and facilities.
The totem poles displayed in the museum's Grand Hall form two of the centerpiece exhibits on the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast.
Mont-Tremblant is famous for its ski resort, one of the most popular in the region. But the destination also wins plaudits as a pleasant summer spot, the vacation activities extending to camping, hiking, canoeing, ziplining, mountain biking, and golf.
Situated in the historic Old Quebec area, the Museum of Civilization is worth browsing for its inspiring collection of artifacts related to humanities. Themed on human civilization around the world, the exhibition also focuses on regional history.
Housed in the early 18th-century former residence of the then-governor of Montreal, Claude de Ramezay, this is the province's oldest private history museum. Besides a fascinating period detail interior, the premises feature a beautiful landscaped garden.
Standing on the city's historic Golden Square Mile stretch of Sherbrooke Street, this facility, the largest art museum in Canada by gallery space, is infamous as the site of the largest art theft in Canadian history when in 1972 thieves made off with jewelry, figurines, and 18 paintings worth a total of US$2 million at the time (approximately $12.5 million today). Only one artwork has ever been recovered, and none of the thieves identified.
Montreal's Parc Jean Drapeau comprises two islands: Saint Helen's Island and the artificial Notre Dame Island. During the summer both are thronged with visitors, many of whom head for the amazing Biosphere, a museum dedicated to the environment.
Exploring Old Montreal, or Vieux-Montréal, is to discover a collection of 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century buildings, many of which represent the colonial era of New France. Best investigated on foot, the area includes the beautiful Notre-Dame Basilica and the imposing mid-19th-century City Hall.
At a height of 60 m (200 ft), this is the tallest Ferris wheel in Canada. Also known as the Observation Wheel, this Montreal landmark provides giddy views over the Old Port.
A short distance out of Quebec City is the natural showstopper known as Chute-Montmorency, a thunderous waterfall that is actually higher than Niagara Falls. A narrow suspension bridge set across its lip lets you watch the tumbling water spill over the edge.
The interior of the church is among the most dramatic in the world and regarded as a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture. Spend time admiring the decorated vaults and sanctuary, their intricate woodcarvings highlighted by a palate of blues, azures, reds, purples, silver, and gold.
Quebec City's Château Frontenac is the most iconic building in the capital, and the province. This historic hotel was opened in 1893 as one of Canada's grand railway hotels, built by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
A sightseeing tour of Old Montreal is not complete without exploring the venerated Notre-Dame Basilica. Completed in 1829, this landmark building with its twin towers and neo-Gothic facade stands regally over Place d'Armes.
Your Quebec City sightseeing experience will invariably begin with a tour of the delightful Quartier Petit-Champlain, a neighborhood full of artisan boutiques, intimate bars and restaurants, and plenty of historic landmarks.
Quartier Petit-Champlain numbers scenic Place Royale among its visitor attractions, a lovely little square distinguished by a stone church that dates back to 1688.
Quebec's most populous city, Montreal stands at the confluence of French and English tradition, making it a truly fascinating place to explore and absorb. Montreal is the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the developed world, after Paris.
Known as the Magdalen Islands in English, this small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence is blessed with a collection of impressive, salt-encrusted beaches. In fact, much of the island chain is linked by a series of thread-like sand dunes.
The most rewarding time of year to visit Gatineau Park is during the fall, when the forests blanketing this hilly region near the city of Gatineau appear as a mantle of copper and gold. Visitors can indulge in a variety of recreational activities, including walking and cycling. There are also facilities for camping.
Completed in 1850, the original purpose of this active military installation was to defend Quebec City against a potential American attack. A military museum is found within its star-shaped walls, housed in the fort's former 18th-century powder magazine. During the summer months, visitors are treated to a daily morning precision drill Changing of the Guard ceremony.
This excellent cultural facility in Gatineau is one of Canada's flagship museums. Showcasing the country's 15,000-year human history, anything from First Peoples cultures to the Seven Years' War, the museum's collection contains over three million artifacts and documents, with some on display in the permanent exhibitions.
Quebec is one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada and home of the Québécois nation. A vast province, Quebec touches the Arctic Circle in the north, borders the American states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York in the south, and Hudson Bay in the west. The region encloses Quebec City and Montreal, numerous historic sites, and a diverse landscape, anything from isolated Arctic tundra to wild and windswept coastlines. Indeed, this is a destination of enviable contrast that stimulates the imagination and encourages wanderlust.
So, just how cool is Quebec? Click through for ideas of where to go and what to see.
Discover Quebec's stunning landscapes and hidden historic sites
Exploring Canada's largest province
TRAVEL Canada
Quebec is one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada and home of the Québécois nation. A vast province, Quebec touches the Arctic Circle in the north, borders the American states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York in the south, and Hudson Bay in the west. The region encloses Quebec City and Montreal, numerous historic sites, and a diverse landscape, anything from isolated Arctic tundra to wild and windswept coastlines. Indeed, this is a destination of enviable contrast that stimulates the imagination and encourages wanderlust.
So, just how cool is Quebec? Click through for ideas of where to go and what to see.