Vieux Quebec City

In this evaluation I consider Vieux Quebec to be the entire old town within the original walled City and Basse Ville, which includes the Old Port area the oldest part of the City. Upper Town is considered the majority of Vieux Quebec elevated from the port and developed a bit later. This holds the majority of sites and landmarks. Lower Town is the Basse Ville along the waterways. Major landmarks in Vieux Quebec include Place Royal (the original Quebec civic bldg constructed in 1608), La Citadelle de Quebec, Le Chateau Frontenac, Notre-Dame de Quebec Cathedral, Gare du Palais, Chapelle des Ursulines, Théâtre Capitole, and Édifice Price.

Vieux Quebec is Quebec’s most walkable and urban district filled with shops, restaurants & bars, and lots of cultural amenities and entertainment. It can also feel overrun by tourism, especially in the summer season, but seems increasingly to be adding year round housing especially in the lofts in the Vieux Port helping it to establish more neighborhood amenities. Other great amenities in Vieux Quebec include its extensive parks, plazas, promenades, well connected bike lanes in Lower Town and many pedestrian only or car light streets. My hope is that Vieux Quebec continues to add more neighborhood amenities and also keep more streets off limits to cars where they don’t really belong given the narrow streets and thick pedestrian activity.”

Click here to view my Vieux Quebec Album on Flickr

URBAN STRENGTHS:

* Gorgeous architecture spanning the 17th century to the early 20th century. This includes the original ramparts of Vieux Quebec that were preserved and restored in the late 19th century.
* Many wonderful landmarks.
* Tons of shops, boutiques and clothing stores, and gift stores. Also a couple drug stores
* Great array of restaurants, bars, and cafes. Also tons or art galleries especially in Basse Ville, a couple historic theaters, plenty of museums, lots of live music in bars & pubs, and plenty of night clubs.
 * Very pedestrian friendly, although I wish they would restrict cars more than they do. Several pedestrian streets including, Corridor du Littoral (waterfront promenade), Terrasse Dufferin (boardwalk over looking Lower Vieux Quebec) Rue du Petit Champlain/Rue Sous-le-Fort, and Rue Saint Jean is often a pedestrian street.
* Great parks and plazas including Place des Canotiers, Parc du Bastion-de-la-Reine, Parc des Gouverneur’s, Place d’Armes, Place D’Youville, Esplanade Park, Le parc du Vieux Port, Place Jean-Pelletier, Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, Moulin Cavalier Park, etc.
* Good amount of for sale housing but generally pretty expensive but some cheaper smaller condos.
* Excellent dedicated bike paths along the waterfronts.

URBAN WEAKNESSES:

• No major supermarkets or department stores.
• Very touristy. Not many locals who live here nor authenticity.
• Some apartments in Vieux Quebec but generally very expensive.