Quebec

Introduction

Lighthouse in Gaspesie, Quebec

© All Rights Reserved snowgirl

Quebec, the large French-speaking province in the eastern part of Canada, is an interesting contrast to most of the rest of North America. Offering a culture and lifestyle that merges the "go-go" free-wheeling individualism of North America with a European attitude, it provides the visitor a unique experience.

Geography

Quebec is Canada's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division; only the territory of Nunavut is larger. It lies in the east of Canada and is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay. To the north are the Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, to the east the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, and to the south the United States (the states of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine). It also shares maritime borders with the Territory of Nunavut and the provinces of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

Cities

Montreal

Montreal is the largest city in Quebec, and has a vibrant mix of French, English and immigrant cultures. Montreal is the party capital of Canada, and has the most fashionable and hip population. It also offers amazing historical and cultural sites, and the famous Montreal smoked meat sandwiches. There is also a wonderful section of the city (known as Old Montreal) that is dedicated to the preservation of the old style buildings, cobbled roads, and sights. This is a quaint part of town, and much more quiet than the party scene of Montreal.

Other Cities and Villages

• Quebec City is the capital of the province of Quebec, one of the oldest cities in North America, and the proud defender of the Francophone culture and language in Canada.
• Gatineau
• Rimouski
• Sherbrooke
• Saguenay
• Tadoussac is a historic village at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Saguenay Rivers. It is the oldest surviving French settlement in the Americas.
• Trois-Rivières

Sights and Activities

• The Laurentians (French: Laurentides) are a mountain range just north of Montreal and a popular getaway for the inhabitants of that city. Mont Tremblant, one of the tallest peaks in the range, is a popular ski resort.

Events and Festivals

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Montreal Jazz Festival Parade

© All Rights Reserved Taffski

The Montreal International Jazz Festival is the largest jazz festival in the world, a title it earned in 2004 according to the Guinness World Record book. The first one was in 1980 and since then it kept on growing and growing until its current proportions. It is held in the summer season, usually at the beginning of July and every year features over 3,000 artists from several dozens of countries. There are a whopping 650+ concerts and welcomes no less than 2.5 million visitors, of which about a third are tourists, some of them planning their holiday around this incredible event. The festival takes place at 10 free outdoor stages and 10 indoor concert halls. As the free outdoor shows are scattered around the city, much of the city comes to a complete stop during those days, as frequently 100,000 people attend one of the free shows, and sometimes even twice that many!

Quebec Winter Carnival

The Quebec Winter Carnival, held in Quebec City since 1894 is the world's largest winter carnival and has given the natives and thousands of visitors a reason to celebrate and indulge in merry-making during cold and snowy winters. This annual event lasts for 17 days and is normally held between the end of January to mid-Febraury.
The carnival takes place in various locations of Old Quebec. The opening and closing ceremonies take place in the legendary Ice Palace in front of thousands of visitors and the mayor of Quebec. 'Bonhomme' , a large snowman sporting a red cap and black buttons, is the official symbol and ambassador of the festivities. Some of the attractions and activities popular at the carnival are the Arctic Spa Village, Snow slides, Giant Table Soccer games, Ice palace, Ice tower, snow rafting and skating, Bistro, Zipline, snow sculpture and canoe races.
Kiosks and other outlets in the city sell the traditional Bonhomme effigy tag for around $10 that gives access to many of the carnival events, however some activites may cost extra.

Others Events and Festivals

• Montreal's Just for Laughs (Juste Pour Rire) brings comedic talent from around the world for a few weeks of hilarity in July.
• Quebec City Summer Festival
• Quebec New France Festival

Weather

Quebec weather is very similar to Ontario weather, with very cold winters from October to April, and hot, humid summers. Southern Quebec has wetter winters, due to the large bodies of waters found there. Care should be taken if not used to winter driving.

Getting there

By Plane

Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (airport code: YUL), formerly called Dorval Airport, near Montreal is the main gateway to the province of Quebec. There are international and domestic flights and Trudeau airport is approximately 20 kilometres from downtown Montreal.

There are dozens of destination, from Canada and the US to the Caribbean Islands, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Jean Lesage International Airport near Quebec City (airport code: YQB) is another international airport but with much less flights compared to Montreal.
Flights mainly go to other Canadian cities but there are connections with Central America, the USA, the Caribbean and even Paris as well.

By Train

Services include the Via Rail service between Windsor and Quebec City, including trains from Toronto, and service from Ottawa. Amtrak provides service to and from New York: the Adirondack travels this way via Albany.

By Car

By Bus

Greyhound, Coach Canada and Acadian Bus connect Quebec to Ontario and the Atlantic provinces like Nova Scotia.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

Via Rail has trains between Montreal and Quebec City, with several intermediate stops.

By Car

Some of the options to rent a car include the following companies:

• Avis
• Budget
• Discount
• Hertz
• National
• Enterprise
• Thrifty

By Bus

Autobus Maheux has buses throughout the northwest regions. Others include Galland Bus, Intercar and Limocar, Orleans Express.

By Boat

Eat

Quebec is known for the invention of poutine, a dish that is oh so good, but could kill you. Poutine is fries, topped with cheese curds and gravy. Available in specialty restaurants and fast food restaurants, this is one meal you don't want to miss while in Quebec.

Drink

Sleep

Language

The official language of Quebec is French; it is the sole Canadian province whose population is mainly French Canadian, and where English is not an official language at the provincial level. For a traveller, it is important to note that in many areas of Quebec, English is not understood by the population. This is more true the further east you head. Brushing up on some basic French is highly advised.

However, the main tourist sites are used to catering to English speaking people. Montreal is an example of a very bilingual city, where most locals know basic English or better. Many stores hire only people with knowledge of both languages. This is true, to a lesser extent, in Quebec City, as it is a tourist site and has a globally respected university. Even then it is quite common if in the more French area's of these two cities to encounter restaurants that do not have english menus.