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Tour · Old town on foot · Quebec

Old Québec on Foot: From the Cannons of the Remparts to the Porte Saint-Jean

A compact stroll through Québec's Upper Town that shows you the quieter corners of the historic center away from the best-known postcard views. You walk from the seminary past the artists' lane and the Governors' Park to the Ursuline convent, then continue along the city wall. The day ends with a drink near the Porte Saint-Jean.

Stops
12
Time
10:00–19:00
On foot
approx. 2.6 km
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This walking tour takes you through the Upper Town of Old Québec, the walled heart of the city, in a single day. Instead of ticking off the best-known photo spots, you'll visit the places where the story of New France comes alive on a small scale: a centuries-old seminary, monuments to the city's founder and its bishop, old stone houses, and a convent that shaped the education of girls in the colony.

You start on Rue des Remparts, where cannons still point toward the river, and walk past the seminary and along the artists' lane Rue du Trésor to the Champlain Monument and into the Parc des Gouverneurs. After lunch on Rue Saint-Louis, you visit the Musée des Ursulines. In the afternoon, you follow the city wall from the Porte Saint-Louis to the Porte Saint-Jean, where the day winds down in a bar. All stops are just a few minutes' walk from one another, so you won't need any rides.

This tour suits you if you'd like to get to know Québec at a relaxed, ordinary pace and enjoy architecture, history, and narrow lanes. Museums play only a supporting role, leaving plenty of time to simply look around and take a break now and then. Expect a few climbs, since the Upper Town sits on a rocky plateau.

Lanes, Convents, and City Gates of the Upper Town

  1. Visit · Historic sites · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    1Rue des Remparts - TWO CANONS

    A great start with views over the Lower Town and the river; the cannons on the wall show Québec's role as a fortress city.

  2. on foot 5 min · 370 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    2Séminaire de Québec

    One of the oldest building complexes in the city; courtyards and access may vary, so check hours in advance.

  3. on foot 2 min · 190 m
    Visit · Monuments · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    3Saint François de Laval Monument

    The monument to Québec's first bishop stands right at the top of the Côte de la Montagne, a short stop with a view of the steep drop to the Lower Town.

  4. on foot 2 min · 120 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    4Rue du Tresor

    A narrow lane where local artists hang their paintings; it's usually quieter in the morning than in the afternoon.

  5. on foot 2 min · 180 m
    Visit · Monuments · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    5Monument Samuel-De Champlain

    A monument to the city's founder at the edge of the terrace; here you can see why Québec was built on this rocky headland.

  6. on foot 3 min · 270 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    6Parc des gouverneurs

    A small park with the obelisk honoring Wolfe and Montcalm, which commemorates both opponents of the 1759 battle together; benches for a short rest.

  7. on foot 2 min · 150 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    7Maillou House

    A stone house from the French colonial era on Rue Saint-Louis; the façade is worth a look even if the interior isn't open.

  8. on foot 1 min · 100 m
    8
    Meal · French · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    8Restaurant Le Clan

    French cuisine just a few steps from the Maison Maillou; it's best to reserve at lunchtime and check opening hours in advance.

  9. on foot 1 min · 30 m
    Visit · Museums (general) · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    9Musée des Ursulines du Québec

    A small museum on the history of the Ursulines and girls' education in New France; check opening hours in advance, as it's often closed on Mondays.

  10. on foot 6 min · 520 m
    Visit · Monuments · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    10Porte St-Louis

    A city gate on the western side of the wall; right next to it is the old powder magazine of the Esplanade.

  11. on foot 6 min · 510 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    11St. John Gate

    The route there follows the city wall past the Porte Kent; the gate marks the transition to lively Rue Saint-Jean.

  12. on foot 3 min · 210 m
    12
    Bar · Cocktail bars · Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–Colline-Parlementaire

    12Bar le Fou du Roy

    A cocktail bar just beyond the gate, a fitting finish after the walk along the wall; check opening hours in advance.

Good to know

  • The Upper Town is hilly and partly cobblestoned, so sturdy, comfortable shoes will make the day more enjoyable.
  • Many buildings, such as the seminary or the Maison Maillou, can also be appreciated well from the outside; check ahead to see what's open to visitors inside.
  • It's worth making a reservation for lunch on Rue Saint-Louis, especially in summer.
  • In winter, paths along the city wall can be icy in places; allow a bit more time between stops.

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Automatically compiled from travelguide195 places (as of 11/05/2026). Travel times are estimated from distance; please check opening hours in advance.

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