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Historic neighborhood · Quebec, Quebec
Quartier Petit-Champlain and Place Royale
The lower, oldest part of the city at the foot of the cliff: cobbled lanes with shops and restaurants, the square where Champlain founded Quebec and the church Notre-Dame-des-Victoires.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Quartier Petit-Champlain and Place Royale
The Basse-Ville, between the cliff and the river, is where Samuel de Champlain founded the city in 1608. Place Royale, a small stone‑paved square, marks the site of the first French habitation. Around it are restored stone houses from the 17th and 18th centuries and the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church, dating to 1688, one of the oldest stone churches in North America.
On one wall of the square a large mural, the Fresque des Québécois, depicts characters from the city’s history in trompe‑l’oeil. Next to it, the Quartier Petit-Champlain is made up of narrow lanes, such as rue du Petit-Champlain, with artisan shops, galleries and restaurants in old houses.
The Casse‑Cou steps and the funicular connect the neighborhood to the Terrasse Dufferin. In winter the lanes are decorated with lights and Christmas decorations.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours.
Best time
Early in the morning, before tour groups arrive, or late in the afternoon. In December, when the Christmas lights are on.
How to get there
On foot via the Casse‑Cou steps or the funicular from the Terrasse Dufferin. About a 15‑minute walk from Gare du Palais.
Tip
The funicular charges a fee; if you have the energy you can walk down the steps and ride the funicular up.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Quartier Petit-Champlain and Place Royale
What to see at Place Royale?
The Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church, the 17th- and 18th-century stone houses and the Fresque des Québécois mural.
How to get to Petit-Champlain?
By the funicular or the Casse-Cou stairway, from the Terrasse Dufferin in the Haute-Ville.
Where was Quebec City founded?
On Place Royale in the Basse-Ville, where Samuel de Champlain built the first dwelling in 1608.