Greater Quebec Tourist Region

The Greater Quebec Area Tourist Region, bordered on the South by the St Lawrence River, is located in the South Central part of the province of Quebec. It includes The Greater Quebec City Area, and has more than half a million residents, primarily French speaking. This area is divided into four Multi-County Regional Municipalities (MRC) and one city.

The Quebec City incorporates 8 districts, located on the north side of the St.Lawrence (native Quebeckers "the Quebecois" often identify themselves as being from «The North Shore» or «The South Shore», depending upon which side of the river they live).

The Multi-County Regional Municipalities are:

Côte-de-Beaupré.

Ile d'Orleans

Jacques-Cartier.

Portneuf.

Quebec! Is it a country, a province, a region, a city or a community? The name can cause a great deal of confusion, at least for non-residents.

The fact is that there are many ways to interpret the meaning of the word «Québec»: Province of Quebec, Quebec City, Quebec Metropolitan Region (Quebec Tourist Area and two South Shore MRCs), Quebec Tourist Area (the one that we're referring to) and finally the administrative Region of Quebec. Consequently, when you arrive in Quebec City, you are in the Province of Quebec. When speaking about Quebec City, the Quebecois have coined descriptive terminology. Depending upon the context to which they are referring (topography, history, day-to-day life, archeology, culture ...) the city takes on a different name (The Old City, The Old Capital, The Lower-Town, the Upper-Town, or Old Quebec)!!!

South Shore View

"Located where the river narrows, Quebec City has survived four centuries of tumultuous history."

Quebec has one of North America's richest historical legacies.

Quebec's earliest population included Native Americans, as well as settlers from France and England. This probably explains why "les Quebecois" are so warm and welcoming. The name "Quebec", from "Kebec" in the Algonquin (Native American) language means: "There where the river narrows".

Québec viewed from Vieux-Lévis

Considered for a long time as the most likely passage to the continent, the Quebec region was successively conquered by the French, then the English, and invaded by the Americans.

The whole situation led to Quebec City receiving special favors in military defense and fortification matters, with its defenses being integrated harmoniously into its contemporary architecture. The area offers five of the Province's ten classified historical sites.

Your stay in the Quebec Region is an excellent investment, especially if you wish to bring back memories of happy holidays, natural landscapes, photos...

View of Québec City from a room in

Manoir d'Auteuil

What's more, in most of the municipalities (and towns) of the region you'll discover: churches, monuments and historical buildings of all kinds, as well as ancestral homes. The historic surroundings of Quebec City, like the Charlevoix Region's Biosphere Reserve, are a part of UNESCO's Worldwide Heritage List.

The Quebec City Area boasts a varied and active cultural life: with theaters, (live performances) shows, cinemas, opera, a symphony orchestra and many museums. Residents and visitors are invited to participate in popular festivals, such as:

The Winter Carnival

The Summer Festival

The "Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France" Festival

The Quebec City Area is a unique region, offering in seemingly limitless spaces, the advantages of urban living, and the charms of rural life ...

Quebec - an infinite number of leisure activities, and places to stay beckon you! The choices are yours to make:

stay in the city, or in a rural area, near a beautiful park of nature reserve, in:

an hotel or motel

an Inn

a campground

a bed and breakfast

take a trip to the mountains

go fishing on a lake or a river

ice canoeing (winter time)

rent nautical equipment

enjoy a good meal in a restaurant

on a narrow picturesque street

or on the shore of the St-Lawrence River.

take guided tour

in a bus

in an airplane

quench your thirst in

a terrace bar

a pub

browse in a mall

relax in a health center

Practice seasonal activities in

a golf club

You can have a wonderful cruise on the majestic St-Lawrence River and see the whales at Tadoussac.

For those who want a little more, there is "le Site Culturel Amérindien Tsonontwan", that lets you visit the ancestral lands of Tsie8ei Hurons.

In any case, your visit to the region, with its numerous leisure sites, will be unforgettable; thanks to the many:

Theaters

Museums,

Exhibitions

Parks

Antique Shops

Art Galleries

waterFalls

Horseback Riding Centers

Beaches

Fishing and Ice Fishing

Activities specific to the Nordic regions, such as:

Cross-country and Downhill Skiing

Skating

Dog Sledding

Snowmobiling.

As you can see, the choices are almost limitless.