Tourists in Quebec: Basilique-Cathédrale Notre Dame de Québec

The exterior of the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica Cathedral is relatively simple, with no elaborate reliefs or ornamentation. It also looks quite small from the front until you notice how far back it extends.




The interior, however, is another matter altogether.




Here is a closer view of the altar and its ornate, golden baldaquin (canopy of state).




The magnificent stained glass windows along the nave depict scenes from the life of Mary. Here are the three from the childhood of Jesus: his birth, his presentation at the temple, and his finding in the temple.

Tourists in Quebec: La Boutique de Noël

I had never seen a Christmas specialty shop before. How wonderful to have a spot of Christmas all year round!

See what's reflecting what at James' Weekend Reflections.

Tourists in Quebec: Quartier Petit Champlain

Old, charming, narrow buildings full of fashion and artisan shops and cafés squished into a long, narrow street—welcome to the Petit-Champlain Neighborhood of Vieux-Québec.




The signs of the shops are just as interesting and lovely as the merchandise that they sell and I couldn't help but think of Raf and his Hang Ups blog. This Woodpecker's Shop specializes in wooden sculptures and products. (What else?)




I saw these cats at a window watching people as they walk by and I just had to take their photo for dear, sweet Luna.




Halfway down Rue du Petit-Champlain is a small park where shoppers can rest their weary feet. The neighborhood is built at the foot of the cliff below Château Frontenac and the cliff's stone can easily be seen in the park.




I'd never seen building, shop or house numbers with 1/2 before.




At the southern end of the street is the Petit-Champlain Mural, illustrating the origins and history of the neighborhood.




At the northern end of the street is Breakneck Steps, which is how one walks between Quartier Petit Champlain and the upper town of Old Quebec. There are several shops and cafés just off the stairs to break the climb. However, if your knees really can't handle them, there is always the Funiculaire du Vieux Québec.

Tourists in Quebec: Vieux-Québec

For someone like me with a fascination for historical architecture, walking the streets of Old Quebec was an absolute joy. Here are some of my favorite buildings, though not always because I think they are beautiful.

Hôtel du Parlement. Standing just outside the walls of Old Quebec, half of the Parliament Building had scaffolding at the time of our visit. It has a lovely fountain with a gorgeous sculpture in the middle of its grand, horseshoe-shaped stairs.



Château Frontenac. This huge, sprawling old hotel is the iconic landmark of the old city.




Hôtel de Ville de Québec. Quebec City Hall was built on the site of an older Jesuit college.




Édifice Price. Narrow, but at 18 floors, it is the tallest building in the old walled city.




Édifice Gérard D. Lévesque. Formerly the Quebec City Courthouse.




Old Post Office. With a statue of Monseigneur François-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval, the first Roman Catholic bishop of New France.




Séminaire de Québec. The oldest part of the seminary, with a large courtyard in the middle.




Notre-Dame de Québec. The basilica-cathedral of the oldest Roman Catholic parish in North America.




Chapelle des Ursulines. The convent of the Ursulines in Quebec City is the oldest institution of learning for women in North America.




Eglise Saint-Roch. Not located inside the walled city of Vieux Québec at all, my husband and I accidentally came upon the church while we were walking around the vicinity of our hotel soon after we arrived. The Church of Saint Roch is the largest church in Quebec City.

Tourists in Quebec: Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Qúebec

Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law, my husband and I were able to spend several days in Quebec City. Of course, we had to visit the National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec. The museum is housed in three buildings, built in different styles in different periods. The original home of the museum is the neoclassical Gérard Morisset building, inaugurated in 1933.




The Gérard Morisset building was designed by architect Wilfrid Lacroix and the reliefs on the facade were sculpted by Émile Brunet. I do not know who designed the metalwork of these side doors or even if they were part of the original building, but I think they're magnificent.




The original museum was built only 100 meters away from a prison which had been standing there since 1867. In 1991, after much renovation, the old Quebec City Prison was inaugurated as part of the museum. It is named the Charles Baillargé building, after the architect-engineer-surveyor who designed the prison.




The museum kept a few of the prison cells intact, to show what prison life was like in the 19th century. The cells are tiny, with barely enough room for a narrow cot, a pail and a bowl.




Also inaugurated in 1991, the granite and glass Grand Hall serves as the museum's reception area and connects the two older buildings. The sculpture in front is by Québécois artist Jean-Pierre Morin titled "Trombe" (Waterspout). I've just discovered that it's for sale, in case any of you are interested.




The funky skylight and plant-topped roof of the Grand Hall is best appreciated from the tower of the prison.




The Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Qúebec is located on the Plains of Abraham, overlooking the St. Lawrence River. It was the site of a 1759 battle between the British and the French, pivotal for deciding the fate of North America during the Seven Years' War.




The Plains of Abraham were named not after the biblical figure but after the man who lived near the field and used it for grazing his livestock. It is also known as Battlefields Park.




Oh, and in case you're wondering why I don't have pictures of the artwork inside the museum, photography isn't allowed.