In 1534, explorer Jacques Cartier claimed what is now Canada for the Kingdom of France. New France was later governed by navigator/explorer Samuel de Champlain. In 1608 Champlain established Québec City as the center of the colony and began fortification with a wall surrounding it. The fortification inspired Dickens’ nickname for the city.
In 1759, in the Battle of the Abraham Plains in Québec City, France lost the colony to Britain. To protect their new acquisition, the British built an impressive citadel, which completed fortification of the city. The citadel continues to be an active military base to this day.
Today, Québec City is an important cultural and tourism destination. The imposing Château Frontenac looms over the town, which has beautiful winding cobblestone streets lined with cafés, restaurants and boutiques. It’s truly charming.
We spent the morning sightseeing. As part of the sailing life, the afternoon was spent catching up on practical chores.
