In order to respect the Francophone character of early 20 th Century Quebec, the Montreal based architecture firm Ross and Macdonald stuck to an art deco style of construction that mimics the neighbouring Clarendon Hotel. In present day times, the building is now owned by the City of Quebec and the top two floors act as the residence for Quebec’s Head of Government. Oldest skyscraper in North Americaīuilt in 1930-1931 as a new headquarters for the Price Brothers Limited, Édifice Price (Price Building in English) is the tallest building in Old Quebec and one of the oldest skyscrapers in Canada. All the gates aside from Porte Kent, have been restored or re-built at one point or another but the designs still mimic the original construction. Along the wall you’ll find four surviving gates: Porte St. The city’s historic gatesĪlong the eastern perimeter of Old Quebec, stands the only remaining fortified city walls in North America north of Mexico.
Place Royale, right in the heart of the Old Town, is home to some must-admire buildings such as the Centre d’interprétation de la Place-Royale and the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church. Many historians claim that the Lower Town was where French Canada was truly born and efforts have been made over the centuries to maintain its distinct European charm. Here you’ll find Rue du Petit-Champlain, one of North America’s oldest and narrowest streets, which is lined by 17th- and 18th-century mansard-roofed stone buildings. North America’s narrowest streetįrom the base of Le Chateau Frontenac, descend into the scenic passageways of the Old Lower Town. The Citadel Wing also wasn’t part of the original building and was constructed 1899, while the modern Claude-Pratte Wing (with fitness centre and interior swimming pool) was built in 1993.
Several modifications have taken place over the years, such as the addition of the central tower in 1926. For the hotel he borrowed influence from French castles and took its name from Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac, a key figure in the history of New France (he was governor of the colony from 1672 to 1682, and again from 1689 to 1698). The architect was from New York, designer of Montréal’s Windsor and Viger Stations. Perched on top of the Cap Diamant, it was designed by architect Bruce Price and is a primary example of the many château-style hotels that were built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in an attempt to draw in luxury tourism (the Gare du Palais train station is another example of similar construction work from that period).
The skyline of Quebec is dominated by the luxury Châteauesque-style Château Frontenac Hotel. Here’s a quick guide (and map) to some of the most notable buildings in the city. Over the years, however, modern elements have been added as well as the restoration of older buildings – creating a beautiful contrast between the historical and contemporary. However, instead of mimicking the streets of Paris, much of Quebec actually takes influence from Normandy and the North of France. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, a major part of its appeal is its French charm and cobbled streets. One of the oldest cities on the continent of North America, the architectural style of Quebec City is a melting pot of eras and styles from the past 400 years.