Quebec language. Quebec - a city in Canada: sights and interesting facts

Once these lands were called New France, and to this day they are the French-speaking part of the country. Those who wish to move here permanently should learn not only English, but also French.

New France

This name was inherent in the territory of North America, which was in the possession of France from 1534 to 1763. Although in 1534 Cartier declared Canada the property of the French crown, real colonization began in 1604, and in 1605 the first city of Port Royal was founded by Samuel de Champlain.

In 1608, he also founded the city of Quebec, which became the main center of New France in Canada. The history of this area began with the fact that King Henry 4 gave the rights to trade in furs in Canada to merchants from Rouen.

It was they who appointed Samuel de Champlain as their representative to negotiate and cooperate with the local Indian tribes. When the city of Quebec began to be built, the fur trade began to be conducted in it.

In 1642, Montreal was founded - a port city, which today is the largest in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is the largest province in Canada, covering almost 17% of its territory. If we compare it with European countries, then it occupies an area equal to three France.

Province of Quebec

located between Atlantic Ocean and the province of Ontario, the lands of Quebec cover an area of ​​1,542,000 km2. It is the second most populous Canadian province. The largest city is Montreal, the capital is Quebec, which is home to over 700,000 people.

The official language of this area is French, which is considered native to 80% of the population of this area. Its constitutional rights include the ability to:

• independently adopt laws regarding the property and criminal rights of its citizens;
• administer justice independently;
• build their own education and health systems.

With such constitutional freedoms, the separatists present here demand its separation from Canada. In referendums held on this issue, by a majority of votes, the city of Quebec with the entire territory remains in the federation. The main industries developed in this area are aerospace, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, metallurgy and information technology.

Quebec

Quebec is a city in Canada, which is the economic and administrative center of the province of the same name. The old part of the city is located where it was founded - on a large cliff hanging over the St. Lawrence River.

Jean Cartier, who declared these lands the property of the French crown, gave the cliff the name "diamond" because of the inclusions in the rock of many crystals. Once upon a time, the fur trade flourished here for 60 years. Although many farmers stopped cultivating the land and moved into the "forest tramps", as fur hunters were then called, furniture making, shipbuilding, weaving and other crafts flourished in Quebec.

Due to the opposition of the local Indians, who often attacked the population, it grew very slowly. Only by the end of the 17th century did it begin to expand and strengthen, which had a positive effect on the increase in the number of emigrants from France who went to Canada in search of a better life.

Today Quebec is a center for development high technology, tourism and administrative center largest province in the country.

Central part of the city

From the point of view of travelers, although beautiful, modern Quebec (city) is unremarkable. Interesting places are located in its old districts.

The central part of the city has become a UNESCO heritage, as it is here that granite buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries have been preserved. The famous Frontenac Castle is also located here, from the windows of which you can see the picturesque banks of the St. Lawrence River.

The old part of the city is divided into 2 districts surrounded by the city wall. Bass-Ville is located at the foot of the Cap Diaman mountain and is an old French-style streets filled with boutiques and cafes. Once it was a district of merchants and merchants.

Haute-Ville, with its cobblestone pavements and architecture, is reminiscent of the old European cities. Here tourists are expected by carriages, street cafes, an ancient monastery and museums. The center of Haute-Ville is occupied by a five-pointed fortress, the largest in North America.

No less interesting is Notre Dame Cathedral, built in 1647, and you can stay for the night in beautiful hotel"Chateau Frontenac", located in the castle, which is a copy of the original, standing in the Laura Valley.

From one area to another can be reached by funicular.

Upper Quebec

The decoration of the upper city is old lock Chateau Frontenac, which has retained its former beauty and grandeur to this day. Built in Gothic Renaissance style. Its turrets and walls are visible from anywhere in the city.

The castle looks like the palace of a fairy princess, and its conversion into an extravagant hotel has made this place very popular with tourists. The interior decoration and tapestries are perfectly preserved from the 19th century.

Right behind the hotel is Duferin Terrace, near which there is a monument to the man who founded Quebec. The city (photos confirm this) remembers and honors the memory of Samuel de Champlain, the first unofficial governor of the province. Quebecers love to look out from the terrace at the picturesque banks of the river. No less beautiful in the nearby Governor's Park.

Military gatherings, executions and public punishments used to be held on the Army Square. Today, there is a fleet museum and a monument to the Faith, dedicated to the activities of Catholic missionaries in Canada. In the northern part of the square, paintings and crafts by local artists and artisans are exhibited. Nearby cafes and 18th century buildings are reminiscent of Paris of that time.

No less interesting to visit the Holy Trinity and the monastery of the Ursulines.

lower city

If you go down the “dizzying staircase” from the Duferin terrace, you can get to lower Quebec. Once it was here that the first settlement founded by de Champlain was located. It consisted of several wooden houses and a warehouse where furs were stored.

In the lower town is Montmorency Park and Royal Square, on which in 1686 a bust of Louis 14 was placed, replaced in our time by its copy.

One of the most famous sights of this place is the old church of Notre Dame, built in 1688 in honor of the victories of the French army over the British.

In the museum of antique furniture and utensils, you can get acquainted with the life of the inhabitants of the city of the 17th-19th centuries. The Museum of Civilization is dedicated to the activities and development of society since the founding of the French colony in Canada.

Citadel

Built by the French in 1750, the star-shaped fortress was supposed to protect the then few inhabitants of Quebec from the British. As the city grew, the need arose to expand the citadel, which was carried out in 1820 by the British, who sought to protect the population from American attacks.

Today it houses the most elite military unit in Canada - the 22nd Royal Regiment. In the former gunpowder warehouse there is a museum of the famous regiment. Not far from the Citadel are attractions such as the Houses of Parliament, built in the French Renaissance style and the Grand Theater of Quebec.

Climate in Quebec

Unique is not only the history of this region or Quebec itself (city). The climate here is no less famous than the monuments of architecture.

It is characterized by sharp temperature changes, a long winter lasting from September to April, and a short hot summer. It is the inhabitants of this province who know the concept of "icy" rain, during which drops, falling to the ground, turn into "prickly" and sharp pieces of ice or small hail.

Also frequent in winter are temperature drops from -30 to +8 degrees for several days. No less famous are the Quebec winds that blow here at any time of the year. If in summer they soften the exhausting heat, then in winter they are difficult to resist.

That is why the city authorities have allocated funds for the construction of tunnels connected to the subway. Now, to go from the office to a restaurant or shops, you do not need to go through windy Quebec. The city, whose hotels hospitably await travelers all year round, is accessible to tourists underground.

Quebec today

Sometimes it is difficult for tourists to understand, Quebec is a city of which country? In English-speaking Canada, there is a huge French-speaking territory that has retained its culture and identity since the colonists from France settled the province.

Today, Montreal and Quebec - the two largest in this territory - are the concentration of cultural and economic values ​​​​of these places. These lands have mountains, forests, islands and 130,000 bodies of water. This rich natural resources the region was preserved not only for the descendants of the colonists, but also for the indigenous population of Canada. In 50 villages located in the province, 11 Indian tribes live. Each of the villages is a tourist center where you can stop and "plunge" into the life of the indigenous people.

No less famous are the ornithological reserves of Quebec, where you can observe the life of 270 species of birds.

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The province of Quebec could accommodate France, Spain and the UK combined. However, almost all of its population is concentrated in the southern part - on the lands of the fertile and picturesque valley of the St. Lawrence River and to the south of it. Here, 99.5% of the population of Quebec lives on 30% of the territory; the rest is almost deserted expanses of taiga and tundra (which starts already from 55 ° north latitude, i.e. even a little south of the latitude of Moscow), with a rare Indian and Eskimo population - and huge hydropower and mineral resources of the Canadian crystalline shield. From the south to the valley of the full-flowing St. Lawrence River, the northern spurs of the Appalachian Mountains emerge. In the north, the Laurentian plateau breaks off to the valley, from which many small rivers rush down like waterfalls. One of these rivers, which flows into the river. St. Lawrence just below Quebec City, forms famous waterfall Montmorency is almost twice as high as Niagara and much more picturesque. The landscapes of Quebec are so diverse and enchanting that it has received the unofficial name "Beautiful Province" in Canada. (La Belle Province).

The province of Quebec is to some extent a special world not only within Canada, but also for the entire North American continent. It has developed what in Canada is called a "special society" ("distinct society", "societe distincte"), with its own language, lifestyle, value system - and with its own hierarchy of cities, in which 78.5% of the population of this province lives. And before talking about these cities separately, I would like to note what unites them, regardless of size: all large, medium and most "small" cities of Quebec _ francophone(including those with English names). The three largest and oldest cities - Montreal, Quebec and Trois-Rivieres - are located on the banks of the mighty (in terms of high water content equal to our Volga) St. Lawrence River. The national anthem of Canada (which, by the way, was composed in Quebec in French, and later very loosely translated into English) calls the valley of this river the "blessed cradle" of Canadians (beni foot son berceau!).

CHERKASOV Arkady Ivanovich - Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Head of the Department of Political Problems of Canada, ISKR Academy of Sciences. Copyright © 2008.

Continuation. For the beginning, see: "USA * Canada", 2008, N 1.

Acquaintance with the province of Quebec usually begins with the city, which for almost three centuries played the role of an economic and cultural capital Canada, and until recently the role of its maritime and air gate- from Montreal.

According to data for 1996, Montreal's "census metropolitan area" totaled 3327 thousand inhabitants (according to the 2001 census 1 - 3511 thousand, and according to an estimate at the beginning of 2008 - 3375 thousand 2) and then consisted of "the city of Montreal itself" - 1016 thousand people and territorially merged with it "cities" (and in fact urban areas) Laval - 330 thousand, Longueuil - 130 thousand, Montreal-Nora -

80 thousand, Saint Laurent - 75 thousand, Verdun - 60 thousand, Chateauge - 40 thousand, Lachine - 35 thousand, and dozens of others. Many of them are located within "Montreal proper", representing, nevertheless, officially "separate cities" with their own municipal bodies. Such, for example, are the richest and most prestigious areas - the "cities" of Westmount, Utremont, Mont-Royal (approximately 20 thousand inhabitants each), Hampstead - 7 thousand, the more modest Côte Saint-Luc - 30 thousand, and many others. In 2000, the provincial government decided to officially merge all adjacent "cities" located on the river island of Montreal, with the "city of Montreal proper" occupying its central part (and all small towns on the right, south coast the St. Lawrence River - with the largest of them - Longueuil), and the formation of unified municipal bodies under the authority of single (for the "island" Montreal and Longueuil) mayors. This caused protests from municipal officials and part of the inhabitants of these small towns - especially the richest of them - losing their independent status and, accordingly, a separate budget.

The second largest city in the province is the capital city of Quebec (694 thousand inhabitants in 2001). It also consists of a historical core - "the city of Quebec proper", in which only 170 thousand people live, and the "cities" of Beauport, Sainte-Foy, Charlebourg (about 70 thousand inhabitants each), Sillery (12 thousand), Vanier (11 thousand), as well as many others, including the picturesque Levi (40 thousand inhabitants) on the opposite, right bank of the St. Lawrence River, actually merged with it. Here, the provincial authorities also insist on the official merger of the municipal bodies of all the "cities" of the left bank under the auspices of the mayor's office of Quebec, and the right bank - "headed" by the city of Levy, which, as in Montreal, caused protests from part of the population. Municipal reform of the

of the native agglomerations of the province of Quebec, which also embraced the left-bank suburbs of the federal capital (the union of the Quebec cities of Gatineau with Hull, Aylmer, and others, but without the formation of a "capital federal district", as in the USA 3), is still far from complete.

Next in terms of population (160 thousand) follows Saguenay, or, more correctly, Saguenay (Saguenay) formed in 2002, also consisting of merged cities, including the university city of Chicoutimi with its industrial neighbor, the city of Jonquiere, each of which has a population of 60,000 people. Then come: the "capital" of the most fertile agricultural region of Southern Quebec - Estria, or the Eastern Cantons - the city of Sherbrooke (160 thousand) and the old (founded in 1634), but now purely industrial ("world capital of newsprint production") Trois-Rivières - 140 thousand inhabitants.

In addition to the predominance of the French language, Quebec cities are distinguished from other cities in Canada by a special lifestyle due to the fact that the majority of the population here is made up of a very special people - French Canadians, or, more precisely, Franco-Quebecs who do not consider themselves French 4.

There are more than seven million French Canadians in Canada (all of them are descendants of only ten thousand settlers of the 17th-ro - early 18th century from northern France), of which six million people live in Quebec. However, in the last two or three decades, the French-speaking inhabitants of this province prefer to call themselves simply Quebecois - "quebecois" (quebecois).

Once the city of Quebec was the first capital of all of Canada, or rather, the North American "New France", which covered a significant part and territory of the modern United States. The French appeared in North America before the English. The first to sail here was the French sailor Jacques Cartier, who in 1534 discovered the St. Lawrence River - a wonderful waterway deep into the continent. The English colonies, whose inhabitants were at enmity with the Indians, were located to the south, in a narrow strip along Atlantic coast, while the French, who had established relatively good relations with the Indians, quickly expanded their possessions, adding to them both the Great Lakes region and the Mississippi Valley - the heart of the newly discovered continent. It seemed that a great power, which was bound to emerge in fertile and fertile North America, would develop on the basis of French culture and would speak French.

But history decreed otherwise. Due to the strategic mistake of the French government, which decided not to allow Huguenots and other "dissidents" (the most energetic and mobile part of society) into the colonies, the settlement

3 This idea has been in the air since 1958, when the federal National Capital Commission was created. But she constantly encounters the implacable opposition of the provincial authorities of Quebec ("not an inch of the sacred Quebec land to the feds!").

4 For more information about French Canadians, see: Koleneko V.A. French Canada in the past and present. M., 2006; Golubeva-Monatkina N. I. French language in Canada and the USA. M, 2005; Klokov V. T. French language in North America. Saratov, 2005; as well as reviews of these books in the journal "USA * Canada": Baranovsky K. Yu. French language in Canada and the USA, 2006, N 12; Komkova E. G. Quebecers are recognized as a nation, the Quebec problem remains unresolved, 2007, N11.

"New France" went very slowly. As a result of the Seven Years' War of 1757-1763. France was defeated and lost its North American possessions. The French settlers in Quebec (at that time - 70 thousand people), partially mixed with the Indians, remained here to live as a conquered people: only 270 people agreed to leave for France, which was already alien to them.

After the British conquest in 1763, immigration from France practically ceased. But the birth rate and natural increase until the middle of the 20th century, they kept at a record (for peoples of European origin) level. This demographic phenomenon, supported by the Catholic Church, was called "revenge of the cradles" in local journalism. In more than two centuries of isolated development, the Quebecers have become culturally, linguistically, and socio-economically distinct from the European French to a much greater extent than the Anglo-Canadians from the British. The population of Quebec is officially recognized in Canada as a "special society"; Québécois themselves, for the most part, regard themselves as a separate nation, 5 and the provincial legislature is called "National Assembly".

When Canada achieved independence from Great Britain, two official languages ​​were proclaimed in 1969 at once: English and French. Moreover, the people speak an old northern French dialect with many "local" words and expressions that were already born in Canada under the influence of English and even Indian languages. Suffice it to say that the French "cheval" (horse) sounds in Quebec as "zhual" (for which the local dialect itself was called "zhual"), "goodbye" - "bonjour!" (i.e. like "hello"), but "tua e mua" (toi et moi, those. "you and me") here becomes "tue pi mue". (By the way, in Quebec, in contrast to France, they very often turn to unfamiliar and semi-familiar people with "you").

For a long time, conquered Quebec was one of the poorest provinces in Canada. All wealth, industrial enterprises, business, technological skills belonged to the descendants of later immigrants to Canada - the Anglo-Canadians and Americans. The French Canadian youth had only three possible ways to improve his social status: to become a priest, a lawyer or a doctor. The local elite said: "It should be so: business and technology are the work of heretics, Anglo-Saxon Protestants, and we, French Canadians, traditional Catholics, poor but proud, strong in our spirituality." A peculiar feeling has developed in Quebec society - a mixture of an inferiority complex (due to poverty and backwardness) and a superiority complex (due to its Catholic "spirituality").

But that was over when, in the 1960 elections, young liberals led by Jean Lesage came to power in Quebec. "Spirituality - spirituality," they said, but in everything else we must be no worse than others.

On November 27, 2006, the existence of the Quebec "nation within a united Canada" was officially recognized by the federal House of Commons at the suggestion of the leader of the ruling Conservative Party, Stephen Harper (Koleneko V.A. Recognition of the Quebec nation. - Vestnik ROIK, 2007, N 23, pp. 14 - 15), which caused strong objections even in the ranks of the party he leads, up to the passive resignation of one of the ministers of the federal government.

The new government began the reforms that Quebec called the "Quiet Revolution" and successfully implemented them in 20 years. The Quebecers began with the restructuring of public education, directing it to practical purposes. A whole new generation of engineers, technologists and, most importantly, businessmen, conducting modern business in their native French language, was created. The world's largest hydroelectric power plants were built in the Quebec North, the world's cheapest electricity, some of which was exported to the United States to pay off debts, allowed the country to quickly develop its own industry. Quebec alone, which now produces a little over one-fifth of Canada's total GDP, is about the size of Austria or Sweden. And, what is very important, a significant part of this wealth was directed to the protection and support of the national culture and the French language. Having gained wealth with the help of wealthy English-speaking neighbors, Quebec has not lost, but even strengthened its national (French Canadian) identity.

Quebecers remember and preserve their customs and are proud of them. Colorful folk festivals are held here, the brightest of them is the winter carnival in Quebec, which attracts thousands of tourists from the neighboring English-speaking provinces of Canada, from the USA, France and other countries of the world (this is the second carnival in terms of the number of guests after the famous carnival in Rio de Janeiro). Guests are attracted by the ancient city of Quebec - a true gem of late medieval French architecture. For an American, a trip to Quebec is "the cheapest way to see Europe without crossing the ocean." The only city in North America where the city wall has been preserved, Quebec is declared by UNESCO as part of the "world cultural heritage". In 2002, Quebec expected to host the Winter Olympic Games, a lot of money was spent on their preparation, but at the last moment the right to them was intercepted by the American Salt Lake City.

Another Quebec holiday borrowed from the Indians is the spring harvest of sweet maple sap, from which delicious and healthy maple syrup is brewed in the forest "sugar" houses. It contains no sugar, but is sweet as honey and is included in many Quebec dishes.

The main holiday of Quebec is the Day of Jean-Baptiste (i.e. John the Baptist, considered the "heavenly patron" of the French Canadians), sometimes simply called "Quebec Day". It is celebrated on June 24, when merry processions, dancing in the streets and evening fireworks are held. In essence, this is the same holiday as our Ivan Kupala Day (in Russia it is also June 24, but this is according to the old, church calendar; according to the new style, it falls on July 7). "Quebec Day" is celebrated in the province much more widely than the one that comes a week later, on July 1, Canada-wide National holiday- Canada Day.

The indigenous inhabitants of the province of Quebec - Indians (according to the 2001 census 6-130 thousand people), live side by side with the French Canadians, partly mixed with them, and just like the Inuit Eskimos living in the Far North of Quebec (11 thousand), with the support of the provincial government, they try to preserve their national customs and culture. However, people of many ethnic groups live in the province, whose ancestors settled in Quebec later than the ancestors of the French Canadians; many of them, especially from among the Catholics - the Irish or the Scottish highlanders, once in the French-speaking environment, completely "Frenchized" (while retaining names like Johnson, Ryan, Rowan, Harvey or Berne). In the 2001 census, only 680,000 Quebecers reported their "pure French" ancestry, while 3,414,000 people reported "pure Canadian", more than in any other region of Canada. There were many who named their (full or partial) British ethnic origin - Irish (290 thousand), English (220 thousand) and Scottish (160 thousand); ethnic Italians (250 thousand), Germans (90 thousand), Jews (80 thousand), Russians (25 thousand), black French-speaking Haitians (75 thousand), Greeks (60 thousand), Chinese (65 thousand). The vast Sino-Vietnamese quarter in the heart of Montreal has become one of the city's exotic attractions.

Quebecers have a very good attitude towards Russia. The province was with her back in 1985-1987. concluded agreements on economic cooperation, including in the development of the North 7 . In 1999 Quebec hosted the international "Summit on the North", which was attended by representatives of 15 countries, including Russia. This meeting had an unofficial motto: "Quebec - Capital of the World North". After all, the most extensive and rich in resources northern territories world belong to Russia and Canada. I would like to hope that international cooperation in the development of these resources and the study of the Quebec socio-economic experience will help other northern countries.

6 www.statcan.ca/english/Pgbd/demo28f.htm

7 For more details, see: Cherkasov A. I. Modernization of the Quebec economy in the 60s - 90s: the experience of the development of the North. - "USA - EPI", 1996, N 11; his own. Quebec: Russia's Northern Connections. - "USA * Canada", 1999, N 2.

to become just as rich and happy, while retaining their national and cultural identity, as Canadian Quebec has preserved it.

The struggle of French Canadians for their national rights, which escalated in the course of overcoming the former socio-economic backwardness of Quebec in the 1960s and 1970s, gave rise to a separatist movement in the province, the periodic strengthening of which poses a serious threat to the integrity of the Canadian federation. In 1976 - 1985 and 1994 - 2003. in power in the province were the governments of the Quebec Party, whose goal was to achieve the political sovereignty of Quebec (while maintaining economic union with the rest of Canada). At the referendum held on October 30, 1995 on the question of the sovereignty of Quebec, 49.4% of the inhabitants of the province (moreover, the majority of French Canadians) voted for its separation from Canada, and 50.6% for keeping it within Canada. The unity of Canada was saved by only 53,000 votes. In the provincial elections of 2003, the Quebec Liberal Party returned to power in the province, now led by the former leader of the federal Conservative Party, Jean Charet - pro-federalist, but adhering to Quebec's autonomy in many areas (including language and immigration policy).

The official modern name of the province comes from its capital - the city of Quebec, and it - in turn - from the word "kebek", which in the language of one of the Indian tribes means "a place where the waters narrow" (R. St. Lawrence). In French, this name is pronounced as "Kebek", in English - as "Kvibek", with the stress in both cases on the second syllable; so it should be pronounced in Russian. (The sign, similar to our accent mark, which is placed above the first "e" in the French spelling of the word "Quebec", means only that this unstressed "e" must be pronounced distinctly, without "swallowing".). Another linguistic subtlety worth knowing: when the word "Quebec" is used with the article (le Quebec, au Quebec, du Quebec.) - it means provinces, and if without the article (a Quebec, de Quebec.) - then this city Quebec. By the way, its name is increasingly common and Anglo-Canadians begin to pronounce it in the French manner, without the sound "v".

Thus, the ancestors of 80% of Quebecers came from France - the vast majority at least three centuries ago. Residents of "purely British" origin made up only 4.2% of the population, Italian - 2.6, Jewish - 1.2, Arabic - 1.0, Greek - 0.7, Chinese - 0.5. The ethnic composition of the inhabitants of Quebec is less diverse than in Ontario, although dozens of peoples are also represented here. They say that Montreal racial composition for a long time was the most "white" of the multi-million cities in North America. In the last decade, however, its own "black community" has arisen here, but speaking... French. These are immigrants from the island of Haiti (22 thousand people in 1991 and already 70 thousand in 2001), who now make up a significant proportion among Montreal taxi drivers. There is also a Chinatown in Montreal, where a significant proportion are immigrants from Indochinese countries, who also speak French. Even according to the 1996 census, the so-called "visible minorities" made up 12.2% of Montreal residents (for comparison: in Toronto - 31.6%, in Vancouver - 31.1%, while in Quebec City - 1.5%,

Sherbrooke - 2.1, Trois-Rivieres - 0.9, Chicoutimi - 0.4%). Of the 434,000 "visible minorities" then living in the province, Montreal accounted for 401,000. Among them were 122,000 black Quebecers, 74,000 Arabs, 48,000 Chinese, 47,000 Hispanics, 46,000 people from India and Pakistan, 38,000 people from Indochina, etc.

Over the past century, a significant part of the Indians of Quebec, who make up about 2% of the population of the province, have also switched to French. The Inuit (Eskimos) living in the Far North retain their native language.

French in 2001 was fluent in 94.6% of the inhabitants of the province, English - only 45.4%. Under provincial law, children of immigrants are required to be sent to French schools. This policy, carried out since 1974, markedly changed ("Frenchized") the appearance of Montreal and other Quebec cities.

So, 45% of the population of Quebec is concentrated in its largest city, Montreal, which soon after its founding (1642) took the place of Canada's largest economic center for more than three centuries: the Montreal port is accessible to ocean-going ships rising along the mighty St. Lawrence River.

Today it is one of most beautiful cities North America; Western European and North American urban planning and architectural concepts are intricately intertwined in its appearance and architecture, and yet European, perhaps, still prevail. Unlike many North American cities, Montreal is largely built up with solid, stylistically consistent buildings, combined into harmonious ensembles. Many buildings have granite cladding and sculptural decorations. Montreal is compared either with Paris, or with Budapest, or even with St.

spread over many river islands. The city, growing, went out on both banks of the river, absorbing numerous suburbs - Laval, Longueuil, Verdun, Lachine and many towns, whose names, like the names of most of the city's streets, are given in honor of Catholic saints and therefore begin with "Saint" or "Saint" (for this feature, cheerful Montreal received a very ironic-sounding nickname "City of Saints").

Among the many sights of Montreal, the oldest church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecour, built in 1657, and the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Montreal (1824), famous for its luxurious interior decoration, partly copy the Notre Dame Cathedral from the outside. Old Montreal, however, is being attacked by skyscrapers - the headquarters of banks and various companies that dominate the city center. Nearby giant boxes have already overwhelmed the grandeur of Montreal's Notre Dame; others are irresistibly torn to main street city ​​- Sainte-Catherine, and a view of Montreal from the right bank of the river. St. Lawrence, although impressive, is already too reminiscent of the views of New York Manhattan.

The boundaries of the sky have noticeably blurred and moved. The French language is successfully advancing on the English-speaking west of the city. The central Jewish quarter completely disappeared (its inhabitants moved to the more prestigious north-west of the city). Disappeared (demolished, rebuilt and landscaped) former quarters of immigrants and the poor in the port area.

According to the number of museums art galleries, theaters Montreal is unmatched among cities in Canada. Although Toronto overtook it first as an industrial, then as a banking and business center (the headquarters of the largest Montreal banks moved there), and in the late 1970s in terms of population, Montreal's leading role as the largest cultural center country remains unshakable. There are four prestigious universities - French-speaking Montreal and Quebec-in-Montreal (UQAM) and English-speaking McGill and Concordia.

Pavilions that once gave a strong impetus still operate in Montreal further development city ​​of the World Exhibition "Expo-67" (on the island of Saint Helen). This one of the largest expositions in the world is called "Land of the people" (taken from the work of Antoine de Saint-Exupery) or, in the English version, "Man and his world". A major event in international cultural life was the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The ultra-modern cycle track built for the Games was converted into a magnificent "Biodome" in the early 90s. (Biodome)- a museum, or, if you like, a collection of working models of various bioclimatic zones.

Even more original and romantic is the appearance of the capital of the province - the city of Quebec, founded in 1608, where many ancient monuments and a whole area of ​​late medieval buildings - the Latin Quarter - have been preserved. Quebec City is distinctly divided into Upper City, perched on a cliff, and Lower City, sandwiched between a cliff and the St. Lawrence River. In the Upper Town there are many old residential buildings, Catholic cathedrals and other architectural monuments XVII-XIX centuries. There are also several dozen excellent historical and art museums, including the restored Citadel, the Museum of Civilization (no worse than the one of the same name in Halle on the banks of the Ottawa River, but different in organization), the Museum of Quebec, etc. On the narrow streets, usually filled with tourists, there are numerous shops, shops, restaurants and bars. The imposing building of the National Assembly, built in the style of the French Renaissance, and other government buildings attract attention. The city is dominated by a huge hotel "Chateau Frontenac", built in 1893 in the form of a giant castle. A green field spreads not far from it - the plain of Abraham, on which in 1759 the decisive battle for Canada between the British and the French took place, which ended in the victory of the British. On significant dates, a theatrical performance is played here, repeating the course of this battle. In Quebec, monuments were erected to the founder of Canada, Samuel de Champlain, to many statesmen and religious figures of New France, other historical figures of Canada and the whole world - from Joan of Arc and Simon Bolivar to Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. This is truly a monument city and a city of monuments.

The lower city with the narrowest and most ancient street in North America, Sule Cap, is an area where a quarter of a century ago the poor lived predominantly. In the early 1980s, most of the old houses in the Lower City were renovated and internally remodeled (which, of course, led to a significant increase in housing prices and rents). It has turned into a quite respectable and even fashionable district of Quebec. The reason for this reconstruction was the organization in the summer of 1984 of the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the discovery of the river. St. Lawrence ("Roads to Canada") by Jacques Cartier.

The presence of cheap hydroelectric power and mineral raw materials, an abundance of forests, an advantageous transport and geographical position, and in the recent past also a constant surplus of relatively cheap labor (massive relocation to the cities of the previously predominantly agricultural population), led to the rapid development in Quebec of such industries as non-ferrous metallurgy, aluminum smelting (on imported raw materials), woodworking, pulp and paper industry, oil refining (imported oil), textile, clothing th and food industry. Of the mechanical engineering industries, shipbuilding and aircraft building are represented, and to a lesser extent, the automotive industry (branches of American and other foreign firms). The main part of industrial enterprises is concentrated in the Montreal agglomeration. In the city of Quebec, there is a light and food industry, which, however, are inferior in scale to the main tourism industry here. In the cities of Hull and Trois-Rivieres there is a pulp and paper industry. Aluminum smelting is carried out near large hydroelectric power stations in the Sagne region (Chikoutimi-Jonquiere). From the cascades of hydroelectric power plants on the northern rivers (Manicouagan, Uthard, as well as in the James Bay basin, where the largest hydroelectric power station _ La Grande-2, with a capacity of 5.3 million kW) is located, electricity is exported to the USA, supplying the state of New York.

The French Canadian culture of Quebec is distinguished by European sophistication and at the same time a rich and deep identity. It has its own school of fiction, theatrical art, national cinematography, original painting and - on the basis of the richest folk musical folklore - a galaxy of magnificent chansonniers, whose work at one time gave a strong impetus to the post-war revival and flourishing of the well-known in the world musical culture modern France.

Quebec is the largest province in Canada and the largest French speaking territory in the world., it stretches from the fertile and densely populated valley of the St. Lawrence River with forests and tundra to the deserted coast of Hudson Bay.

Most of its seven million inhabitants are firmly attached to their language and culture, inherited from their French ancestors.

The landscapes of Quebec vary from rural valleys with villages along the border with the United States to vast expanses of tundra along the shores of Hudson Bay. The St. Lawrence River flows through the center of Quebec. To the south is the mountainous Gaspe Peninsula. There are two major cities in the province: the cosmopolitan Montreal and Quebec, the provincial capital and the only walled city in North America.

The province of Quebec is the pearl of French-speaking Canada, includes worldwide famous cities Montreal and Quebec, the beautiful mountain and lake regions of the Laurentides, Estri and Charlevoix, the plains and magnificent forests of the lower St. Lawrence, the coastal region of Gaspesie, Saguenay, and Lake Saint-Jean, the land of sailors and fishermen - the Madeleine Islands. This province is one of the most visited areas in Canada, attracting tourists with its natural resources, beautiful tourist centers, ski resorts, sandy beaches and protected areas.

Many people come to this corner of Canada to visit the center of French culture and language - the city of Quebec, or make a trip to Montreal - a city that embodies the modern pace of North America and European elegance. It is Canada's contemporary arts hub, with theaters and museums, ongoing classical and contemporary music concerts, festivals and exhibitions.

Despite a quarter of a century of uncertainty about Quebec's status, it is still part of Canada. The period of the Quiet Revolution began in the 1960s. It was from this moment that the province acquired a distinct French character.

Thanks to the language laws, French becomes dominant; this can be seen in advertising and various signs. And the dominant position of English as the language of business communication, which has continued for a long time, is coming to naught. However, this does not mean that you need to know French to enjoy your trip to Quebec. Anyone an English-speaking tourist might meet in Quebec will understand him and perhaps be able to respond in English. Anglophones did not move en masse from Montreal to Toronto, despite widespread rumors about it. Although the signs and announcements in downtown are in French, you can hear both English and French spoken. A certain charm is given by the English-speaking communities that live in various agricultural regions of Quebec.

The countryside of Quebec is one thing, and the big cities are another. Hundreds of tourists come to Montreal and Quebec City, and if you visit any of these cities, you will understand why. Montreal is a huge metropolis. The past of this city is reflected in numerous sights. Montreal is considered the place with the most attractions in North America.

And Quebec has almost no equal even among European cities. Here, nature and man-made are perfectly combined: a huge rock above the St. Lawrence River, the Lower City, lying at the foot of the rock, Upper City with buildings with steep roofs and a huge Citadel.

The people of Quebec really like suburban areas. Despite the fact that the province has a fairly high level of urbanization, rural areas are of great importance. Montrealers leave for the weekend to their homes in the Laurentian Highlands, the Richelieu Valley and the Oriental Districts, Quebecers to the village or countryside of Charlevoix. Weekend trips are great at any time of the year, but especially in winter. Many ski resorts can be crowded, but you can always enjoy skiing in uncharted terrain in complete silence.

The second route you can take to travel around Quebec is along the north coast of the St. Lawrence River. There are many villages that can only be reached by boat, and islands in the bay (the islands of Magdalena and Anticosti). A third route leads north to the James Bay hydroelectric dams. Further north are the villages of the Inuit and Cree tribes. They are beautifully furnished and we recommend visiting them.

There are airports in every major city. Buses serve the entire province, among the main ones are Voyageur Lines, there are also small regional services. Buses long distance run from the US to Montreal. Limocar bus travel serves the Laurentian Highlands region, while Autobus Viens serves eastern part provinces. Railroads pass only in the southern part of Quebec.

The province of Quebec embodies a combination of European traditions and American flair. The vast expanse of the country is felt everywhere: in the width of the streets, the size of houses and cars, as well as in the cordiality and openness of Quebecers. Drop your prejudices and Quebec will gladly open its arms to you.

All placesAttractionsRestaurants, cafesTransportShoppingHotels

Fields of Abraham

The site of the decisive battle between the British and French, after which Quebec was ceded to Great Britain.

Château Frontenac

Huge hotel built in style medieval castle, from the windows of which impressive views of Quebec open. Churchill and Roosevelt stayed in his rooms more than once.

upper city

The oldest part of Quebec with parks and a powerful fortress, where you can climb on a century and a half funicular.

Le Hobbit Restaurant

An excellent establishment with excellent service, cuisine above all praise and prices above average, but there is something for it.

Art Museum

Creative Canadians placed some of the expositions not just anywhere, but in a former prison, leaving bars on the windows, and spiral staircases in the corridors.

Citadel

Montmorency Falls

One of the main natural attractions of Canada, the waterfall is higher than Niagara.

Parliament of Quebec

A symbol of provincial sovereignty, the building where the Parliament of Quebec sits.

Cheese factory Bergeron

A place where you can learn how milk turns into cheese, and what determines what the final product will be.

Quebec French

Quebec French is not a joke, it really is a variety of French. Written Quebec French is almost the same as classical French, but spoken French can be difficult even for Parisians.

French is the only official language the province of Quebec and Quebec law protects it in various ways. In particular, children of non-Anglophones by birth and those who did not study most of the time in English before coming to Quebec are not allowed to go to public or private, but government-subsidized, Anglophone schools in Quebec. By law, French must be the working language in organizations with more than 50 employees (in practice, in Montreal, it is far from being always observed, moreover, many organizations, for example, banks, are subject not to provincial, but to federal labor laws, where there is, of course, no such requirement). Advertising, signs, road signs, etc. must be francophone or bilingual, but the French lettering must be on top and in larger characters than the English lettering. All this is monitored by a special organization, the Quebec Office of the French Language.

English language

The English language, which once completely dominated the business and social life of Quebec, although it has been supplanted by French, has by no means disappeared from it, especially in Montreal. In Quebec, there is a fairly large English-speaking population (more than 600 thousand), mainly living in the western part of the island of Montreal (West Island), there are numerous Anglophone schools (not for immigrants!) And universities.

There are many companies in Montreal where the working language is English rather than French. In general, Montreal's business and social life is bilingual and proficiency in both languages ​​is often required for employment. Outside of Montreal, English is also spoken in Halle Gatineau and Sherbrooke. The rest of Quebec is dominated by French.

Dictionaries and reference books

• French-English, etc. dictionaries, English explanatory dictionary online

www.quebecregion.com

Quebec is the heart and soul of French Canada. It is located on the St. Lawrence River, right on the rocks at Cape Diamant. Quebec is the provincial capital and is therefore the seat of the regional government. The city is the center from where French-Canadian nationalism spreads.

The city has the same atmosphere as in Paris: almost all residents speak French. Each street of the city impresses with the atmosphere of Europe, so each of them is worthy of attention. In 1985, Quebec was declared a world heritage site and is under the protection of the UN.

Guests of the city can also please the St. Lawrence River, because its rare flora and fauna are worthy of attention. Here minke whales and Antarctic whales are found, which swim upstream to Tadousac to feed at the very mouth of the Saguenay River. On the northern bank of the river you can see the Laurentian Upland.

It contrasts with the landscapes of Charlevoix, as well as the wild nature of the Gaspe Peninsula.

On the island of Anticosti you can admire the beauties of nature.

Quebec is one of the largest cities in the Americas. It was discovered by Jacques Cartier, a French explorer. In 1608 another traveler Samuel de Champlain founded a city here. In 1759, a battle took place on the plain of Abraham, after which the British seized power in the city.

Quebec is the only city north of the Rio Grande in which the fortress wall, narrow cobbled streets, and buildings of the 18th century have been preserved. This is what brings the European spirit to the city.

The area of ​​the city is 55 sq. km. Most of the sights are located above and below Cape Diamant. They occupy a small area. You can get around all the sights on foot, there is no need to use a car. At the top of the cliff you can see the citadel.

In the National Assembly - the provincial parliament - meetings are held in French. They take place in an early 19th century building called the Hôtel du Parlament.

The city is conditionally divided into two parts. The oldest part of the city - the Lower City or Basse-Ville was restored in the 1970s. It stretches at the foot of the cape along the river.

The upper city is higher, it is surrounded by a wall. Here you can see Protestant and catholic cathedrals, as well as the castle of Frontenac. Outside the walls stretches the Grand Alley, here is the building of the Hôtel du Parlament - the venue for the meetings of the provincial parliament.

The history of Quebec is counted from 1534. It was at this time that the French founded their colony on the site of the modern city, which they called New France. From 1763 to the very beginning of the 20th century local lands, including locality were under British rule. Until the 1960s, the Catholic Church played a leading role in the development of Quebec, and only at the end of the last century did the government begin to manage the municipality.

Origin of the city's name

The significant narrowing of the St. Lawrence River between Quebec and Levy was called in the language of the Algonquian tribe "Kebek" which literally meant "a place where a river narrows".

The second legend says that Samuel de Champlain, the founder of the city, took the name for it from local residents who named their historical land with the word Kebek.

According to the third hypothesis, the city was named simply in honor of the local Montagnier tribe, who lived in the Kebik area.

Founding and early years of formation

The Canadian city of Quebec was laid out by the French pioneer and diplomat Samuel de Champlain in July 1608. On the territory of the settlement there was previously an Iroquois village called Stadakona. The place for the colony turned out to be just perfect, and de Champlain served in the city he founded personally as a manager until the end of his life.

After almost 60 years, the settlement already had about 70 residential buildings, in which 550 people lived. About a quarter of them represented the religious orders of the Jesuits, Ursulines, and there were also many secular priests.

In 1759, the British took control of Quebec. This was followed by a four-year occupation of Great Britain and the Seven Years' War with France, as a result of which the entire region, including the city, finally falls to the English crown.

British period

During the American Revolution, detachments from the southern colonies tried to forcibly annex Quebec to the United States and form it into another state. After the crushing defeat, it became clear that there would be at least two political entities on the North American continent, contrary to the desires of the Continental Congress, which planned to unite all the lands of America into one state.

To prevent attempts by the Americans to capture the city, in Quebec, it was decided to build a defensive fortress.

Since then, the settlement has not been attacked, and the protective complex still stands today - it is one of the brightest sights of the Canadian city.

In the middle 19th century social problems began to emerge.

It was decided to "cut" Canada into provinces on a national basis. So, in Ontario and Quebec lived mainly Francophones, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were English-speaking.

Quebec became the main city of the province of the same name. 1867 is considered the year of the formation of a new Canada as a federation, in which each province received a fairly wide autonomy.

Modern period

During the Second World War, important meetings of world political figures were held in the city. Franklin Roosevelt (President of the United States), Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom), William Mackenzie (Prime Minister of Canada) and Suna (representative of the Foreign Ministry of China) took part in the I Quebec Conference. It was at this meeting that the Allies decided to open a second front in Europe. At the II Quebec Conference, all the nuances of the landing of troops in Normandy were agreed.

The city survived the Great Depression, and since 1960 began to develop truly comprehensively as a result of the reforms that the liberals who came to power, led by Jean Lessage, began to carry out. Throughout the past century, individual politicians in Quebec have repeatedly called for the independence of the province.

By plane

Quebec has two international airports:

• Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, located in Dorval (a suburb of Montreal, 30 minutes from the city center)
• The Jean Lesage Quebec City International Airport is much smaller and is located in L'Ancien-Laurette, a 25-minute drive west of Quebec City.
• Montreal Mirabell International Airport is no longer in use.

By train

The Adirondack train departs from New York daily to Montreal, with stops where it is easy to transfer to upstate intercity buses. The scenic drive along the Hudson River lasts 6 hours, with 2-3 hour delays at the border.

VIA Rail Canada is a federal passenger rail corporation. Their trains depart daily for Montreal from Toronto and Ottawa, stopping in Quebec, and from Halifax, New, via Moncton and New Brunswick. On the trains of this company, there are good discounts for young people and students upon presentation of an ISIC card (International Student Identity Card).

Train operator Tshiuetin Rail Transportation runs two trains weekly from West Labrador, Newfoundland, to Sept-Iles, Quebec.

By bus

Regular flights from New York are sent by the companies "Adirondack Trailways" and "Greyhound Lines", from Boston - bus operators "Vermont Transit" and "Greyhound Lines".

It is easy to get from Toronto to Montreal by Coach Canada buses. Voyageur, an affiliate of Greyhound Canada, operates routes from Ottawa to Montreal (buses leave every hour) and to Grand Reme, Quebec. Autobus Maheux provides service between the cities of North Bay (Ontario) and Rouen Noranda (Quebec).

By car

To get to Quebec from Toronto by car, you can only take Highway 401 (6 hours on the way). Travelers from can get to Canada through (also 6 hours on the road) or through the states of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Domestically, two Acadian Lines flights from Halifax (New) and Moncton (New Brunswick) via the Rivière du Loup and two Orléans Express buses from Campbelton (New Brunswick) via Rimouski depart daily for Quebec and Montreal.

By ferry

The days when immigrants came to Quebec by boat are long gone, but tourists with the time can pick up a cruise on the St. Lawrence River from the many available.

Numerous companies offer itineraries that combine sailing on the river with a sea voyage to New England. Ports of embarkation and destination for most of these routes are in New York, Boston, Montreal and Quebec City. Depending on the individual cruise, stops are possible in Montreal, Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres, Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Avre-Saint-Pierre, Sept-Iles, Gaspe and Ile de la Madeleine.

CTMA operates a ferry service during the summer between Souris, Prince Edward Island, and Cap-Haut-Meul, Quebec. Operator "Labrador Marine" operates up to three ferries daily (excluding the period from January to April) from St. Barba, Newfoundland, to Blanc-Sablon, Quebec.

Clue:

Quebec - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 7

Kazan 7

Samara 8

Yekaterinburg 9

Novosibirsk 11

Vladivostok 14

When is the season. When is the best time to go

There are four distinct seasons in Quebec: winter, spring, summer and autumn, and this determines the variety of entertainment on offer.

• Summer (late June to late August). Summer in Quebec is hot. There are many festivals and outdoor events.
• Autumn (September to November). Trees change leaf color creating stunning colorful landscapes.
• Winter (November to April). Low temperature and an abundance of snow make it possible to go skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowmobiling and dog sledding. In December, Quebec is like a snowy white dream. In February, the festival of maple syrup is celebrated, which is called “Sugar Hut” and symbolizes the awakening of nature from the winter cold and preparation for the upcoming spring.
• Spring (from April to the end of June). Despite the coolness and even the possibility of snowfalls, in April the end of winter is already felt. In May, nature wakes up, trees begin to bloom, the air gets warmer. Spring welcomes everyone with gorgeous vibrant landscapes.

Quebec - monthly weather

Clue:

Quebec - monthly weather

Main attractions. What to see

Quebec has a number of attractions:

Casino

There are four in Quebec: "Montréal", "Charlevoix", "Lac-Leamy" and "Mont-Tremblant" (new).

Cruises

Quebec offers a variety of cruises, from whale watching excursions to trips on the St. Lawrence River and boat trips.

Gardens

Attractions include Montreal Botanical Garden (Montreal Botanical Garden), Insectarium ( Insectarium), Reford Gardens and Gaspe International Garden Festival.

Museums

Over 400 museums.

Theme parks

Amusement park "La Ronde" ( La Ronde), the old port of Montreal and Quebec, the village of d'Antan in the traditional style ( Village quebecois d'Antan), zoo in Granby ( Granby Zoo).

Religious monuments

Oratory of Saint Joseph, Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Quebec.

Historical monuments

Fortifications of Quebec and old Montreal.

parks

Parks. Quebec has 22 parks, known in official documents as national, from small, easily accessible nature reserves to large wilderness areas.

Jardins de Metis ( Reford Gardens, 200, route 132, Grand-Métis, located on highway 132, halfway between Rimouski and Matan, tel. + 1 418 775 2222, fax: +1 418 775 6201). The world-famous center of landscape art and design. Entrance fee is $16 for adults and $8 for children. Check the website for hours of operation.

Montmorency Falls is a beautiful natural waterfall located near Quebec City. This waterfall is 30m higher than the famous Niagara Falls.

What to see in the surroundings

• Ontario is west of Quebec. The most populated province of Canada and the location of the country's capital.
• Newfoundland and Labrador - northeast of Quebec. Canada's northernmost province, nicknamed "The Rock" due to its lack of arable land.
• New Brunswick is east of Quebec. The only constitutionally bilingual province, second only to Quebec in terms of French-speaking population.
• Maine is southeast of Quebec. US state known for its seafood-based cuisine. One of the safest states.
• New Hampshire is south of Quebec. A state famous for its picturesque nature and ski resorts.

• Vermont is south of Quebec. US state, a popular destination for skiing and hiking. It is the leading manufacturer of maple syrup in the USA.
• - Southwest of Quebec. State, location of the city, the largest and most famous in North America.

Maritime Borders

• Nunavut is northwest of Quebec. largest territory Canada, about the size of Western Europe, location of Alert, the northernmost permanent settlement in the world.
• Prince Edward Island is to the east of Quebec. Small Canadian province. Nicknamed "Garden of the Bay" because of the pastoral views and lush farmland.
• New - far east of Quebec. The most populous province in Canada. Here is one of the oldest cities in North America - Halifax.

Food. What to try

Beverages

Alcoholic beverages in Quebec are allowed from the age of 18.

Due to the high price of wine, Quebecers prefer beer. The province boasts some very good microbreweries. Below is a list of the best pubs in Quebec by region.

1. Montreal: "Dieu du Ciel!", "L'Amère à Boire", "Le Cheval Blanc" and "Brutopia". Quebec City: "La Barberie" and "L" Inox.
2. One of the best pubs in Bromont is Le Broumont at the foot of the ski hill.
3. If you are in Sherbrooke, go to "Mare au Diable".
4. In the Marisie region, there is “Le Trou du Diable” (in Shawinigan) and “Gambrinus” (in Trois-Rivieres).
5. In Charlevoix - the "Charlevoix" brewery in Baie Saint-Paul (Baie St-Paul).

Liquor and wine are sold mainly in “Société des alcools du Québec” (SAQ) stores, beer and wine (often of lower quality) can be found in supermarkets and grocery stores. The sale of alcohol in stores is prohibited after 11.00 pm, bars are open until 3.00 am, with the exception of Gatineau, where they close at 2.00 am to avoid the influx of visitors from Ottawa. Although both beer and wine can be purchased at most grocery stores and depanneurs(corner markets), by law hard liquor is only available in SAQ stores (pronounced ess-ay-cue or simply sack). There is also a good choice high-class wines, mostly European, Australian or South American (with the exception of California for some reason). Unlike neighboring Ontario, it is difficult to find Canadian-made wine even in the largest SAQ stores. Most SAQs close between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm, some may open until 10:00-11:00 pm. In Quebec, you can find the best North American beers. As in general in Canada, the local beer is stronger than the American one. The alcohol content starts at 5-6%, but 8-12% is also normal.

Holidays, festivals and other events

The people of Quebec are known for their love of festivities. Every year, about 400 festivals of various kinds are held in Quebec, which attract tourists from all over the world.

Cultural events

Montreal

Quebec City

• The Quebec City Summer Festival is an annual outdoor music festival that, in its 40 years of existence, has featured hundreds of performers from around the world at ten different venues within walking distance of the city. Early July.
• Loto-Québec International Fireworks Competition is a competition of fireworks synchronized with music. Held near the Montmorency Falls in late July - early August.
• Plein Art Québec is a festival of Quebec arts and crafts. More than 100 manufacturers showcase ceramic, textile and jewelry items. Beginning of August.
• SAQ New France is the story of the first Europeans who arrived in North America. More than 1,000 "back to the past" theatrical performances take place every year in the heart of the Old City. Beginning of August.
• Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands has been held since 1998 and attracts bands from all over the world. End of August.
• Quebec City Winter Carnival is the largest winter carnival in the world with over a million participants. Opens on the last Friday of January or the first Friday of February and lasts 17 days.

Gatineau

Sport events

Province of Quebec

• Hockey, Minor League. Games run from September to April from the smallest towns to Quebec City and Montreal. Visiting the game means not only passing the evening, but also immersing yourself in the local culture and society. Often the fans are more interesting than the match. Ticket prices usually range from $10 to $20, and teams play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), which is launch pad for professional hockey players aspiring to get into the North American Hockey League (LNAH).

Montreal

• The Canadian Grand Prix is ​​an annual Formula 1 race in Montreal (usually in early June, on a weekend).
• Rogers Cup (Rogers Cup) - one of the 9 professional tennis tournaments that make up the World Tour of the Association of Tennis Professionals "Masters" (beginning of August).
• The Presidents Cup is a prestigious golf tournament featuring the best players from the Royal Montreal Golf Club (end of September).
• Montréal Bike Fest - a series of cycling events, including the Tour de l "île de Montréal, the largest event for cyclists in North America (late May - early June).

Safety. What to watch out for

With the exception of some disadvantaged areas of Montreal and Quebec City, the province is quite safe. As a rule, the usual precautions are sufficient. Even the usual tourist problem - pickpockets - almost does not arise here. Travelers get robbed just as rarely as locals. In general, you are even safer in Quebec than in hometown.

Politeness

• It is considered respectful to refer to locals as Quebecers rather than French Canadians, as the latter term can be seen as temporary or political.
• In Quebec, a large percentage of couples live in an unregistered marriage. This is the legacy of the Quiet Revolution, which does not affect the duration and quality of family life. To comment on this lifestyle, to ask Quebecers if they are legally married, and to call their children “illegitimate” is to seriously offend them. Husband and wife in such a marriage retain their surnames.
• Like some other Canadian provinces, Quebec has officially banned smoking in public buildings, including restaurants, bars and theaters, and within 9 meters (30 pounds) of them. Often, a line is even drawn along the perimeter of hospitals and clinics, indicating this zone. Smoking is also prohibited on school grounds.

Communication

• The language of the Quebecers is an important part of their self-identification, the struggle for which continued for several centuries. Quebecers can hear a catch even where there was none, so just avoid linguistic topics in conversation. French "from France" here is perceived as a foreign dialect with an accent, and not as a model, and you can seriously offend the interlocutor by telling him that his French is not good enough or that he speaks "almost French".
• At the same time, an attempt to speak French will be perceived as a sign of respect and highly valued. If your interlocutor switches to English in response, take it as an invitation or as an expediency, and not as an attempt to offend you.
• Quebecers mostly only speak French, just like other Canadians only speak English. Many Quebecers can understand, read and write English, but since they don't use it all the time, they are understandably uncomfortable talking to a native speaker. Restraint, pauses before answering, should not be taken as snobbery - this is just an expression of discomfort. Complimenting your interlocutor on the topic of his language skills may seem condescending and cause minor annoyance, despite your benevolence.

Dangerous topics

• The question of sovereignty extremely complex and emotional. Talking about it almost always leads to resentment. Moreover, there are local translations of the word “national” that do not imply Canada proper - the inhabitants of the province, even if they are not in favor of independence, seriously talk about Quebec as a state with its own national parks, assemblies and capital, without any political meaning.
• Although Quebec is part of Canada, you won't see many maple leaf flags here, and if you do, the flag of Quebec will be placed above it. The local media doesn't really emphasize Quebec's connection to the rest of Canada, and your interlocutor will feel out of place if you use the phrase "here in Canada" or the adjective "Canadian". Very few will celebrate Canada Day (July 1), but Quebec Day, or Saint Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24), is the most important holiday for the province.
• Please note that Quebec and not . Jokes about the French (Jerry Lewis, rare hygiene, frog legs and especially about surrender) will bewilder and prove that you do not understand anything in the American continent. Thinking of Quebec as France is as illogical as projecting British stereotypes on Americans.
• Religious issues are more dangerous in Quebec than in the rest of Canada, as evidenced by at least a recent (2014) attempt by the Government to ban the wearing of religious symbols in public service. Prior to the Quiet Revolution in the 1960s, Quebec was strictly Roman Catholic, and census data still shows that the vast majority of residents are Catholics. In practice, very many Quebecers do not profess any religion, atheism and agnosticism are widespread. Although the idea of ​​religion here is rather negative, open hostility is extremely rare. Non-Christian religions are represented in Quebec, but the open observance of some religious practices can generate negative attitudes outside of the big cities. The general advice is: keep your religious beliefs to yourself until you are asked to discuss them.

Connection

Most hotels and hostels have Internet access, and many of them have computers for guests. In Montreal, there is a program "Ile Sans Fil" ( “Wireless Island”), according to which free Wi-Fi is provided on the island. Pay attention to the stickers on the windows of cafes and restaurants.

Things to do

Quebec offers a wide variety of activities including sports and outdoor activities, cultural and natural objects, festivals and more.

Sports and outdoor recreation

Both in winter and in summer, many options for active leisure are available in Quebec:

• hunting and fishing;
• golf;
• snowmobiles;
• admiring wildlife;
• National parks;
• water sports;
• quad biking;
• hiking;
• skiing;
• dog sledding;
• a ride on the bicycle.

Shopping and shops

How to move around the city

In Quebec, there is a developed land and air communication, which allows you to easily travel between cities. Here you can travel by car, bus, plane, train, bike or boat.

Aircraft

enjoy by air for travel between different cities of the province is not recommended. But air travel is needed to get to northern part Quebec, because, with the exception of the road to Be-James, in these remote areas there are neither paved nor railways.

Trains

VIA Rail Canada (www.viarail.ca) is the only intercity passenger traffic Quebec, and AMT (www.amt.qc.ca) serves suburban trains Montreal. Not in Quebec high-speed trains but, compared to Europe, railway transport walks often. It is much cheaper to buy tickets in advance than on the day of the trip, but buses are even cheaper, and there are usually more daily bus departures than train departures.

Motorcycles

The winding and scenic secondary roads of Quebec are ideal for motorcycling. However, in the southern part of the province best season for this - the period from May to October. IN last years motorcycles in Quebec are gaining popularity. There are several motorcycle clubs in the province where tourists can rent motorcycles.

Motorcyclists in Quebec are united by brotherly relations, and if your motorcycle breaks down, you will not be left on the sidelines for long. Don't be surprised when bikers start to greet you along the way or come up in parking lots and start a conversation.

Bicycles

Quebec boasts an extensive network of cycle paths with a total length of 3,400 km (2,111 miles). This means that you can travel around the region by bike, staying in hotels located near the track ( La Route Verte– “Green route”).

Ferries

These are numerous cruises on the St. Lawrence River, which is among the largest waterways in the world.

With AmigoExpress, Allo-Stop or Quebec-Express

For people who travel in small groups and want to save money, AmigoExpress, Allo-Stop and Quebec-Express are great alternatives to any of the above modes of transportation. These are Internet portals that allow you to find a passing car or passenger in major cities Quebec. To access the services, you need to register on the site, pay a small fee (for example, $ 7.50 in “Amigo Express”) and create a profile. Amigo Express even has a free membership for students. Traveling by car can cost only half the cost bus ticket. The only inconvenience of this system is that some areas cannot be reached in this way.

Buses

Buses are the main mode of transportation between cities. Bus service is very developed, especially between Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. The bus station in Montreal is at 505 De Maisonneuve East. Tickets can be booked in advance or purchased on the day of departure.

Transport rental

Renting a car in Canada is not a problem and driving is easy even in cities. Read the lease agreement carefully, in particular the section on insurance. It is often possible to rent a car in one city and return it in another without much cost. Car rental companies are Viau (Montreal) and Enterprise.

Quebec has a good network of free roads connecting all major cities and surrounding areas. The maximum allowed speed on highways is 100 km/h, although motorists usually move at a speed of 120 km/h.

Police carriages are almost non-existent, but radar traps are not uncommon, especially on major highways on weekends. Radars are sometimes installed near schools as well. As a result of this "subtle" police presence, Quebec drivers are rather undisciplined, as they are quite aware that they are hard to catch in violation of traffic rules.

The rules of the road in Quebec are similar to European ones, but there are differences. For example, traffic lights are often located on opposite side crossroads. On the territory of the island of Montreal and at many urban intersections, it is forbidden to turn right at a red light (look at the signs). At unregulated intersections, the one who arrives first gets the advantage. Ring traffic is almost non-existent.

Most road signs are intuitive. However, if you plan to drive in Quebec, take the time to learn appearance signs on the Internet and memorize the meanings of incomprehensible words.

Traffic lights are another feature of local traffic. In Quebec, traffic lights indicate permitted directions (green arrows), while in the rest of Canada, red arrows indicate prohibited directions instead. For example, if the green arrow is pointing straight and left, you can drive in those directions, but not to the right.

As you approach an intersection, you may be wondering which lane to turn into. In many countries, this information is placed under traffic lights, while in Quebec, road markings are preferred. As a rule, you need the left lane for a left turn, and the right lane for a right turn, although there are exceptions at major intersections. Local drivers may not obey these rules, especially in heavy traffic, and one violator is often followed by others, so be careful.

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Quebec is the capital of the French-speaking province of the same name in and is one of the most successful and prosperous cities in the country. It is located on the left bank of the St. Lawrence River and currently has a reputation as an industrial, commercial and tourist center of the state, having serious authority not only in North America, but throughout the world.

Peculiarities

Today, Quebec is famous for its biotechnology, advanced industry, advanced healthcare system, insurance and modern architectural structures, capable of overshadowing the majestic skyscrapers of American metropolitan areas. However, in addition to the economic and industrial potential, the city is widely known for its rich cultural heritage and boasts big amount museums and theaters, harmoniously combined with an abundance of monuments, green squares and picturesque parks. Due to the historical past, Quebec has absorbed a fair amount of French culture and traditions, embodied not only in the language spoken by the locals, but also in the appearance of the city. One of the main advantages of the provincial capital is a well-established infrastructure, a whole scattering of hotels for every taste and budget, many cozy restaurants, shops and shopping and entertainment establishments. Great importance is attached here to the development of sports, and the conditions for active pastime are created at any time of the year, which is not surprising, given the love of Canadians for sports disciplines, and especially for hockey. Both in winter and summer, various festivals and festivities are held here, gathering an impressive number of people.

general information

The territory of Quebec covers 450 square meters. km, and the population is about 500 thousand people. Local time behind Moscow by 8 hours in winter and 7 in summer. Time zone UTC-5 and UTC-4 in summer time of the year. Telephone code(+1) 418. Official site www.ville.quebec.qc.ca.

A brief excursion into history

The area where the city now stands is relatively young. About 6-8 thousand years ago, these lands were dominated by the sea, and before that there was an impenetrable icy desert. Quebec was founded by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain in the summer of 1608, on the territory of the former Iroquois village of Stadacona. Its first inhabitants were representatives of religious orders that managed the local hospital. Until 1763, he had the status of the capital of French Canada and all of New France, and then retained this title in Lower Canada, in 1867 becoming the capital of the province of Quebec. IN different times the city played an important role in the formation of the state, but it reached its heyday only in the 20th century, remaining a significant industrial and commercial center to this day.

Climate

This region is dominated by a temperate continental climate, with a pronounced division into seasons. Winter here is traditionally snowy and cold. average temperature air below -10 degrees. Summers are usually warm and humid, accompanied by heavy rains and thunderstorms. In spring and autumn, precipitation is also regular, but the air is noticeably colder. You can come here at any time, depending on your preferences.

How to get there

local international Airport Jean Lesage, accepts flights from North America and Europe. In addition, the provincial capital has a good commuter rail and bus service with neighboring cities and regions. There is also a cargo and passenger port.

Transport

As public transport buses serve here, but most locals prefer to use bicycles, since there is a whole system of very high quality bike paths in the city. When traveling long distances and outside the historical part of Quebec, it is more advisable to travel by car.

Attractions and entertainment

A kind of link connecting the past of the city and its present is the ancient fortress wall surrounding the old district. Beloved tourist attraction It has long been a walk along it on a horse-drawn carriage, which allows not only to see the ancient buildings flashing on the way, but also to plunge into the atmosphere of bygone centuries. Place-Royale, where Samuel de Champlain stepped ashore in 1608, is extremely popular among guests. Another iconic building of Quebec is the magnificent Frontenac Castle, built at the end of the last century, in the spirit of medieval French architecture. Now, it houses the chic rooms of the Grand Hotel, where the famous Quebec Conference took place in 1943 with the participation of Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. The building rises right on the banks of the St. Lawrence River and is perfectly visible from afar.

Another attraction, without which it is difficult to imagine the current Quebec, is a metal Quebec bridge, about a kilometer long, connecting the capital of the province across the water surface of the river with the neighboring city of Levy. Curious tourists should definitely visit the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Civilization, with their unique exhibits. lovers active rest, V winter time year it is recommended to go skiing in the Plains of Abraham, and in the summer, in the same place, visit the local water park. Of the solemn events held annually in Quebec, it is worth highlighting the winter carnival at Place Jacques-Cartier, the July Festival d`ete music festival and the colorful New France Festival, held in early August.

Kitchen

Culinary products in local cafes and restaurants can please even the pickiest connoisseurs of North American cuisine. Cheese fried potatoes with poutine sauce, magnificent Brie and Camembert cheeses, considered some of the best in North America, meat art from buffalo, caribou and elk deer, form the basis of urban restaurant menus and delight visitors with extraordinary taste. Special attention should be paid to French wines and traditional American spirits.

shopping

in stores and shopping malls city, there is an equally wide selection of all kinds of goods and souvenirs for every taste.

Quebec, from all sides appears extremely interesting city for travel lovers. It is perfect for living and recreation, and also allows you to get to know history, its traditions and culture. Thousands of tourists annually arriving here from different parts of the world serve as reliable proof of this opinion.