You walk under castle-like Saint Louis Gate to get to Rue Saint-Louis, a very crowded street with restaurants and hotels. The architecture here is magical, especially at night, and the best part is that at the end of the street, you are at Chateau Frontenac! Here people relax in the recessed Place d'Armes, dine outdoors in busy cafes along Rue Sainte-Anne, gather to watch street performers at Monument Samuel de Champlain, and best of all, stroll along the wide boardwalk above the river, called Dufferin Terrace.
The restaurants on Rue Saint-Louis all have indoor seating only, since the sidewalk is too narrow for outdoor seating. They also require reservations.
As you first pass under Saint Louis Gate, the street to the Citadelle is on your right. Then you pass Esplanade Park on your left. There is often a very good accordion player busking there, along Rue Saint-Louis.
You immediately see some amazing architecture. The building that houses Nili Alimentation, a coffee shop at number 76, was built in 1828, and has such an unusual turret with four dormers. Bagages de France is in a cute three-storey building, street number 74, built in 1890, with a nice window display always.
There are some very old buildings on Rue Saint-Louis, as you get closer to Chateau Frontenac. The adorable red-roofed building of Aux Anciens Canadiens Restaurant, at number 34, was built in 1675. It is the cutest on the street! Maillou House, street number 17, was built in 1736. House of the Duke of Kent, is to the right of it, at street number 25, built in 1648. Its first floor walls and foundation date back to 1648, and its main structure to 1819. The Chateauesque building across the street was built in the late 19th century, as many of the grand buildings in Quebec City were.
There are some adorable side streets that lead off to the left from Rue Saint-Louis. Rye d'Auteuil has gorgeous row houses, and best of all, you can climb up to castle-like Kent Gate and enter Artillery Park. Another side street that leads off from Rue Saint-Louis is Rue du Parloir, which has very special silver-roofed architecture at the Ursuline Monastery. What an enchanting corner, with a leafy garden as well! The next side street Rue des Jardins, leads to the same spot, via a street roundabout with a statue of a huge hand. It is lovely! If you continue along Rue des Jardins you come to the amazing City Hall and its gardens.
Side streets that lead off to the right from Rue Saint-Louis also lead to wonderful things! Rue d'Auteuil leads in this direction to Ave Saint-Denis where you will find the most incredible parks, Parc Du Bastion-de-la-Reine which leads to Pierre-Dugua-De-Mons Terrace, where you are on top of the world looking down on the river, Old Quebec, the Citadelle, and the fancy silver-roofed houses on Ave Saint-Denis. This is the peak of travel!
Rue Haldimand leads to two parks, one tiny, one big: it leads to Rue Mont-Carmel which leads to tiny Parc du Cavalier du Moulins (check if it's open because sometimes the walls are being repaired), a romantic walled park that is peaceful and tucked away. It has views of the layers of architecture, pretty trees in the fall, and cannons from when it was a 17th century fortification. I haven't visited it yet. Parc des Gouverneurs is a gorgeous spot overlooking Dufferin Terrace and the blue river. People picnic here or sit on benches and watch the joyous scene below, listening to the live musicians from a distance. There is a large statue of Montcalm. This park is beside Chateau Frontenac, and I have visited it many times to soak up the perfect summer vibes here.
Rue Saint-Louis runs from Saint Louis Gate to Chateau Frontenac.
Aux Ancients Canadiens Restaurant (cute building with red roof), 34 Rue Saint-Louis, Québec City.
Last Updated: Thu, 25 Aug 2022 20:58:15 GMT
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