Rue des Remparts and Montmorency Park

Rue des Remparts is a delightful spot! This is the stone ramparts at the very edge of the Upper Town. You can't really see where the Upper Town ends on the map, but it is here, and also at Dufferin Terrace. You are high high up over the Saint Lawrence River. The lovely thing is that you are looking out at the water through maple leaves, so leafy and green, catching the light. A blissful breeze wafts up from the river. This is a peaceful spot with not too many tourists, just an occasional polite person walking by. There are many cannons since it was a strategic location. 

From here you can take a quick detour, a side street, to Rue Couillard, a peaceful street, with absolutely gorgeous architecture. Chez Temporel is a quiet cafe here, a great find!  Rue Saint-Jean is nearby if you need other cafes and shops. It's a bustling, cruise-ship-like spot. It has many cafes, some handy since they are counter-service, and great live music at lunchtime in summer.
Continue your walk along Rue des Remparts toward Chateau Frontenac and you come to Montmorency Park National Historic Site, a sweet square full of history. Monument Saint Francois de Laval looms above, with a tall statue of the saint who was the first bishop of Quebec, and from the distinguished Montmorency family near Paris. The silhouette of the bishop is full of atmosphere against the historic buildings. In the leafy square, there is a regal statue of Guillaume Couillard, one of the first settlers in Quebec, who came around 1613. He had ten children with the daughter of farmer Louis Herbert (whose statue is also in the square) and most old French-Canadian families descend from him. There is also a homely statue of Marie Rollet and her three children. She was the first European woman to settle in Quebec and her husband was apothecary to Samuel Champlain's expeditions. Couillard's widow sold his land to the Seminaire de Quebec, which is across the street. 
There is also a red chair from Parliament, and a government building with colorful flowers planted up a slanted wall. Montmorency Park is full of trees that look glorious in the autumn!
A pedestrian bridge with lampposts called Prescott Gate leads across to a sidewalk full of adorable shops on Côte de la Montagne. There are two shops full of Native Canadian creations. I bought a lovely gift for my daughter at one of these, Le Palier. It is right by the stairs that go up to Chateau Frontenac, called Escalier Frontenac. La Cinquième Saison is another beautiful shop, full of cute kitchen items and children's toys. Côte de la Montagne street is such a fun street! It takes you on a steep walk down to the Lower Town, which is full of amazing galleries to explore!

Directions

Rue des Ramparts is the street of the old stone ramparts. It leads to Montmorency Park National Historic Site. You can start your walk at 4 Rue des Remparts and head south toward Montmorency Park.

Click on map for interactive view