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Quebec: A Signature City

Program Number: 19748RJ
Start and End Dates:
7/8/2013 - 7/13/2013; 8/12/2013 - 8/17/2013; 9/23/2013 - 9/28/2013; 10/28/2013 - 11/2/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Quebec City, Quebec
Price starting at: $1,585.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Signature Cities
Meals: 12; 5 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 4 Dinners    

Discover the best that Quebec City has to offer as locals introduce you to the food, arts and history of this fascinating region. Explore the heart of Old Quebec’s Upper and Lower Towns, examine the city’s extensive fortification system and discover its quiet residential neighborhoods. A presentation at Musee National des Beaux Arts introduces you to paintings and sculpture by Quebecois artists. Experience field trips to landmark sites and less-heralded parts of the city, opening doors unknown to most visitors. Top off your exploration with a farewell dinner at Le Chateau Frontenac.




Highlights

• Explore the cobblestone streets and well-preserved 17th-century architecture of Old Quebec with an architectural historian.
• Meet locals and experience the flavors of Quebec on an expert-led culinary walk exploring the vibrant St. Jean neighborhood and historic Old Port market.
• Discover the rich cultural heritage at the National Museum of Fine Arts, boasting the highest concentration of artists in the province.



Activity Particulars

Walking 2 miles on uneven surfaces, cobblestones; some hills and stairs.




Date Specific Information

7-8-2013, 8-12-2013, 9-23-2013

Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



10-28-2013

For the October program participants will stay at the world-famous Château Frontenac.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Coordinated by Routes to Learning Canada.




Quebec City

The towers and turrets of Chateau Frontenac dominate the skyline of this 400-year-old walled city on the St. Lawrence River, the only fortified city north of Mexico. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage City, Canada’s oldest city is known and loved for its European charms and narrow, cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old homes.
Accommodations
European-style hotel in the heart of Old Quebec.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Stephen Marchessault
Stephen Marchessault was raised in a bilingual family and has spent most of his life in Québec City. He majored in history at Glendon College at York University in Toronto, and over the years, has developed an interest in the history of Québec City. Stephen enjoys sharing his interest and knowledge of this World Heritage City with lifelong learners.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Fairmont Chateau Frontenac
  Quebec City, Quebec 5 nights
 Fairmont Chateau Frontenac
Type: Five-Star Hotel
  Description: Standing high on a bluff overlooking the mighty St. Lawrence River, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is not merely a hotel located in the heart of Old Québec - it is the heart of Old Québec. Le Chateau Frontenac offers exquisite dining opportunities, superior meeting facilities and a distinctive Gaelic charm in the heart of historic Old Quebec. The location offers easy access to all of the wonderful sites and experiences that Old Quebec has to offer. New York architect Bruce Price (father of Emily Post) was retained by the General Manager of Canadian Pacific Railway to design the hotel. Named after a flamboyant French governor, the Count of Frontenac, whose coat-of-arms can be seen in many areas of the hotel.
  Contact info: 1, Rue des Carrieres
Quebec City, QC G1R 4P5 Canada
phone: 418-692-3861
web: www.fairmont.com/Frontenac/
  Room amenities: Air-conditioning, alarm clock-radio, cable television, high speed internet connection, coffee/tea maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, telephone equipped with voice-mail and cordless phone.
  Facility amenities: Dining options from classic continental and regional fare to gourmet-on-the-go in the hotel's restaurants and lounges. On site gift shop Unwind and swim a few laps in the indoor pool or work out in the state-of-the-art health club. Indoor whirlpool, steam rooms, change rooms and exercise room with Exercise bicycles, Keiser® Air-Powered Exercise Machines, Stairclimbers, Treadmills, Cross-trainer, Individual TV sets.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: Call for availability & rates Please contact the hotel directly on your own OR if you require personal assistance contact Maritime Travel toll free at 1-888-905-5959. A service fee MAY apply.
  Check in time: 4:00 PM
  Additional nights after: Call for availability & rates Please contact the hotel directly on your own OR if you require personal assistance contact Maritime Travel toll free at 1-888-905-5959. A service fee MAY apply.
  Check out time: 12:00 PM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Independent arrivals to the program hotel in Quebec City after 4:00 pm. Dinner is at 6:00 pm. You will be staying at Fairmont Chateau Frontenac that night.
  End of Program:
Breakfast is at 7:30 am to 9:00 am independent departures from Quebec City after breakfast. Check-out is 12:00 noon. You will be staying at Fairmont Chateau Frontenac the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. A valid government issued passport is required for ALL travel to/from Canada. A US law known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires those traveling to/from the United States by land & sea to also have a passport or other appropriate secure documents (NEXUS card). Passport requirements are subject to change. Visit www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html for up to date information.
  Parking availability:
Contact the hotel directly for rates.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Quebec City, Quebec
  Nearest city or town:  Quebec City, QC
  Nearest highway: Trans Canada Highway
  Nearest airport:  Quebec City - Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)
  From End of Program
  Location: Quebec City, Quebec
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Quebec City

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Approximately $30.00 CDN
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

20 - 30 minutes 
 

Quebec City

 

From Train Station

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Approximately $8.00 CDN
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

5 - 10 minutes 
   

Via Rail offers service to Quebec City - 888-842-7245
 

Quebec City

 

To Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Approximately $30 CDN
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

20 - 30 minutes 
 

Quebec City

 

To Train Station

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Approximately $8 - $10 CDN
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

5 - 10 minutes 
   

Via Rail offers train service from Quebec City. 1-888-842-7245 or visit www.viarail.ca/en

 
Driving Directions
  United States - From 1-87 North If you are entering the Province of Quebec by the I-87 North: Go North on Quebec Autoroute 15 (31 miles) to Quebec Autoroute 20, Go Northeast on Quebec Autoroute 20 (144 miles) to Quebec Autoroute 73. Go North on Quebec Autoroute 73 (2,7 miles) to Quebec Autoroute 175, About half a mile after the bridge (Pont Pierre Laporte) turn right on Quebec Autoroute 175, also named Boulevard Laurier. Follow Boulevard Laurier, which will change name to Chemin St-Louis, Grande Allée and finally Rue St. Louis (5,2 miles). On Rue St-Louis, go underneath the gate (Fortification wall), Château Frontenac is at the end of Rue Saint-Louis, on the right-hand side.
  United States - From I-91 North If you are entering the Province of Quebec by the I-91 North: Go Northwest on Quebec Autoroute 55 (83 miles) to Quebec Autoroute 20, Go Northeast on Quebec Autoroute 20 (83 miles) to Quebec Autoroute 73, Go North on Quebec Autoroute 73 (2,7 miles) to Quebec Autoroute 175, About half a mile after the bridge (Pont Pierre Laporte) turn right on Quebec Autoroute 175 also named Boulevard Laurier, Follow Boulevard Laurier, which will change name to Chemin St-Louis, Grande Allée and finally Rue St. Louis (5,2 miles). On Rue St-Louis, go underneath the gate (Fortification wall). Château Frontenac is at the end of Rue Saint-Louis, on the right-hand side.
  United States - From US-201 If you are entering the Province of Quebec by the US-201: Go Northwest on provincial Highway 173 (49 miles) to Quebec Autoroute 73, Go Northwest on Quebec Autoroute 73 (35 miles) to Quebec Autoroute 175, Go North on Quebec Autoroute 73 (2,7 miles) to Quebec Autoroute 175, About half a mile after the bridge (Pont Pierre Laporte) turn right on Quebec Autoroute 175 also named Boulevard Laurier, Follow Boulevard Laurier, which will change name to Chemin St-Louis, Grande Allée and finally Rue St. Louis (5,2 miles). On Rue St-Louis, go underneath the gate (Fortification wall). Château Frontenac is at the end of Rue Saint-Louis, on the right-hand side.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Arrival and Registration/Orientation
(Monday, October 28)
   
 Afternoon: Independent arrivals and transfers to the program hotel around 4:00 pm. Please note that rooms are not generally available until mid to late afternoon.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant
 Evening: INTRODUCTIONS: Following dinner, you will meet for introductions, a review of the program and site orientation. Take the rest of the evening to become acquainted with your fellow participants or stroll around the local area. You are embarking on a learning adventure to discover Quebec's vibrant culture and history through a broad range of presentations and exciting field trips led by some of Quebec's most knowledgeable and engaging experts. You will explore the heart of Old Quebec's Upper and Lower Towns, discovering many of the most important sites, institutions, and monuments along the way. This exciting new program embodies the best that Quebec City has to offer!
   
Accommodations: Fairmont Chateau Frontenac
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Historic Quebec: Overview of Quebec City/Plains of Abraham/Museum of Civilization
(Tuesday, October 29)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast will be at the hotel
 Morning: The Plains of Abraham. Following the presentation on the history of Old Quebec City, we will explore the Plains of Abraham by coach. With commentary provided by our local expert, discover the site of many clashes for supremacy between the French and British Empires. The park is the scene of the 1759 Conquest, which changed the fate of North America. Apart from its historical past, the park is to Québec what Central Park and Hyde Park are to New York and London: a city park of outstanding value, the lungs of the city.
 Morning: History of Quebec City. A power point presentation by a local historian entitled "The History of Québec City" will give you an excellent overview of Québec City from its founding to the present day. Learn about the principal historical events that occurred here. The city was awarded its World Heritage City designation in 1985 based partially on the preservation of the fortifications around the Old Town, which date from 1745. This area has a distinct European feel with its stone buildings and winding streets lined with shops and restaurants.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant
 Afternoon: The Museum of Civilization. Explore the Museum of Civilization, the city’s most popular museum, located close to the historic site of Place-Royale. This internationally renowned museum features four permanent and six temporary thematic exhibitions. Meet a local expert who will take you through the “People of Québec, Now and Then”. This exhibit focuses on life in the province of Québec throughout the centuries of European habitation, which encourages discovery of artifacts, photos and recreations of historic and domestic scenes. Immerse yourself in the ups and downs, the successes and setbacks, intense heat and extreme cold of a history that belongs to all those who have lived in and built Québec.
 Dinner: Enjoy a three course dinner at Le Patriarche; a choice of three entrées from a menu featuring Quebec products. This 1827 heritage home-turned-restaurant is set in a decor inspired by its old stone walls and imbued with a unique architectural cachet.
 Evening: Continue getting to know your fellow adventurers, explore the local galleries and shops on your own or enjoy the hotel’s facilities.
   
Accommodations: Fairmont Chateau Frontenac
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: The Evolution of Nationalism in Québec/Quebec Architecture: Guided Architectural Walk/Good Shepherd Museum
(Wednesday, October 30)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
 Morning: Old Quebec. Set out on foot with your local expert to explore the city’s architecture on a guided walk through the historic Old City. Start at the Lower Town and Place Royale, known as the cradle of French civilization in North America with its fine stone merchant houses and Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church. Uncover the charming commercial district of rue du Petit-Champlain and continue on to the Cathedral-Basilica Notre-Dame-de-Québec, site of the first diocese in Canada. Arriving at Place d'Armes, visit the monument of Samuel de Champlain, Father of New France and founder of Québec City who established his first “abitation” here in 1608. Dufferin Terrace offers magnificent views of the mountains, St. Lawrence River, Lower Town and the star-shaped Citadel. Examine how Québec's defenses developed under the French and English regimes and learn about the cannons, loopholes, Artillery Park, and fortresses that are part of Quebec's fortifications.
 Morning: Evolution of Nationalism in Québec. What are some of the political and social events that have given rise to a strong nationalism and the creation of a political party whose main objective is to separate from Canada and create an independent country? Following the British conquest, in 1763, French Canadians will fight attempts of assimilation in order to insure the survival of their distinct culture. Today, this culture is vibrant and alive but many feel that it is continuously under pressure.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant
 Afternoon: The Good Shepherd Museum makes you discover the captivating story of the Good Shepherd Sisters of Québec, a community founded in the heart of Quebec City in 1850. Set in a magnificent historic building erected between 1878 and 1887, the Museum also provides a comprehensive analysis on the social history of marginalized women and abandoned children during the 19th and 20th centuries.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.
 Evening: Take some time to independently explore the city. Venture downtown, take in a show or stroll the cobblestone streets.
   
Accommodations: Fairmont Chateau Frontenac
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Jamestown, Québec, Santa Fe : The 400th Anniversary of Three Founding Cities/Musée National des Beaux Arts du Québec
(Thursday, October 31)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Jamestown, Québec, Santa Fe : The 400th Anniversary of Three Founding Cities. Chief Archaeologist for the City of Québec, Mr. Moss has worked for the knowledge and the promotion of archaeological heritage of the city for thirty years. He participated in a series of seminars held in Jamestown (Virginia) in 2007, Québec City (Québec) in 2008 and Santa Fe (New Mexico) in 2009. With his archaeologist's eye, he compares each city at the moment of its founding and the manner this event was commemorated four hundred years later.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant
 Afternoon: The National Museum of Fine Arts. We will meet a museum expert for an in-depth presentation and examination of the works of art. Musée National des Beaux Arts du Québec is home to the most important collection of paintings and sculpture by Québécois artists. Over 22,000 selections of works are displayed in three chronological exhibitions: The earliest date from the beginnings of Québécois art and are largely influenced by religion. The second covers the European-influenced modernist period up to 1945. The third showcases figurative and abstract art from the mid-20th century.
 Dinner: Dinner on your own to enjoy the many culinary delights this historic city has to offer.
   
Accommodations: Fairmont Chateau Frontenac
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Cultural Quebec: Culinary Exploration/Marché du Vieux-Port/Rue St Jean/Chateau Frontenac
(Friday, November 1)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
 Morning: French Gastronomy. We will meet with a local French food expert and embark on a gastronomical adventure exploring the European style food district and the Old Port Market. We will have the opportunity to learn about present day society on a guided walk and tasting of St. Jean Street and the Old Port Market meeting with local vendors and shop owners, specializing in Quebec produce and sampling specialty foods, artisanal cheeses, meats and other local products. This has been a tradition stretching back more than three centuries. Built on the site of Marché Saint-André (1841) and in the same style, Marché du Vieux-Port is a reminder of a time when country folk would meet and exchange with city folk.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own to explore the many culinary delights this city has to offer.
 Afternoon: Free afternoon to explore the Old City on your own. Visit some of the museums, galleries or take a ferry to Levis to enjoy the breathtaking view of the city.
 Dinner: On our final night together we will have a special farewell dinner at Le Château Frontenac where food lovers from around the world have enjoyed the art of Quebec fine dining for more than 100 years. It is a tradition of cuisine which continually innovates in its blend of the original and the creative; dine in a relaxed setting with an incomparable view of the St-Lawrence River and Dufferin Terrace.
 Evening: After dinner it is time to reflect on our experience and say goodbye to new friends. Take the opportunity to enjoy the hotel’s facilities or rest up for the journey home.
   
Accommodations: Fairmont Chateau Frontenac
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Independent departures
(Saturday, November 2)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Independent departures from Quebec City after breakfast. Check-out is 12:00 noon.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


A Traveller's History of Canada


Author: Robert Bothwell


Description: A readable and admirably concise march through Canadian history from prehistory to today, including a timeline.



Arundel


Author: Kenneth Roberts, N. C. Wyeth (Illustrator)


Description: The grand historical novel of Colonel Benedict Arnold's doomed march on Quebec in 1775, told through the eyes of a soldier in the Continental Army. Rich in historical detail.



Canada and Quebec: One Country, Two Histories


Author: Robert Bothwell


Description: An in-depth look at Canada-Quebec relations through interviews with prominent Canadian figures.



Eyewitness Top Ten Montreal & Quebec City


Author: Eyewitness Guides


Description: A compact, illustrated guide in the popular series, featuring favorite attractions in Montreal and Quebec City.



How to Be a Canadian, Even If You Already Are One


Author: Ian Ferguson, Will Ferguson


Description: A tongue-in-cheek portrait of Canadian people and society, written by two native sons. Not entirely (but mostly) in jest, the book is an insightful look at the Canadian national character.



Identities in North America, The Search for Community


Author: Robert Earle


Description: David Crombie (the former mayor of Toronto) writes on Canadian cities, Mark Pachter takes on American identity, and several politicians debate the Quebec question. It is a stimulating, wonderfully uneven book.



Michelin Green Guide Quebec


Author: Michelin Travel Publications


Description: A thorough introduction to the region in the classic Michelin style, featuring brief descriptions of all the major attractions.



Montcalm and Wolfe, The French and Indian War


Author: Francis Parkman, Caleb Carr (Editor), John Keegan (Introduction)


Description: This volume, a reprint of the original 1884 edition by the great Francis Parkman, is an extensively researched account of the French and Indian War and of the great generals Montcalm and Wolfe.



Quebec Province Map


Author: Borch Maps


Description: A map of the province (1:800,000) with insets of Old Montreal, Quebec city and the region.



Shadows on the Rock


Author: Willa Cather


Description: Set at the end of the 17th century in rural Quebec, this beautifully realized novel highlights the struggles of the Parisian widower Auclair and his young daughter to adapt to their new land.



Surfacing


Author: Margaret Atwood


Description: One of Atwood's earliest novels, a suspenseful yarn where a young woman becomes entangled in affairs, mysteries and the haunting draw of nature as she searches for her missing father on an island off the coast of northern Quebec.



The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz


Author: Mordecai Richler


Description: The book that established Richler as a novelist, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz unfurls amid the bumptious, working-class splendor of Montreal's Plateau neighborhood, once solidly Jewish and more recently home to the city's music scene.



Varieties of Exile


Author: Mavis Gallant, Russell Banks (Introduction)


Description: Wonderful stories set mostly in Gallant's native Montreal, a city starkly divided between working-class French Catholics and genteel English Protestants.



Why I Hate Canadians


Author: Will Ferguson


Description: The tenth anniversary edition of Ferguson's wickedly astute cultural salvo, the collection of humorous essays that launched his career. As you might guess, the title is tongue-in-cheek.



Wolfe at Quebec, The Man Who Won the French and Indian War


Author: Christopher Hibbert


Description: Hibbert brings the campaigns, life at Louisborg and dramatic capture of Quebec in 1759 to life in this tale of the neurotic, complex British general.





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