Québec

Signature City Québec

Program No. 19748RJ
Join a local historian for an insider’s perspective on Québec City. You’ll hear fascinating lectures, taste regional cuisine, visit must-see icons and go off the beaten path.

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At a Glance

Discover the best that Québec City has to offer as locals introduce you to the food, arts and history of this fascinating region. Explore the heart of Old Québec's Upper and Lower Towns and examine the city's extensive fortification system with an expert historian. Traverse down pedestrian streets and laneways to discover its quiet residential neighborhoods. A visit to Musée National des Beaux Arts will introduce you to paintings and sculpture by Québecois artists. Lectures are brought to life with field trips encompassing both landmark sites and less heralded aspects of the city, opening doors to historic interiors that few visitors discover. Learn about Québec’s architecture and enjoy a farewell dinner at Le Château Frontenac.
Activity Level
Varies by date
Varies by date. KEEP THE PACE Departures: Walking three to four miles a day on uneven surfaces, cobblestones; many steep hills and stairs, some without railings.

What You'll Learn

  • Explore the Plains of Abraham, site of many clashes between the French and British Empires, and walk the cobblestone streets and well-preserved 17th-century architecture of Old Québec with local experts.
  • Visit Montmorency Falls and discover one of the most beautiful natural jewels of Quebec.
  • Discover the rich cultural heritage at the National Museum of Fine Arts, boasting the highest concentration of artists in the province.

General Notes

Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Marie Legroulx
Marie is an eleventh-generation Quebecoise whose ancestors settled on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in the mid-17th century. She has a BA in history and an MA in Quebec literature from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Marie draws on both fields in her Road Scholar learning adventures as well as within her life more broadly. She taught French and Quebec literature for 25 years at the university level. Marie has been leading groups in Quebec City and the surrounding area since 2008.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Chantal Bellon
Chantal Bellon View biography
A retired teacher, Chantal Bellon has lead visitors around the province of Québec, to the vibrant city of Toronto and the beautiful Niagara Falls, to the nation’s capital in Ottawa. Chantal enjoys sharing the charm and beauty of her home country with guests from around the globe and always looks forward to learning something new from them too. Although as a teacher, she primarily taught math and science, she has an eclectic love for travel, music, carpentry, and animals.
Profile Image of Clarisse Fréchette
Clarisse Fréchette View biography
Clarisse Frechette’s family arrived in Québec back in 1677 as shipbuilders. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and worked as a research agent for Québec’s Department of Education before taking on the role of a field manager for Statistics Quebec. Becoming an educational interpreter was second nature for Clarisse, with her love of history and certainly her love of Québec! She has explored the old streets of Québec for over 20 years. It is always her pleasure to help people discover this area.
Profile Image of Marie Legroulx
Marie Legroulx View biography
Marie is an eleventh-generation Quebecoise whose ancestors settled on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in the mid-17th century. She has a BA in history and an MA in Quebec literature from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Marie draws on both fields in her Road Scholar learning adventures as well as within her life more broadly. She taught French and Quebec literature for 25 years at the university level. Marie has been leading groups in Quebec City and the surrounding area since 2008.
Profile Image of Francois Vidal
Francois Vidal View biography
François Vidal was born in Québec City, where he spent years studying theatre and travel. He frequently combines his education with his love for Québec City and its rich history, performing in numerous educational theatrical productions. François has been an educational interpreter in Québec City since 2009 and is well-known for his personification of historical figures including a recent production in which he portrayed General Montcalm from the French-Indian War. François displays a keen interest in the architecture, culture and lifestyle in Québec City.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Year
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Date
Nov 04 - Nov 09
  • May 06 - May 11
  • May 20 - May 25
  • Jun 10 - Jun 15
  • Jun 17 - Jun 22
  • Jul 01 - Jul 06
  • Aug 05 - Aug 10
  • Aug 12 - Aug 17
  • Aug 19 - Aug 24
  • Aug 26 - Aug 31
  • Sep 02 - Sep 07
  • Sep 09 - Sep 14
  • Sep 16 - Sep 21
  • Sep 23 - Sep 28
  • Oct 07 - Oct 12
  • Oct 14 - Oct 19
  • Oct 21 - Oct 26
  • Nov 04 - Nov 09
  • Nov 11 - Nov 16
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Nov 04 - Nov 09
  • May 06 - May 11
  • May 20 - May 25
  • Jun 10 - Jun 15
  • Jun 17 - Jun 22
  • Jul 01 - Jul 06
  • Aug 05 - Aug 10
  • Aug 12 - Aug 17
  • Aug 19 - Aug 24
  • Aug 26 - Aug 31
  • Sep 02 - Sep 07
  • Sep 09 - Sep 14
  • Sep 16 - Sep 21
  • Sep 23 - Sep 28
  • Oct 07 - Oct 12
  • Oct 14 - Oct 19
  • Oct 21 - Oct 26
  • Nov 04 - Nov 09
  • Nov 11 - Nov 16
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
12 meals
5 B 3 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-In, Program Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Quebec City, Québec
D
Hôtel Manoir Victoria

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 4:00 pm. There are 23 stairs from the hotel ground level entrance to the main lobby. A phone is available at ground level to request luggage assistance.

Afternoon: Arrive to historic Québec City and transfer to the hotel. Program registration begins at 4:00 pm. After you have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel at 6:00 pm.

Evening: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

DAY
2
Historic Québec, Upper Town Walk, Civilization Museum
Quebec City, Québec
B,L,D
Hôtel Manoir Victoria

Activity note: Walking about 3-4 miles. Many steep hills, uneven terrain, cobblestone, and stairs will be encountered, some without railings. Periods of standing up to 1-hour at a time, no seating available at the museum.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy a presentation about the history of Québec City, beginning with its founding, to the fortifications which surround the Old Town and date back to 1745, to the culture of the city today. This morning’s field trip will take us on a walking exploration of the Upper Town, beginning at the hotel. We will visit the monument of Samuel de Champlain, father of New France and founder of Québec City. We will continue to Dufferin Terrace, where we will enjoy magnificent views of the mountains, the St Lawrence river, the Lower Town, and the star-shaped Citadel. Enrich your knowledge of the city while learning about cannons, loopholes, and Québec’s defences under two different regimes—all mingled with the city of today.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Explore the Museum of Civilization where we’ll learn about the Indigenous Peoples, their culture, traditions, and their contemporary expression of international autochthony. Museum staff will lead us through the various Indigenous territories, through a storyline which will recreate their vision of history and challenges for the future.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At your leisure.

DAY
3
Lower Town Walk, Ursuline Nuns Museum, Plains of Abraham
Quebec City, Québec
B,L,D
Hôtel Manoir Victoria

Activity note: Walking about 3-4 miles. Many steep hills, uneven terrain, cobblestone, and stairs will be encountered, some without railings. Periods of standing up to 1-hour at a time, no seating available at the museum. Driving approximately 25 miles over 2 hours.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Learn about Québec through a comparison of “Then and Now,” together with an illustrated lecture given by our local historian, a long-time resident of Québec City. Gain insight into the city’s unique architecture on an expert led walk through the historic Old City. This field trip will begin at the hotel before heading toward Lower Town and Place Royale, known as the cradle of French civilization in North America. Observe the merchant houses and Notre-Dame-des-Victories Church and uncover the charming commercial district on rue du Petit-Champlain.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: Learn from a museum expert about the educational mission of the Ursuline nuns and their way of life. The convent is the oldest institution of its kind in North America. The Ursulines museum contains one of the richest ethnographic and artistic collections dating back to New France, including exquisite embroidery by the Ursuline nuns. By coach we will explore the Plains of Abraham, the site of a pivotal battle in the Seven Years War. An expert will bring to life the ways in which this battle shaped the city. We’ll also show you how essential the Plains have become in the life of Québec City’s residents, year round.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At your leisure.

DAY
4
War and Peace, Montmorency Falls
Quebec City, Québec
B
Hôtel Manoir Victoria

Activity note: Walking approximately 1 mile for 1 hour over mostly groomed trails

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: During a morning lecture, learn about the periods of war and peace that have defined Québec City’s rich history. Visit Montmorency Falls, at 272 feet high, they are almost 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Walk to different viewpoints and learn about the history of the area. At the foot of the Falls, passing over the river, the old railway crossing has been replaced by a long, wide footbridge providing pedestrian access with platforms on various levels. With unforgettable views, Montmorency Falls is one of the most beautiful natural jewels of Québec.

Lunch: Lunch on your own to enjoy local fare.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At your leisure.

DAY
5
Morrin Centre, Québec Archaeology, Fine Arts Museum
Quebec City, Québec
B,L,D
Hôtel Manoir Victoria

Activity note: Walking about 3-4 miles. Many steep hills, uneven terrain, cobblestone, and stairs will be encountered, some without railings. Periods of standing up to 1-hour at a time, no seating available at the museum. Driving approximately 15 miles over 30 minutes.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Visit the city’s first prison, Morrin Centre, built over 200 years ago. A local expert will recount spellbinding and haunting stories surrounding this Victorian building seeped in history. Home to a collection of literary gems, some of which date back to the 16th century, this is also the site of the city’s first English language institute for higher education. Wander along Dufferin Terrace, a wooden boardwalk which stretches from the Citadel to Château Frontenac with spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River and Ile d’Orléans. Explore the archeological site under Dufferin Terrace where the remains of the Saint-Louis Châteaux were found.

Lunch: At the Museum of Fine Arts restaurant.

Afternoon: Explore the National Museum of Fine Arts with a museum expert who will provide an examination of the works of art on exhibit. Over 22,000 selections of works are displayed in three chronological exhibitions, beginning with early Quebecois religious art, before moving to European-influenced modernist art up to 1945, and ending with abstract art from the mid-20th century.

Dinner: Historic Château Frontenac

Evening: At your leisure.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Quebec City, Québec
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out is at noon. There are 23 stairs from the hotel lobby to the ground level. Luggage assistance available upon request.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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