Québec brochure - 1st Class Holidays

Charlevoix
region
owes its rugged terrain
to a meteorite two
kilometres (1.3 mi.)
across that hit the area
350 million years ago.
It’s a rare spot where
you can do some
whale watching with
both feet planted
firmly on the shore.
Québec
Winter Carnival
is the
world’s
largest
winter
carnival
Cirque
du Soleil
always presents the world premieres
of its shows in Québec.
La Macaza
airfield
is the Mont-Tremblant
International Airport.
It is made up entirely
of log cabins.
snowmobiling
can be enjoyed on over 33,700 km
(20,000 mi.) of groomed and
signposted trails, a network larger
than all of Québec’s highways.
yul
Montréal
is the second-largest
French-speaking
city on the planet.
Château
Frontenac
is likely
the most
photographed
hotel in
the world.
3x
Québec’s
territory
is three times the
area of France.
6 Rue
Donnacona,
Québec City
is the address of
the narrowest house
in North America.
It is only 3.7 m
(12 ft.) wide.
RÉSO
is a system of pedestrian
corridors that connect
the metro stations and
crisscross downtown
Montréal. A veritable
underground city, the
RÉSO has 32 km (20 mi.)
of corridors filled
with boutiques and
small merchants.
maple
syrup
is a treat enjoyed
around the
world, and 80%
of it is produced
in Québec.
32
km
Québec’s
lakes
are so numerous that
people can’t agree on
their number. Some
say there are 500,000!
Officially, there are
8,275 lakes over 3 km2
(1.2 sq. mi.) in size.
Montréal
Canadiens
is the oldest hockey team
in the world that has played
without interruption.
aboriginal
communities
of Québec include
11 major families: Abenaki,
Algonquin, Attikamek,
Cree, Huron-Wendat,
Innu, Malecite, Mi’kmaq,
Mohawk, Naskapi and Inuit.
Distance
in km/mi
Flight time
to Montréal
Distance
in km/mi
Flight time
to Montréal
Toronto
New York
Chicago
Miami
Los Angeles
504/313
533/331
1,199/745
2,270/1,410
3,963/2,462
1
1
2
3.5
6
Mexico
Paris
London
Berlin
Beijing
3,579/2,224
5,501/3,418
5,219/3,243
5,995/3,725
11,022/6,849
5,5
8
7
9
19
authenticity
04
10
typically Québec
five indulgences
creativity
12
18
creative space
five rendezvous
nature
rugged nature
top five animals
20
26
info
28
30
32
37
a quick look at our thousand
and one activities
general maps
tourist routes
useful information
Québec
let’s go!
A population of talkative, curious
and informal bon vivants, who
love nothing more than a good
laugh. Folks with an international
reputation for creativity. Dazzling
blue against pristine winter white
and endless shades of green in
summer. No fewer than 135,326 km2
(52,000 sq. mi.) of protected areas,
boreal, mixed and deciduous forests,
taiga and tundra to explore. Maple
crème brûlée, birch bark smoked
salmon. Modernity with a dash
of yesteryear. Lasting memories.
Québec? Let’s go!
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authenticity
typically Québec
We
are warm,
welcoming
and our
joie de
vivre is
contagious.
Our cultural heritage is Amerindian,
French and British. Our attachment
to the French language runs deep.
Our ancestors have handed down
traditions for enjoying all four seasons
naturally. From the first snowflakes,
we flood the outdoor rinks, because
hockey is in our veins. A typical spring
rendezvous is the sugar shack. The
maple sap flows to satisfy our dent
sucrée (sweet tooth). Warm outside?
We’ll piquer une jasette (shoot the
breeze) on a café or a microbrewery
terrace. Fall finds us playing in the
leaves and scaling mountains to take
in the colours. A happy blend of
cultures and people who are warm
and welcoming: that’s Québec!
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authenticity
Ice Hotel
Québec City
monts Valin
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
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[abita]
concrete.
design.
unique.
in 1967, Montréal
shows what it’s
made of.
Habitat 67
Montréal
habitat
[brynãt]
dusk.
dreaming
the night
away in a
innu tepee?
pure magic.
innu tepee
Saint-Félicien
brunante
[frima]
frost.
wintery
crystals.
a chilling beauty
to behold.
Château Frontenac
Québec City
frimas
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Île Verte
Bas-Saint-Laurent
(5)
authenticity
indulgences
↖
seafood chowder
↖
pork roast
This Sunday dinner childhood classic is oft
revisited and still popular. Which should
come as no surprise, because our pork
is delicious! We prepare it a thousand
different ways, because its delicate taste
blends naturally with the subtle delights
of local cider, maple syrup, apples and
berries. A few classics: maple glazed ribs,
pork chops with apple sauce, pork shanks
with Québec garlic, and, as for the roast…
it’s a tough call. Every family has its own
special recipe.
À la pêche aux moules moules
moules… the children sing on
the St. Lawrence River tidelands.
Quahogs, mussels, razor clams,
surf clams and plain old clams,
we harvest seafood when the tide
goes out to make a pot-en-pot in
the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, whelks
in brine on the Côte-Nord and
seafood chowder with salted herbs
from the Bas-du-Fleuve region.
lobster
It’s pronounced homârd or hhhomard.
People say that to put a lobster to
sleep, you stroke it between the eyes
or turn it on its back, before plunging
it into boiling water with lemon and
sea salt. It’s often served with garlic
butter, but purists prefer to eat it plain
to fully enjoy the delicate taste. And
they always come back for seconds.
↖
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cipaille (or cipâte)
In the old days, people laboured
outdoors, even in extreme cold.
They needed comforting, hearty
fare. And what with the large
families and the hope that visitors
might stop by, when they made
a cipaille, they made it big. It’s still
hard to find pint-sized versions of
this dish today. It takes six to eight
hours of baking for the flavours
in the meat and potato pie to
combine. Just try walking into a
home where a cipaille is cooking
and not staying for dinner.
↖
↖
Blueberry pie
Local blueberries are
anything but small. And
they’re big on flavour.
That could be why they
say that in Lac-Saint-Jean,
it takes only four blueberries to make a pie.
creative space
Our
creativity
is
recognized
around
the world.
It’s inspiring
and full
of vitality.
Ice cider with local cheese, a plaid
shirt with high heels, cultures
rubbing shoulders, expressions
even more colourful than the
landscapes… all in the same trip?
Yes, Québec offers plenty of
wonder. You can also experience
the creativity of Québec in the
little things… an impression that
every minute, in some corner
of Québec, something is created.
Is it our fascinating past that
allows us to flout convention and
embrace inspiration? Or is it our
sense of celebration that still gets
the better of us? One thing is sure:
when you visit Québec, you meet
people with a festive, inventive
bent, in a land with internationally
acclaimed attractions.
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[piknik]
nature.
music.
creativity.
for those who
are hungry for
a good time.
Piknik Électronik
Montréal
pique-nique
ice fortress
of the
biggest winter carnival
in the world.
Carnaval de Québec
Québec City
fort
pow-wow
[pawaw]
party.
people.
dance.
trance.
festival Juste pour rire
Montréal
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festival international de Jazz
Montréal
Cirque du Soleil
Québec City
adrenaline.
speed.
racing blades through
the streets of Québec City.
Red Bull Crashed Ice
Québec City
enlevant
[veje]
starlight.
friends.
music.
so many ways to heat
up our winter nights
Igloofest
Montréal
veillée
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(5)
festival de musique
émergente in Abitibi
Rouyn-Noranda
festival du nouveau
cinéma québécois
Montréal
Emerging local music reverberates
beyond our borders. Bands are
plentiful throughout the province,
creating and reinventing genres.
Styles clash, to create an even
better sound. Thumbing its nose
at the major centres, the FME
can be experienced only in
Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Over 40 years of celebrating
the cinema of tomorrow! At the
cutting edge of the latest in film
(new technologies, trends, currents),
this festival has been playing host to
film greats ever since its beginnings.
It celebrates all that is dynamic
in film, even without the statuettes.
creativity
rendezvous
fmeat.org
nouveaucinema.ca
Montréal
Complètement cirque
Montréal
festival
de Lanaudière
Lanaudière
les Chemins
invisibles
Québec
The circus arts combine with dance,
theatre and other artistic feats for this
one-of-a-kind festival. The legitimate
offspring of Cirque du Soleil, this
young event has plenty of attitude
and is already making its mark.
Hundreds of artists from home and
abroad are a hair’s breadth from
danger, juggling magic, feats of
strength and novel acts in Montréal
Complètement cirque.
With programming from the
canon that features well-known
virtuosos and emerging talent,
Lanaudière is THE place for music
lovers to be: the largest classical
music festival in Canada. For
four weeks, musical purists
and the inquisitive enjoy the
amphitheatre’s flawless acoustics,
not to mention the cafés,
churches and outdoor stages
that the music takes by storm.
Another gorgeous extravagance
from Cirque du Soleil. Number after
number bring together circus,
dance, music and multimedia. Walls,
streets and urban spaces shed their
grey and are cloaked in colour.
Artists from around the world
in an inspiring neighbourhood.
montrealcompletementcirque.com
cirquedusoleil.com
lanaudiere.org
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find out more at
QuebecOriginal.com
nature
rugged nature
Nature
in Québec
attracts,
charms and
surprises.
It offers
both ease
of access
and variety.
Nature in Québec is both a study in
contrast and a lifestyle. Pervasive,
bountiful, precious… we love nature.
Québecers love playing outdoors,
tearing down wooded trails and snowy
slopes or just se dorer la couenne au
soleil (soaking up the sun). And it’s
easy to do, because nature is always
close by, whether you’re in the city or
the country. The seasons lay down the
law, offering a thousand possibilities
in return. During winter, we don’t
hibernate; we bundle up. Québec is
one of the few places where the snowy
season is set under a bright winter
sun. In spring, the maples and lakes
thaw. In summer, we head out on the
terraces and play in the water. In fall,
nothing stirs hearts like the show of
colours, and we head into the woods
and se tirer une bûche (pull up a log)
around a blazing fire. Québec: an
infinite playground where you can
get up close with nature.
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where river
becomes
sea.
sublime.
sea kayaking
Baie-Saint-Paul
golfe
vertigo.
nature.
mountain.
river.
rivière Sainte-Anne
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
canyon
Chic-Choc Mountains
Gaspésie
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dogsledding
mont Sainte-Anne
23
battures
érable
[erabl]
leaves,
syrup,
wood...
spectacular autumns.
parc du Mont-Royal
Montréal
[batyr]
the shore
of the
SaintLawrence.
rugged beauty.
St. Lawrence River
parc national du Bic
bordée
the snow’s
piled high…
let’s go play outside!
Chic-Choc Mountains
Gaspésie
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[pєrse]
sculpted
by nature,
icon of a sublime
generous region.
Percé rock
Gaspésie region
percé
25
our
top
nature
(5)
black bear
Mont Mégantic
The black bear—a solitary
creature with a healthy
appetite—roams the
forests of Québec. In spite
of its expansive territory,
encounters are rare,
because it avoids people
as much as possible. It is
one of the most intelligent
mammals on the planet
and can remember the
location of the best berry
bushes even after more
than a decade.
blue whale
Saguenay–
St. Lawrence
Marine Park
Moose feed mainly on
grasses, leaves and aquatic
plants, and the strapping
cervid can weigh close to
700 kg (1,540 lb.). A champion
swimmer, but a bit bashful,
it can be observed a
mere 45 minutes from
Québec City.
The largest animal to have
ever lived on Earth, this
marine mammal, which
also goes by the name
of rorqual, is larger
than even the heaviest
dinosaurs known to have
existed. In spite of the size
of its mouth, which can
hold 90 tons of water
and food, its small throat
does not allow it to
swallow anything larger
than a basketball.
snowy owl
Great North
grey wolf
Québec
With two large yellow eyes
that can see equally well
day or night over a distance
of one kilometre (a little
over half mile), silent flight
that surprises its prey thanks
to bristles that cover the
barbules of its feathers,
our official bird is a hunter
to be reckoned with.
A mythical animal from
legends and tales, the
grey wolf is a stealthy
inhabitant of our forests,
and encounters are rare.
Get to know it during wolf
calling sessions in some
of Québec’s parks: howl
at the moon… it may just
howl back.
moose
Parc national
de la Gaspésie
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a quick
look
at our thousand and one activities
January
June
July
Igloofest
Francofolies de Montréal
Montréal Complètement
Cirque
Montréal
An electronic music festival with
a high-impact setting in a magical
igloo village! 18 years and older.
info
igloofest.ca
Montréal
Since 1989, the FrancoFolies de
Montréal has been presenting
the best in French-language music
from around the world.
February
francofolies.com
Québec Winter
Carnival Québec City
International Garden
Festival
For more than 50 years, the world’s
largest winter carnival has been
celebrating the joys and magic
of winter.
Gaspé peninsula
Innovative contemporary
gardens created by artists from
the world over.
carnaval.qc.ca
jardinsdemetis.com
festival Montréal
en Lumière Montréal
festival international
de jazz de Montréal
montrealenlumiere.com
Montréal
The largest jazz festival on the
planet on a site that’s open noon
to midnight!
The best of Montréal, in beautifully
lit, fun-filled downtown streets.
March
Red Bull Crashed Ice
Québec City
A cross between hockey, snowboard
cross and downhill skiing, a brandnew kind of playground for amateur
and professional hockey players.
redbull.ca
May
Piknic Électronik
Montréal
A weekly outdoor event with
a spectacular view of Montréal
and top-notch electronic music.
piknicelectronik.com
montrealjazzfest.com
International des Feux
Loto-Québec
Montréal
The most impressive fireworks
competition in the world, at
La Ronde amusement park.
internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com
Grand Prix du Canada
Montréal
The best race car drivers in the
world test their mettle on the
grueling Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve,
in Canada’s only Formula 1 race.
circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca
Montréal
Organized by TOHU, this
international circus arts festival
in Montréal juggles daring
and extravagance.
montrealcompletementcirque.com
festival musique
et arts Osheaga
Montréal
The largest festival of its kind
in Canada presents over
90 professional artists from
all genres.
osheaga.com
festival d’été de Québec
Québec City
For the past 46 years, Québec City
has been turning into a giant stage
for 11 days!
infofestival.com
Tremblant International
Blues Festival
Tremblant
Ten days, over 150 free outdoor
concerts and renowned local and
international artists.
tremblant.ca
festival de Lanaudière
Lanaudière
One of the most prestigious classical
music events in North America,
playing host to acclaimed soloists.
lanaudiere.org
Just for Laughs Festival
Montréal
Every summer for over 30 years, the
largest comedy festival in the world
has been cracking the city up.
hahaha.com
Fantasia International
Film Festival
Montréal
The largest genre film festival
in North America.
fantasiafestival.com
August
September
SAQ New France Festival
fête des vendanges
Magog-Orford
Québec City
Every summer, the SAQ New France
Festival celebrates the history
of the first Europeans to set foot
on American soil.
nouvellefrance.qc.ca
Rogers Cup
Montréal
One of the nine ATP Masters 1000
tournaments, the men’s and
women’s portions of the Rogers Cup
are held every year on Uniprix
Stadium courts in Montréal.
The Traversée
internationale
du lac Saint-Jean
couperogers.com
Saguenay
A major open water swimming
festival that offers international
competitions, events for fans
and plenty of celebration.
The International de
montgolfières de
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
traversee.qc.ca
Divers/Cité
(All Together Different)
Montréal
A popular, modern, avant-garde
artistic event.
diverscite.org
Montérégie
The largest balloon event in Canada
offers magical rides, shows and free
activities for the whole family.
montgolfieres.com
Magog
On the shores of Lake
Memphremagog, over 140
producers offer up their wares
for visitors to sample.
fetedesvendanges.com
festival western de
Saint-Tite
Mauricie
The largest western event in
Eastern Canada lasts 10 days and
attracts some 600,000 visitors.
festivalwestern.com
festival de musique
émergente en
Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Emerging local musicians get
together in Abitibi and resonate
beyond our borders.
fmeat.org
Québec City International
Festival of Military Bands
Québec City
Military musicians from the
Americas and Europe set the pace
at some 50 free outdoor concerts.
fimmq.com
the complete list
of activities on
our Web site
QuebecOriginal.com
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distance
in km/mi.
Montréal Québec City Gatineau
Gaspé930/578700/4351,125/699
Gatineau207/129450/280—
Montréal
—253/157207/129
Mont-Tremblant135/84405/252160/99
Québec City253/157 —450/280
Rimouski540/336312/194735/457
Rouyn-Noranda638/396877/345535/332
Saguenay465/28921 1/131662/411
Sept-Îles900/559652/4051,095/680
Sherbrooke147/91240/149347/216
Tadoussac475/295205/127685/426
Trois-Rivières142/88130/81330/205
60°
position
in Canada
Québec
info
55°
Sept-Îles
50°
ER
RIV
CE
EN
R
LAW
ST.
49°
Lac Saint-Jean
Havre-Saint-Pierre
Gaspé
Rouyn-Noranda
Percé
Saguenay
Tadoussac
Îles-de-laMadeleine
Rivière-du-Loup
Baie-Saint-Paul
Québec
Mont-Tremblant
NEW BRUNSWICK
PRINCE EDWARD
ISLAND
Trois-Rivières
45°
ONTARIO
Montebello
Drummondville
Gatineau
Montréal
Sherbrooke
Ottawa
NOVA SCOTIA
New York
Toronto
UNITED STATES
Boston
0
100
200 km
three
essentials
the Route Verte
the Water Trail
The largest cycling route in North America that crosses
every region of Québec, the Route Verte is a cyclist’s
dream come true. Once completed, it will include over
5,300 km (3,300 mi.) of bike paths, paved shoulders
and designated roadways. The route is signposted.
The St. Lawrence Water Trail is a water route designed
for shallow draught small craft, particularly sea kayaks.
The trail offers boat launches, emergency stops, rest
areas, accommodations and food, as well as wilderness
and commercial campgrounds.
routeverte.com
sentiermaritime.ca
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28
26
Sept-Îles
ER
RIV
CE
EN
WR
A
L
ST.
Lac Saint-Jean
Gaspé
15
Rouyn-Noranda
20
Percé
Saguenay
25
Havre-Saint-Pierre
30
18
Tadoussac
Îles-de-laMadeleine
Rivière-du-Loup
13
27
12
Baie-Saint-Paul
19
Québec
Mont-Tremblant
11
ONTARIO
24
14
Montebello
Gatineau
17
Ottawa
NEW BRUNSWICK
PRINCE EDWARD
ISLAND
Trois-Rivières
23
Drummondville
Montréal
21
22
Sherbrooke
NOVA SCOTIA
New York
Boston
Toronto
UNITED STATES
Québec’s parks
There are nature parks throughout Québec,
from Abitibi-Témiscamingue to the tip of the Gaspé
peninsula, and a number of them are near urban
centres. Most parks are administered by the
Société des établissements de plein air du Québec
(Sépaq); La Mauricie and Forillon national parks
and the Mingan Archipelago National Park
Reserve are managed by Parks Canada.
The two organizations jointly manage the
Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park.
sepaq.com
1 —S
aguenay–St. Lawrence
Marine Park
2 — Parc national d’Aiguebelle
3 — Parc national d’Anticosti
4 — Parc national de Frontenac
5 — Parc national de la Gaspésie
6 —P
arc national de
la Jacques-Cartier
7 —P
arc national de
la Pointe-Taillon
8 — Parc national de la Yamaska
9 —P
arc national de
l’Île-Bonaventure-etdu-Rocher-Percé
10 — Parc national de Miguasha
1 1 — Parc national de Plaisance
12 — P
arc national des
Grands-Jardins
13 — P
arc national des HautesGorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie
14 — P
arc national des
Îles-de-Boucherville
15 — P
arc national des Monts-Valin
16 — Parc national des Pingualuit
17 — Parc national d’Oka
18 — Parc national du Bic
19 —La Mauricie National Park
of Canada
20— F
orillon National Park
of Canada
21 —Parc national du
Mont-Mégantic
22— Parc national du Mont-Orford
23— P
arc national du
Mont-Saint-Bruno
24 — P
arc national du
Mont-Tremblant
25— P
arc national du
Fjord-du-Saguenay
26— M
ingan Archipelago
National Park Reserve
27 — P
arc national du
Lac-Témiscouata
28— P
arc national Kuururjuaq
—
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tourist
routes
Some 15 signposted and mapped tourist routes wind through Southern Québec. Travelling
these panoramic routes, which are filled with must-see attractions, is a great way to plan
awe-inspiring getaways.
Havre-Saint-Pierre
find out more at
info
QuebecOriginal.com
Lac Saint-Jean
Saguenay
Tadoussac
Québec
Rivière-du-Loup
Baie-Saint-Paul
Québec
Trois-Rivières
UNITED STATES
Saint-Georges
Drummondville
Montréal
Sherbrooke
the Wine Route
the Farmlands Route
the Townships Trail
The largest concentration
of vineyards in Québec, in the
bucolic Eastern Townships.
The country character of the
Laurentides region is on display
in fertile prairies and pretty
country homes.
Villages along country roads
recount the unique heritage
of the Loyalists.
the King’s Route
The oldest road in Canada, which
runs along the St. Lawrence
from Montréal to the heart of
Old Québec.
the Whale Route
The playground of whales, in the
Manicouagan and Duplessis regions.
the Mountain Road
A great way to explore some
of the highest peaks of the
Laurentian Shield.
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the New France Route
Vestiges of the first colonial
industrial activities and ancestral
homes, from Old Québec to
Cap-Tourmente.
the Navigators’ Route
the Summit Drive
Three centuries of history
and mesmerizing views of the
St. Lawrence and its islands,
as well as the mountains along
the north shore.
Breathtaking views in a little-known
corner of the Eastern Townships.
the Rivers’ Road
the Fjord Route
the Border Route
On either shore of the Saguenay
River, the Nordic beauty of the fjord,
its immense rock walls and its
dizzying capes.
From the shores of the St. Lawrence
to the borders of New Brunswick
and Maine, an incredible range of
natural farm and forest landscapes.
This long route winds across
a dozen rivers in Mauricie.
the Richelieu Route
the St. Lawrence Route
the Countryman’s Tour
Majestic landscapes and
charming mountainside villages
in the Charlevoix region, in a
historical setting.
Explore the rich, fertile land
of the southwest Montérégie by
engaging in farm tourism.
The first cross-border tourist
route between Québec and
New York State.
33
starting your stay
in Montréal?
Old Montréal is a historic quarter that dates back to the days of New France, with ancient and contemporary
The Quartier des spectacles (Entertainment
architecture testifying to a vitality that has endured for 350 years.
The Cité du multimédia
District) is designed to host outdoor shows year round on its large esplanade.
(Multimedia City) is a trend-setting industrial space that is home to companies on the cutting edge of technology
The neighbourhood of Mile End is a trendy part of
and design and many fine dining establishments.
Montréal, where independent performing artists frequent bagel shops, used clothing stores and craft boutiques.
Plateau Mont-Royal is a former working-class neighbourhood that appeals to young people and artists
for its cafés, watering holes and charming establishments.
Information and reservations: Infotouriste Centre, 1255 Rue Peel (corner of Sainte-Catherine West), Montréal
Opening hours: April 1 to June 20: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; June 21 to August 31: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; September 1
to October 31: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; November 1 to March 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed December 25 and January 1.
0
500m
21 km/13 mi.
Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
138 km/85 mi. La Macaza – Mont Tremblant International Airport
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starting your stay
in Québec?
Behind its fortifications, Old Québec is the historical centre of the capital and a veritable outdoor museum.
The
Saint-Jean-Baptiste quarter is at the crossroads of Parliament Hill, the edge of the Old Port, the Convention Centre and
Montcalm is a lively quarter that borders the Battlefields Park, a sprawling site in
the major hotels of the Upper Town.
Saint-Roch is a working-class quarter that has been transformed into a hip neighbourhood,
the heart of Québec City.
with a variety of restaurants and novel boutiques.
Information and reservations: Infotouriste Centre, 12 Rue Sainte-Anne, Québec City (across from the Château Frontenac)
Open from April 1 to June 20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from June 21 to August 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from
September 1 to March 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
0
13 km/8 mi.
500m
Jean-Lesage International
Airport
Port
de Québec
34
—
35
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E.
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Citadelle
de Québec
Remparts
de Québec
starting your stay
in Gatineau?
The recreational calling of Aylmer, a stone’s throw from Canada’s capital, is evidenced in its golf courses, spas
Le Plateau is a quiet green space where original architecture
and network of bike paths and navigable routes.
Hull is the cultural centre of the Outaouais and
combines with nature, thanks to the nearby Gatineau Park.
the oldest sector of Gatineau.
Information and reservations: Outaouais Tourism, 103 Rue Laurier, Gatineau.
Open June 20 to Labour Day, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.
to 7 p.m. Open the rest of the year from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
0
19 km/12 mi.
Gatineau-Ottawa Executive
Airport
info
Centrale des
Rapides-Farmer
Parc
de la Gatineau
Casino
du LacLeamy
MacPont
do
Car naldtier
Boul. des Allumettières
Musée canadien
des civilisations
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500m
useful
information
customs and entry
requirements
statutory and
school holidays
Visitors to Québec from abroad must
hold a valid passport. Visas are required
for visitors from certain countries.
American tourists must find out about
the new rules in effect in their country
for their return to the United States
at www.cbp.gov. In all circumstances,
it is a good idea to check the rules of
the country of entry. Visitors are advised
to contact their country’s Canadian
consulate or embassy prior to departure.
In Québec, most businesses,
government offices, banks and stores
are closed the following days: New Year’s
Day (January 1), Good Friday, Easter
Monday, Journée nationale des patriotes
(Patriots’ Day second-to-last Monday
in May), Fête nationale du Québec
(Québec’s national holiday, June 24),
Canada Day (July 1), Labour Day (the
first Monday of September), Thanksgiving
(second Monday of October) and
Christmas (December 25).
Foreign travellers must cover their own
medical expenses. Consequently, it is
important that you take out an insurance
policy prior to your departure. Travellers
bringing their own medications with
them are responsible for inquiring about
customs formalities with the Canada
Border Services Agency. Pharmacies
can fill prescriptions only if they’ve been
written by a member of the Collège
des médecins du Québec (Québec’s
professional corporation of physicians).
In the event of an emergency, dial 911
from any telephone.
currency, money and
the exchange office
taxes and tipping
As of January 23, 2007, anyone,
including U.S. citizens, entering or
re-entering the United States by air from
Canada must have a passport or a
NEXUS card (when used at a NEXUS kiosk
at participating airports). Since January
31, 2008, anyone travelling by land or
sea must present one of the following
documents: a government-issued photo
ID, such as a driver’s licence AND proof
of citizenship, such as a birth certificate;
or a birth certificate for Canadians aged
16 and under; or a Canadian passport,
or a NEXUS card; or a Free and Secure
Trade (FAST) card.
To find out more, visit:
cbsa.gc.ca and cic.gc.ca.
business hours
Stores, shopping centres and most
businesses are generally open from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday,
from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday
and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on
Saturday and from 12 to 5 p.m. on
Sunday. Some establishments open
earlier and close later in the evenings,
such as pharmacies and grocery stores.
A few shopping centres are open every
weeknight until 9:00 p.m. Business hours
for banks are much more restricted.
The legal tender is the Canadian dollar,
which is divided into 100 cents. Bank
notes are available in denominations
of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, and
coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25 cents
and 1 and 2 dollars.
The leading credit cards are accepted
everywhere, namely Visa, MasterCard
and American Express. Traveller’s
cheques are generally accepted in large
hotels, some restaurants and major
stores. Otherwise, they must be cashed
at an exchange office or bank. There
are numerous exchange offices in
Québec’s main cities. Airports also offer
exchange services. Some businesses
accept American money, but they
offer a less competitive rate than the
exchange offices.
Banking institutions are generally open
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday. You can withdraw cash
from most automatic teller machines
(linked to the Cirrus, PLUS System
or Interac networks) any time, seven
days a week.
health
Two taxes, the federal goods and services
tax (GST) and the Québec sales tax
(QST), are added to the selling price
of most goods and services. Several
tourist regions charge a specific tax on
accommodations. The amount is $2 or
$3 a night or 3% of the price of the room
per night, before the GST and QST are
added. You should leave a tip on service
provided in restaurants and bars and
by taxi drivers and hairdressers. The
amount, which is not included in the bill,
generally represents 10% to 15% of the
total bill (before taxes). Here in Québec,
for a restaurant bill, we usually add
the amounts of the two taxes (GST and
QST) together, the sum of which equals
approximately 13%. Tipping bellhops or
porters is at your discretion (generally,
$1 per bag carried).
alcohol, bars and casinos
You have to be at least 18 years old to
enter bars and casinos and to purchase
or consume alcohol (you could be asked
to show ID). Wines and spirits are sold
at outlets of the Société des alcools du
Québec, or SAQ, the province’s liquor
board. You can buy beer at grocery and
convenience stores, which also stock
a limited selection of wines.
36
—
37
useful
information
climate
— Most of Québec’s cities enjoy
a humid continental climate, with four
very distinct seasons and significant
differences in temperature marking
each one. Summer is hot, while winter
sees a considerable amount of snow.
Québec’s Great North is characterized
by arctic and subarctic climates.
The ancestral land of the Cree and
the Inuit is known for its long winters
and brief summers.
jan.
april july
oct.
2 / 11
17 / 26
5 / 12
Montréal
infos
-12 / -5
Québec City
-17 / -7
-1 / 7
13 / 25
1 / 10
-3 / 6
10 / 23
0 / 10
Gaspé
-17 / -6
Kuujjuaq
-28 / -19
-14 / -4
5 / 17
temperatures in °C
For detailed local forecasts
and long-term trends,
visit weatheroffice.gc.ca.
-3 / 2
driving and getting
around in Québec
telephone and
postal services
— Buses run between many towns and
cities in Québec and numerous ferries
offer year-round or seasonal service
on the St. Lawrence River and other
major waterways. Most foreign driver’s
licences are valid in Québec. There are
lots of car rental agencies, many of
which have outlets in the airports and
at railroad stations.
— Local calls can be made from public
telephones. You can pay with coins or
a prepaid card (you’ll pay more if you
use your credit card). For long-distance
calls, using a prepaid card is usually
the best bargain.
Visitors holding a driver’s licence from
their country of origin can drive on
Québec’s roads for a maximum period
of six months. This means you don’t
have to obtain an international driving
permit, although if your papers are in a
language other than French or English,
it is highly recommended that you do
so. By law, all vehicle occupants must
wear a seat belt.
Consuming alcohol or having alcoholic
beverages present in a moving vehicle
is strictly prohibited under Québec’s
Highway Safety Code. Furthermore,
a person suspected of driving under
the influence will have to submit to
a breathalyzer test. If the test reveals a
concentration of alcohol in that person’s
blood of 80 or more milligrams per
100 millilitres of blood, his or her driver’s
permit will be immediately revoked
for a 30-day period.
Although the minimum age for driving
a car is 16, some car rental companies
require that the driver be at least 25,
while others charge higher rates for
drivers under the age of 21.
For more information about driving in
Québec, road signs and getting around,
visit the Getting around Québec section
at QuebecOriginal.com.
electricity
— The electric current is 110 volts/
60 cycles, as it is throughout North
America. Because outlets here cannot
accommodate European plugs, you’d
best bring or buy an adaptor.
Foreign cell phones may work in
Québec depending on the technology
used and the service offered by
your provider.
Visitors who plan to spend several
weeks in Québec but with no fixed
address can take advantage of
the General Delivery service for their
mail. Visit www.canadapost.ca for
more information.
museum cards
— Museum lovers will be thrilled:
two regions offer fixed-rate museum
passes to allow you to make the most
of their museums. In Montréal and
Trois-Rivières, you’ll be wowed by
the choice!
museesmontreal.org
tourismetroisrivieres.com
main ticket
outlets
ADMISSION
admission.com
BILLETECH
billetech.com
LA VITRINE
(last-minute tickets)
lavitrine.com
useful
information
the travel-wise tourist
information and
reservations
In Québec, whether you
From Canada or the United States:
are enjoying the bustle
1 877 BONJOUR (266-5687)
of the large cities or the
International:
diversity of holiday resorts, Telephone: 514 873-2015
Fax: 514 864-3838
admiring the majestic
Tourisme Québec
St. Lawrence River or
C. P. 979
Montréal (Québec)
exploring the great
H3C 2W3 Canada
outdoors, help us keep
these treasures and
resources clean.
photos
© Tourisme Québec:
Jean-François Hamelin,
Christian Savard, Yves Tessier,
Ursula Tscherter, Heiko Wittenborn
Except for:
p. 17: © Igloofest/ Miguel Legault
All information in this brochure was
up to date at the time of publication.
Tourisme Québec cannot be held
responsible for any errors or omissions.
Our brochures can also be ordered or
consulted on QuebecOriginal.com.
access for people
with disabilities
38
– For information regarding hotels,
restaurants and tourist attractions
in Québec with facilities for the
disabled, please contact Kéroul.
Telephone: 514 252-3104
—
39
keroul.qc.ca
permanent Infotouriste
centres
Montréal
1255 Rue Peel
(corner of Rue Sainte-Catherine)
Québec City
12 Rue Sainte-Anne
(across from the Château Frontenac)
Rivière-Beaudette
Highway 20
(access via highway 401 in Ontario)
Rigaud
Highway 40, exit 12
(access via highway 417 in Ontario)
seasonal Infotouriste
centre
Dégelis
Route 185
(access via route 2 in New Brunswick)
find out more at
QuebecOriginal.com
© Tourisme Québec
Direction de la promotion
1255, rue Peel, Bureau 400
Montréal (Québec) H3B 4V4
Legal deposit – Bibliothèque et
Archives nationales du Québec, March 2013
ISBN: 978-2-550-66845-9
978-2-550-66846-6 (PDF)
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QuebecOriginal.com
Printed in Québec (Canada) – 90113
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