Bonne journée, mes amis. Expect to hear this phrase frequently during your road trip in the Canadian province of Québec. Founded as a colony of New France in 1534, it became a British colony in 1763 and became the Province of Québec in the Dominion of Canada in 1867. The French language dominates in Québec, and the province has a deep, rich culture that is fiercely independent and uniquely Canadian. Parts of Québec feel more European than North American, while other parts are so intrinsically Canadian they could be nowhere else. The past is always present in Québec, especially in the two cities at the beginning and end of our Canadian road trip: Montréal and Québec City.
A direct drive from Montréal in the southern part of Québec to Québec City in the eastern-central part of the province would take under three hours on Route Transcanadienne. But a road trip doesn’t need to confine itself to the direct route. Instead, choose the more leisurely and scenic drive along the St. Lawrence River on Autoroute 40 E and tributaries. The opportunity for side trips and detours abound and offer year-round natural wonders to explore, experience, and photograph.
Our starting point, Montréal, is one of the world’s great cities. Known for its cosmopolitan flair, gorgeous architecture, and fantastic food, Montréal is the most European of all North American cities. Hotel Montréal Metropolitan, BW Premier Collection, stands in the heart of downtown Montréal. It is a beautiful, serene property and a perfect central location for exploring the city on foot, by bus, or by car.
Beyond the museums, parks, architectural wonders, and other earthly delights in Montréal, there’s one thing you cannot miss: Poutine. A dish started with fried potatoes, brown gravy, and cheese curds has become a gastronomic work of art in Montréal, a blank canvas that chefs from every cuisine have come up with unique takes upon, with wild, mouth-watering results. Ask ten residents of Montréal to recommend the best poutine, and you’ll get fifty answers. Chez Tousignant and La Banquise consistently rank at the top of local polls, but it’s hard to find lousy poutine in Montréal, so follow your nose and trust your gut.
On your drive along the St. Lawrence, make a detour to La Mauricie National Park, northwest on Route 155 and Chemin de Saint-Jean-des-Piles out of Trois-Rivieres. Smooth roads swoop through hills decorated with tall trees, opening into vistas of blue lakes nestling between green hills. Every turn reveals another picture postcard-worthy view. The park features over 200 square miles of wilderness, including 150 lakes and many ponds. Canada created the park in 1970, part of an initiative to preserve natural lands from logging and sport hunting. Early fall is the most popular season for exploration, but any time of year yields beauty.
After the drive through nature, it’s time to explore the wonders of human history in Old Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Québec City is the capital of the Province of Québec and is one of the oldest European cities in North America. Founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, Québec City stands on land occupied for thousands of years by First Nations people. Its location above the banks of the St. Lawrence River and its deep-water harbor made it a natural trading post and later a center of government for the area. While Old Québec is worthy of exploration, its highlight may be La Citadelle de Québec, a star-shaped military encampment at the top of Cap Diamant, the highest natural point in the city. Built between 1830 and 1850 by the British Army, the Citadelle has commanding views of the city, the river, and beyond and is the largest British fortress in North America. The site of the Citadelle has roots deep in local history stretching to 1693 and earlier and has an air of antiquity rare to find in North America.
Stay over for a night or two in Québec City and explore the old and the new. Just one kilometer from Old Québec, the Best Western Plus City Centre/Centre-Ville offers luxurious accommodations and proximity to museums, restaurants, parks, and other downtown attractions.
A drive from Montréal to Québec City and back could be accomplished easily in one day. But a more extended immersion in the Province of Québec will deliver the riches of a unique cultural, historical, and natural experience.
