Quebec City

I sit high on a cliff, like a king or queen in a stone castle, watching a great river flow by. My streets are made of bumpy cobblestones that have felt millions of footsteps, and my buildings wear pointy roofs like party hats. I am the only city in all of North America with giant stone walls still wrapped around me like a cozy blanket. For hundreds of years, I have listened to people speaking French and English. Can you guess who I am? I am Quebec City!

My story began a long, long time ago. On a warm day, July 3rd, 1608, a brave explorer from France named Samuel de Champlain sailed up the St. Lawrence River. He saw my high cliff and thought, 'This is the perfect spot!' He and his men built a small wooden fort, and I started to grow. More people came from France, building homes, a church, and shops. To keep me safe, they built strong stone walls all around my upper town. In 1759, something very important happened. A big battle, called the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, was fought just outside my walls between soldiers from France and Britain. After that day, I became part of the British world, but I never forgot my French heart.

Today, I am a city where two stories live together. You can see my history everywhere! A beautiful hotel that looks just like a fairytale castle, the Château Frontenac, opened its doors in 1893 and still welcomes visitors. Every winter since 1894, people come for my wonderful Winter Carnival to play in the snow. You can walk on top of my old stone walls and pretend you are a guard from long ago, looking out at the sparkling river. I love hearing the mix of French and English chatter in my streets. I am a living history book, and I hope you come to visit me. I show everyone that different cultures can come together to create something truly special and beautiful.