Basse-Ville Old Quebec

Beautiful Old Quebec overlooks the St. Lawrence River. The lower town, known in French as “Basse-Ville,” is the original, older part of town.

Basse-Ville has undergone many iterations through the years. It was home to the working class people of Old Quebec, but then fell into decline. Rebuilding started in the 1970’s and this area is now a thriving cultural and economic area.

Place Royale is where Samuel Champlain first built a settlement.

There are many quaint shops here.

Below is another pretty street scene. This was especially appropriate since it was raining the day I took this picture. Note the Chateau Frontenac at the top of the picture and the cobblestone streets.

A pretty park below. Doesn’t it look inviting?

Two very interesting murals are here. The first, Fresque des Quebecois, depicts the history of Quebec. If you look closely at the 15 windows, you will see several historic figures and nearly a dozen of Quebec’s leading artists and writers. I especially like the hockey players in the middle of the street.

The second mural, the Neptune Inn Mural in Quartier de Petit Champlain, depicts the history of Cap-Blanc, Québec City’s working-class waterfront neighborhood, from the beginnings of New France until the present day.

Basse-Ville was one of my favorite parts of Old Quebec. But like anything worthwhile, one had to work to get there. You had to walk down a steep winding street, and then several flights of stairs.

Old Quebec is just so, so welcoming to tourists. For those who didn’t want to walk all the way to Basse-Ville and then back up to Haute-Ville (Upper Town), there is a cable car, known as the Funiculaire to take you from to Basse-Ville (Lower Town) back up to Haute-Ville (Upper Town) .

Note the steep descent.

What has been your favorite part of traveling?