Québec Historic Area (Canada)

The capital of Nouvelle - France was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain on a plateau overlooking the river Saint - Laurent, a hill later known as the Cap-aux-Diamants. In 1759, this city, which was strategically important for trade between the two sides of the Atlantic, was colonized by Britain and the occupation did not spread over Canada.

Québec's population increased rapidly thanks to its busy port, and formed two zones with two different functions. The lower area, which is the trading area, is the oldest area with houses from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires; the area became the center of administrative and religious life with monasteries built by Jesuites, Récollets and Ursulines from the 17th century.

So Québec is an excellent example of a colonial city in North America and a precious witness to an important period in the history of this continent.Québec historic area is recorded in the World Heritage List in 1985 . Québec city authorities are keen on preserving and exploiting all the components of the ancient Québec area into a relic in the World Heritage. Because of its location in the city center, this historic district suffers from a vibrant urbanization that needs to be reconciled with its mission to preserve its uniqueness.