The town, located around the trading post, began to do good business until 1682, when there was a fire. Since a major part of the town was built using wood, very little survived after the inferno. The good people of Place Royale learned their lesson and began reconstruction of the town using fire-resistant stone, and the market square returned to its days of popularity and flourishing trade and commerce.

By the end of the eighteenth century, Place Royale started losing its importance as the hub for merchants, ship builders and ship owners and fell into decay. It was only in the mid-twentieth century that the Government initiated a restoration project to bring back glory to this historic site. Today Place Royale is replete with museums, historic buildings, dining establishments, and retail outlets.

Place Royale has become one of the busiest places in Québec City today. Visitors flock to this quaint little place, especially around dusk when the entire place comes alive with the illumination of the historic buildings.

If you are here during the day time, you can content yourself by walking down the streets of Place Royale and admiring the 17th and 18th century architecture. One example is the Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Québec’s oldest church, made of stone. This church was built after the devastating fire mentioned before took place. It is a classic example of architecture and workmanship of its time. The church is open all the days of the week, from May to October and there is no admission fee for entry.

Yet another place that is worth a visit is the Centre d’Interprétation de Place-Royale. The Centre d’Interprétation came up in an empty lot that was located behind the stone façade on the west side of the town. Once you are inside, you can check out the 20-minute multimedia show that takes you through the city’s history, going back 400 years. There are interesting exhibitions too, and you can also participate in guided tours in both French and English. On your way out, don’t forget to take a look at the trompe l’oeil mural, which depicts the citizens of the Place Royale during early times.

The lunch menu is offered from noon to 5:45pm. However, it would be wise if you made reservations, as the place tends to get packed. You don’t want to reach the restaurant hungry and come away ravenous and tantalized by the aroma wafting inside the place, do you?

The dishes served here are nothing short of extraordinary. Among the meats offered are caribou, duck and elk. Maple syrup also features prominently in a variety of dishes. After all, you are in Canada, and there’s no way that you will be able to avoid running into the distinctive taste of maple syrup in some of the dishes, such as the goat-cheese salad, and the sugar pie. Servings at Aux Anciens Canadiens are large enough to ward off hunger for a week.

Meats are cooked in a manner that helps them retain their tender and juicy taste. In fact, you may be forgiven for mistaking the American elk for tender beef steak. For appetizers, try the escargots, which are served in a rich, creamy butter or garlic sauce. The meat pies are also a famous item on the menu. They are made of five different meats and encased in a light crust that seems to melt in your mouth with each bite. The portions are large and generous and will keep you full till the evening is out, and probably longer.

Aux Anciens Canadien is a restaurant you will think of when you are celebrating a special occasion, or going out with a special someone. It’s the restaurant that you pick when you want to go some place exclusive to treat yourself to an occasional feast. And once you are there, it will be worth every penny you spend.

La Citadel de Québec is located at the highest point of the city, Cap Diamant. This star-shaped imposing fortress has 25 buildings and has become a celebrated landmark in Québec. The fortress was built by the Duke of Wellington during the war of 1812 as he anticipated further hostilities from the US forces. It was during this period that Québec was at the heights of its glory and served as an important port.

The citadel was designed to withstand attacks on the city from the Plains of Abraham lying to the west and the St. Lawrence River below. It was also to serve as sanctuary for the garrison in case the city fell into the enemies’ hands. However, by the time the construction of the fortress was completed in 1832, the attacks on the city had already ceased. Since then La Citadel de Québec has served as a military base for the Royal 22nd Regiment. Today, the citadel holds the distinction of being the one of the largest North American fortresses that still has troops stationed within.

Since La Citadelle is an active military garrison, visitors are not allowed to visit it individually. You have to be part of a guided tour that will take you through the fortress. This tour lasts for an hour and it will provide you with some interesting facts about the American attacks, the various buildings in the fortress and the story of its construction. These tours are conducted daily and it is best to book in advance so as not to miss out on the excitement.

As you wander about the Citadelle, you will see guards dressed traditionally in black fur hats and bright red coats manning it and from June 24th to the first Monday of the September, you can see the grand ceremony if the changing of the guards at 10am. There is even a museum that showcases the military history of Québec spread over 300 years along with the story of the Royal 22nd Regiment.

The view from La Citadelle de Québec is that of the serene St Lawrence River and the adjoining Vieux Port. Sailboats can be seen gliding on the tranquil waters of the river and the fluttering of the sails amidst the buildings and houses make for a panoramic view indeed. However, this peaceful and serene view only reinforces the tumultuous past the city has had to face that lead to the birth of La Citadelle de Québec.