Old memories—and new—in one of North America’s most enchanting cities.
Slopes, stairs, and stone walls—Vieux-Québec is a labyrinth of historic architecture, as if a town from France’s ancien régime were air-lifted into eastern Canada. The city was built at a “human scale” long before the concept was born, and the preservation effort here is one of the most successful in North America.
Notes and Miscellanea
- All footage was shot during a research trip to Quebec for a forthcoming travel guide.
- The French word “flâneur” is difficult to translate into English, because it can come off as romantic (“stroller”) or judgmental (“loafer”). In its heyday, celebrity flâneurs included artist Edouard Monet and poet Charles Baudelaire. One of your favorite books of all time is Baudelaire’s Le Spleen de Paris, a major inspiration for this series.
- A new discovery on this trip was the life and music of Félix Leclerc, who grew up on the nearby Île d’Orléans and perfectly captures the atmosphere of the region. Je me souviens, indeed.
- Not everyone likes to explore alone: Here’s a popular Quebec City Old Town Walking Tour (with a ride on the Funiculaire).
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