Things to see in Quebec City

The Musée National des Beaux-Arts houses the most important collection of work by Québécois artists. Housed in the 1933 Gérard-Morisset Pavilion, the collection follows three main periods: the beginnings of Québécois art (largely influenced by religion), the European-influenced modernist period up to 1945, and the period of figurative and abstract art from the mid-20th century onward. There is also the outstanding Brousseau Inuit art collection and a permanent exhibition by the famous Québec painter and sculptor Jean-Paul Riopelle. As a nod to its former life as a prison, one cellblock has been turned into an exhibit, and the southwest end of museum, close to the Plains of Abraham, is dotted with sculptures. The museum also host notable temporary exhibits.

Haute-Ville (Upper Town), where the towering Château Frontenac is located, is one of Quebec City's major draws. This hotel was built in 1893, although the tower that gives it its distinctive appearance was added in the 1920s. The iconic building sits between Place d'Armes (a central square famed for its Gothic fountain) and the Dufferin Terrace (a wide wooden boardwalk offering a terrific view of Ville de Lévis, on the opposite shore). It’s filled with street entertainers and visitors milling around visiting the popular Kiosk Frontenac booth or promenading past cannons that predate Château Frontenac. Nearby, the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is dominated by the Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec, the city's main Catholic cathedral.

With its ornate neo-baroque décor, its ceiling of painted clouds, touches of shimmering gold leaf, luxurious paintings, lavish stained-glass windows and rich ecclesiastical objects (including a chancel lamp from Louis XIV), Notre-Dame Basilica is a shining example of the role religion played in Quebec’s history. This is the oldest Catholic parish north of Mexico and parts of the cathedral, including the bell tower, date back to 1647. Most of the exterior is from the 1771 reconstruction, while the interior was rebuilt in 1922 after a fire. More than 900 people are buried in the crypt including many of the founding governors and bishops. Guided tours of the crypt are available.

Southwest of the Citadel, the National Battlefields Park occupies the 108-hectare (267-acre) Plains of Abraham. It was the site of the decisive battle of 1759, when the British, led by General Wolfe, defeated General Montcalm's French forces. Today, it’s a wide green space with a classic French garden, popular for summer concerts and outdoor activities. For those with a taste for history, the Discovery Pavilion (in the same building as the tourist office) has a large diorama of the site and the Odyssey historical multimedia exhibition. Midway through the park, Martello Tower No 1 has costumed guides who explain the role of these defensive structures (summer only). Abraham's Bus connects the sites, with the driver providing commentary as it winds through the park daily from late June until mid-September.