The Algonquin word “Kebec” means “where the river narrows.
The Province of Quebec is Canada’s greatest producer of maple syrup.
Quebec’s population is over 8 million.
Quebec City is the only walled city in Canada. It still has three miles(4.7km) of walls.
J.A Moisan Epicier was established in 1871 and is the oldest grocery store in North America.
Approximately 150 days each year Quebec City has at least one inch (205cm) snow.
Is Quebec really part of Canada?
- Quebec, as you
may know, is the fiercely francophone province of Canada that
has held two failed secession votes and somehow still
remains part of Canada. The question
“is Quebec a part of Canada?” is loaded with
centuries of history and ton(ne)s of baggage.
What are some interesting
facts about Quebec?
- Learn Ten Facts
about Quebec City, Canada. Quebec City, like most of the province of
Quebec , is a predominantly French-speaking city. It is also known for its
architecture, European feel, and various annual festivals. One of the most
popular is the Winter Carnival which has skiing, ice
sculptures, and an ice castle.
Does Quebec Canada have a
nickname?
- QUEBEC NICKNAMES.
Montreal, Quebec. Quebec's Metropolis (La Metropole
du Quebec) - The largest and most cosmopolitan city in Quebec.
La metropole, or The Metropolis; The City of Saints - Many of Montreal's
streets are named after holy people who've been canonized, for example,
St. Urbain, St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine.
Facts
About Quebec, Canada's Largest Province
🍁 16 Fun Facts about Quebec
·
Quebec is one of Canada’s most fascinating historic cities,
offering heritage seeping through every building and clear to see from street
to street. In fact, many European visitors may feel
quite at home as they walk around the city!
·
It’s a beautiful place – but there’s likely plenty that you
might not know its history! Here’s a stack of fun facts about Quebec to clue you in…
1. Where does ‘Quebec’ come from?
The name ‘Quebec’ actually derives from Algonquin. The original
word, ‘kebec’, is said to roughly translate as ‘where the river narrows’.
2. It’s a bit of a walled oddity.
There are no other walled cities north of Mexico outside of
Quebec! The walls run all around the city, effectively enclosing it. Believe it
or not, the walls here extend to around 4.6km in length. These enclose the Old
Town, too, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
3. It’s very continental!
·
The European stylings of Quebec aren’t accidental. The look and
feel of the city largely borrows from the original settlers, who came to Quebec
before many other regions in North America. The city is more than 400 years
old.
·
Old Quebec
·
4. There’s a historic hotel here.
·
The most photographed hotel in history can be found in Quebec.
Specifically, it’s the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. It’s a true spectacle –
and little wonder why people keep taking photos of it!
·
5. Quebec is close to natural beauty.
·
Quebec is close to some of the most stunning natural waterscapes
in Canada. In fact, the local Montmorency Falls are actually taller than the
cascades you’ll find out at Niagara! The falls here measure around 83 meters in
height, making them a staggering natural feature.
·
6. Ever tried poutine?
·
One of the most popular traditional dishes eaten in Quebec is
poutine. Poutine is a popular comfort food option which consists of
fries, cheese, and gravy. There’s a similar phenomenon in the north of
England, but it goes by a less eloquent name – cheesy chips!
7. French is widely spoken in Quebec.
Most of the people in Quebec speak French as their first
language. Only 5% of people settled here don’t! What’s more, it’s thought that
around 80% of people living in Quebec refer to French as their main language of
choice.
8. For Canada, Quebec summers are pretty warm.
Despite the area generally being known for its wintry days,
Quebec summers tend to be pretty enjoyable, at least by British standards. The
average temperature during summer in the city clocks in at around 25 degrees
centigrade.
9. But in winter, those Canadian temperatures
kick in!
However, it’s winter when you’re really
going to need to keep an eye on those temperatures. It’s thought the average
January temperature rolls in at around -7.8 C! That’s pretty chilly even by the
coldest of British standards!
10. Much of Quebec is Irish.
Quebec is also home to a strong Irish population. You will find
plenty of Irish businesses here, such as authentic pubs owned and operated by
families over on the Emerald Isle. It’s thought that around 40% of people in
Quebec are descended from Irish heritage.
11. Snow falls regularly in Quebec.
Quebec is, as you might expect, well known for its snow. In
fact, on around 149 days each year, you’ll see the snow reach up to an inch
high.
12. Montreal is not the capital of Quebec.
It’s a common misconception that Montreal is the capital of
Quebec as a province. As you might actually expect, the capital is Quebec City.
In fact, be careful not to mix Quebec as a province and Quebec as a city mixed
up, as they are two different things!
13. Quelle surprise!
Quebec remains the oldest community in North America that speaks
French.
14. Quebec is a winter sports hotspot.
Many people choose to visit Quebec for skiing fun and other
winter sports. That’s because the famous Le Massif slopes are close by, as is
Mont St Anne. Le Massif is massive by name and massive by nature, with a 770m
altitude for you to ski and snowboard down at your leisure. Better take a deep
breath!
15. Quebec has its own Notre Dame!
Paris might have the Notre-Dame Cathedral, but there’s a Quebec
equivalent, too. The capital city is home to the Cathedral-Basilica of
Notre-Dame de Quebec. This is an important part of the Old Town UNESCO Site.
It’s also one of the oldest Roman Catholic properties
north of Florida.
16. Quebec also has a ‘Shepherd’s Pie’ variant.
Believe it or not, Quebec City has its own spin on shepherd’s
pie. It’s called pate chinois, and it’s a very similar recipe – however, for some
reason, the name translates into ‘Chinese pie’! Quite where they got this
combination of words from, no one is quite sure!
Is maple syrup made in
Quebec?
Yes! Quebec is
the largest producer of this sweet treat in the world!
Which are the most
popular cars sold and driven in Quebec?
Toyotas, GMs and
Fords tend to be the most popular rides in Quebec right now.
Why did the French
abandon Quebec?
The French eventually abandoned Canada as ‘New France’ due to the cost of keeping it as a colony!
