A view of the Québec skyline and Île d’Orleans from L'Observatoire de la Capitale

YOUR SCHOOL FRENCH CLUB
UNE EXCURSION HIVERNALE A LA VILLE DE QUÉBEC

DAY ONE: ORIENTATION TOUR, DINNER, INTERACTIVE HISTORY LESSON

Bienvenue à Québec, the cradle of French civilization in North America. After checking into your hotel, your guide will lead you on a walking orientation tour that will begin at Place d’Armes and introduce you to the Terrasse Dufferin, the majestic Château Frontenac and the Assemblée Nationale.

After the tour, you’ll have dinner in fine French-Canadian restaurant in an restored heritage building on the Grande Allée (the Champs Elysées of Québec, or in the 300-year old stone vault of an historic building in the Quartier Petit Champlain.

Your first day will end, in an historic stone fortification built in 1759 to defend Québec against of all people, the Americans, with an interactive lesson about the harsh lives of the soldiers who were stationed there.

DAY TWO: COPPER ART WORKSHOP, LES GALERIES DE LA CAPITALE

After an extended French breakfast buffet in the hotel, you will depart on a city sightseeing tour that will end will end at the tallest building in Québec, where you will ascend to the 31st floor observatory for a panoramic view (pictured at top of page) of the walled city, Saint Lawrence River and the Laurentian Mountains.

After lunch on your own in the Quartier Latin, transfer to the Albert Gilles Museum of Copper Art, where you will learn about the extraordinary craftsmanship of Albert Gilles, who created a number of pieces that you will see tomorrow afternoon at Sainte-Anne-de- Beaupré.

After a tour, you will participate in a hands-on copper art workshop during which you will produce your own work of copper art.

After dinner in a bistro-style restaurant at the edge of the Latin Quarter, transfer to les Galeries de la Capitale where you will pick up your 30-point tickets good for at least 90-minutes of rides on the indoor roller coaster, Ferris wheel, or the “Hip Hop Tower”. You’ll be free, before, during, or after your Mega Parc rides (until the 9:00pm closing), to practice your French in any of les Galeries'
250 boutiques and retail stores.

OPTIONAL: After dinner, walk to the Port of Québec where you will embark on a two-hour dance cruise on the moonlit Saint Lawrence River, from which you may never forget the breathtaking views of the Québec City skyline by night as you meet and mix with other Canadian and American students on the largest excursion boat in Canada.

DAY THREE: CHASSE AU TRÉSOR, MONTMORENCY FALLS, CABANE À SUCRE

Begin your day with an extended French breakfast buffet in the hotel, transfer to Place Royale in the Quartier Petit Champlain, where you will depart on a cultural and linguistic Chasse au Trésor. Your Treasure Hunt will begin at the Statue of Louis XIV and wind its way through the narrow streets of Québec, testing you on what you’ve learned thus far about the rich history of the Old City.

After lunch in the Quartier Petit Champlain, you’ll have an hour to practice your French oldest part of the city where the ancient greystone buildings date to the 1600s.

After lunch, depart on a ride up the Cote de Beaupré for visits to the Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré (at left) and Montmorency Falls where the first battle between Generals Wolfe and Montcalm took place during the epochal summer of 1759.

Your last full day will end with a memorable ride to a French-Canadian cabane à sucre on picturesque Île d’Orleans.

Begin your visit with an introduction to the maple sugaring process, then reassemble in the main hall for an all-you-can-eat dinner of typical Québécois fare.

After dinner, you will learn some traditional dances and folk songs, and your evening will end with a sugar-on-snow party, with real maple syrup and real snow (stored in the winter and served every day of the year).

DAY FOUR: BATTLE OF THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM, QUARTIER PETIT CHAMPLAIN

After an extended continental breakfast buffet at the hotel, load your bags on the bus and transfer to the Terrasse Dufferin in Old Québec.

There, upon arrival at the Musée du Fort, you will learn about the many battles and skirmishes between the French, British and American (yes, American) armies.

The presentation will end with a memorable and highly educational depiction of the decisive Battle of the Plains of Abraham, and a quiz to see how much history you’ve absorbed.

After lunch on your own in the Quartier Latin or the Quartier Petit Champlain, then meet the bus at the Rubik’s Cube, pictured at left (you’ll know it when you see it) and depart for home.

Au revoir, Québec. À bientôt.