The 10 most beautiful places to visit in Quebec

Want to discover the Belle Province? Here are the most beautiful places to visit in Quebec, the only predominantly French-speaking Canadian province!

Quebec is a province of Canada with varied and surprising landscapes. In a territory still not exploited by human activity, nature reveals its most beautiful jewels. From the shores of the St. Lawrence to the ocean coasts of Gaspésie, from the flamboyant maple forests to the crystalline lakes of the North, beauty is omnipresent. Although large cities have developed over time, they are mostly still surrounded by unspoiled plains, mountains and fjords. Visiting Quebec, these distant lands in North America is a unique opportunity to rejuvenate in a wild and authentic nature.

Many treasures await you there, away from mass tourism. Are you planning to discover the French-speaking province of Canada and its splendors? Follow the guide and explore the most beautiful places to visit in Quebec to make your trip unforgettable.

1. The Montmorency Fall

Located not far from Quebec City, the Montmorency Fall dominates the surrounding landscapes with its tumultuous waters and its height of 83 meters. This is the highest waterfall in the province, exceeding mythicals by tens of meters. Niagara Falls . To admire the Montmorency Fall, you can borrow a cable car. Are you sporty? Then go through the stairs and its 487 steps giving access to different views. If you don’t have vertigo, you can venture on a suspended bridge and get close to the top of the waterfall!

The Montmorency Fall takes different aspects depending on the seasons. It is in the spring, when the thaw begins that the water flow is the most impressive. In winter, a strange phenomenon takes place: the moisture generated by the waterfall is solidified at its base to form a strange ice structure. Thus, if this is not the first time you visit Quebec and the fall, returning is not to be excluded.

2. Saguenay Fjord National Park

The majestic Fjord of Saguenay extends from the city of the same name to the Baie du Saint-Laurent. Vestige of the last glaciation , the relief of this region is full of many valleys and forms an amazing landscape. Indeed, it reminds them fjords of Northern Europe. As a result, the park is a must-see for all nature lovers visiting Quebec.

The many hills that border the Saguenay are covered with trees typical of this region of Quebec: maple, white birch, various pine trees... If you like hiking, the Fjord National Park of Saguenay has many hiking trails, punctuated with great views of the fjord. You can even see some villages here and there. Villages, which in fact live at the rhythm of nature: Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, Saint-Basile-de-Table, the Anse-de-Roche...

3. Old Quebec

The city of Quebec It was located on the shores of the St. Lawrence, where it began to expand to form a bay opening onto the ocean. The colonial Berceau of France in North America, Quebec has kept many traces of its past, such as the presence of ramparts around its historic centre. The latter, known as Vieux-Québec, still presents a few vestiges of its French past: the famous Place Royale and its church, some old stone houses with windows....

Take a walk on the streets of Old Quebec and you will have the sensation of going back 400 years of history. Each crossroads, every boutique, every façade of this iconic neighbourhood will make you travel sometimes France sometimes in England. It is no wonder that this historical treasure is part of the UNESCO world heritage.

4. Le Mont-Royal

A true haven of greenery in the center of Montreal , Mont-Royal dominates the city and its surroundings. By taking the main staircase, you have to count a small hour to reach its summit and to be able to enjoy the superb view that offers you. For more experienced walkers, a trail named Olmsted allows you to climb the mountain more sportyly.

The Kondiaronk, named after an illustrious Amerindian chef, offers an exceptional view of downtown Montreal and its impressive buildings. A little further, you can see the Olympic Park and its tower, as well as the old port and the banks of the St.Lawrence. When time permits, it is possible to observe a large part of the plains in the south of the city and the surrounding mountains. This exceptional view of a city designed to the American evolves over the seasons. This is a place not to be missed when visiting Montreal!

5. Tadoussac Bay

Located at the confluence of the Saguenay Fjord and St.Lawrence Bay, Tadoussac offers landscapes worthy of the most beautiful postcards. This village of about 800 inhabitants has a magnificent red roof hotel and unique architecture. Not far, the Indian chapel, also with a red painted roof, is one of the first wooden churches in the territory. It overlooks a beautiful bay, considered one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

A few kilometers east of the village, you can discover strange coastal dunes, formed during the last glaciations. The bay of Tadoussac is the ideal place for wild wildlife lovers. It is indeed possible to observe many species of marine birds. In addition, if you are lucky and stay there in the spring or summer, you can even observe whales. At that time, cetaceans date back to the St.Lawrence. Boat trips to observe them are regularly organized.

6. La Mauricie National Park

This is a park that focuses more than 500 km2 of forests, meadows and lakes. A real concentrate of Quebec's most beautiful natural landscapes! Located about two hours' drive from Montreal to Lac Saint-Jean, nature is fully preserved. It is possible to camp and observe, with caution, local fauna: wolves, castors, raptors and even bears! The park’s guides will not fail to make you aware of the behaviour to be adopted in the area.

It is also the perfect place to discover beautiful emerald-colored lakes and to practice nautical activities. One of the most emblematic lakes in the park is Wapizagonke Lake, which winds in the middle of the mountains. Be careful to anticipate the necessary to protect you from mosquitoes. In the summer, they sweat in this area sprinkled with water points.

7. The tip of Gaspésie

Here, the mountains finish their race in the ocean leaving room for superb cliffs or pebble beaches. Facing the coastal city of Percé is one of the most beautiful rocks in Quebec: the Rocher-Percé. It presents a large arch and an obelisk-shaped islet located nearby. Not far from there is Bonaventure Island, a natural sanctuary where many marine birds nest. It is possible to approach it in canoe when the weather is key.

By going north, you will be on the famous Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse, known to be Canada's highest lighthouse. You will cross the small town of Gaspé to arrive in the Forillon National Park. Its beaches are often occupied by seals and nudes of marine birds. In winter, the park is covered with snow where it is possible to ski or sled, two of the activities most practised by tourists visiting Quebec.

8. The Baie des Chaleurs

In the south of Gaspésie lies the bay of the Chaleurs, which enjoys a mild microclimate. In summer, the water can reach about 20 degrees, a rather high temperature under these latitudes. These favourable conditions are due in particular to the particular relief of the region that preserves it from the glacial polar winds. A true little paradise for those who enjoy swimming and strolling by the sea!

The village of Carleton-sur-mer has a pretty natural beach where it is possible to practice several nautical activities. Miguasha Park opens a window in the past with an incredible amount of fossils dating from ancient times. Another must-see site in the region is the Bonaventure River. Its crystal clear waters invite you to explore it in a canoe, in a beautiful forest environment.

9. The Magdalen Islands

At the heart of the Gulf of St.Lawrence, the disbursement is total. Seven islands shaped by the wind and the ocean welcome you, known as Îles de la Madeleine. Six are inhabited by fishermen’s families, and one of them is an ecological sanctuary to preserve its incredible island biodiversity. In the islands, you can observe amazing sedentary or migratory birds: Martin-fishers of America, Bécassins roux, Macareux monne...

10. The Parc du Mont-Mégantic

About a hundred kilometres east of Sherbrooke, near the border with Maine State, is Mont-Mégantic Park. Shared between mountains and mixed forests, it is a place very appreciated by nature lovers, where it is possible to stay or camp throughout the beautiful season. On the arrival of the Indian summer, the foliage of the park’s maple trees turns to orange and red, for the greatest pleasure of the eyes.

In winter, you can add snowshoes to discover the many hiking trails that the park has to offer. It also has an international starry reserve, with several astronomical observatories. Far from light pollution, you can observe the night sky as anywhere else.

Have you ever been to Quebec? Tell us your experiences in comment!