Historic District of Old Québec


World Heritage Identification Number: 300

World Heritage since: 1985

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Continent: Americas

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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Exploring the Historic District of Old Québec: A Unique Blend of History and Culture

The Historic District of Old Québec, located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, stands as a testament to the rich history and cultural heritage that defines this North American city. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Old Québec offers visitors a unique blend of architectural wonders, historical landmarks, and vibrant cultural experiences.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Québec was founded by the French explorer Champlain in the early 17th century. It is the only North American city to have preserved its ramparts, together with the numerous bastions, gates and defensive works which still surround Old Québec. The Upper Town, built on the cliff, has remained the religious and administrative centre, with its churches, convents and other monuments like the Dauphine Redoubt, the Citadel and Château Frontenac. Together with the Lower Town and its ancient districts, it forms an urban ensemble which is one of the best examples of a fortified colonial city.

Encyclopedia Record: Old Quebec

Old Quebec is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Comprising the Upper Town and Lower Town, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité-Limoilou.

Read more on Wikipedia

Additional Site Details

Area: 135 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: 46.80944444 , -71.21055556

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Image of Historic District of Old Québec

© Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Miguasha National Park
393 km — Canada
Rideau Canal
406 km — Canada
Joggins Fossil Cliffs
535 km — Canada
Landscape of Grand Pré
566 km — Canada
Old Town Lunenburg
601 km — Canada

Country Information: Canada

Flag of Canada

Official Name: Canada

Capital: Ottawa

Continent: Americas

Population (2024): 41,288,599

Population (2023): 40,083,484

Population (2022): 38,935,934

Land Area: 8,788,700 sq km

Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Historic District of Old Québec are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Old Quebec, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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