Samuel Champlain established the first French settlement in the new world in 1608 on Place Royale. Early settlers built Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, a still-active church. An Interpretation Centre, also on the square, depicts the history of some local families. The nearby house, Maison Chevalier, shows architecture and furnishings typical of New France.
Conflicts with the British spurred the settlers to move up the cliff to the more defensible Upper Town. An old powder magazine delves into the walls’ history.

In 1759, General James Wolfe and his army climbed up the cliff beyond the city at night. Within 20 minutes, British troops defeated the French. Both Wolfe and French General Louis Montcalm were killed. New France became a British colony. The Interpretation Centre on the National Battlefield Park (also known as the Plains of Abraham) screens a multimedia show on the battle.

In 1775, Americans invaded. After General James Montgomery and his army captured Montreal, they went to help General Benedict Arnold conquer Québec City. Montgomery was killed and the invasion failed.

In 1850, English-speaking residents constituted nearly 50 percent of the population. Today, about 90 percent of the residents speak French. But non-French speakers won’t have any problems. Staff in tourist areas is bilingual.

Since the 1970s, the Québec government has alternated between Liberals and the PQ (Parti Québeçois). The PQ wants to make the province a separate country. The PQ held two referendums asking for a mandate to separate. Neither succeeded.