We decided to get up early and head the 225 km up north towards Québec City, the capital of the region.

It is the oldest French settlement in the area, founded in 1608, and later on the Capital of Nouvelle France.

Once we left Montreal, the country became all flat.

A few massive mountains around Montreal, like thrown into the landscape, like the Uluru in Australia, then it was as flat as a pan… The area is pretty industrial first, but once you get out of the Montréal region, there’s only woods and one endless straight line of highway.

Towards Québec, the landscape changes again, becoming more hilly, but, foremost, you realize this is an industrial region. Quebec City spreads out far and is surrounded by endless industrial suburbs…

But once you have crossed over the mighty St. Laurence on one of the two massive bridges, you quickly drive uphill and into the historic center of the city.

It really is the most European feeling city I have seen in North America. Tiny streets, cobble stones, the mighty citadel on top of the hill, towering over the city and guarding the river entry, the massive Chateau Frontenac Hotel, all the little restaurants and shops, and the horse carriages carrying the tourists through town.

Unfortunately, once we arrived, it started to rain. So we first went to the Citadel and joined a guided tour of the premises and the history of the fort. It was originally started by the French, but besides a few remaining houses, the main site was completed by the British.

They needed a defense of the the river against an American invasion. However, the canons on top of the hill are not only pointing at a potential fleet, or an enemy army on the southern river bank, but also at the city itself.

The British crown always feared a French uprising among the vast majority for French speakers in its newly acquired colony.

Enough history, we went downhill to the lower city to a nice sandwich place, where we waited for the rain to pass… unfortunately, it did not really stop, and it was the late afternoon already, so we went to pay a visit to the Chutes de la Chaudiere, an waterfall just outside of town.

After a little stroll among the cascades, we hit the road again for the drive home. It was too short for such a nice city, but with the rain pouring, it just did not make much sense to get wet. I think I will go back there though, and stay overnight.