some remnants over time.. , Pondicherry India Jun 2006

It seemed like that
time had not wielded his ruthless power over this city at all
for last half a century..

Chateau Frontenac sous la lune la nuit.., Old Quebec Apr 23 2010

It was designed by American architect Bruce Price, the Château Frontenac was one of a series of "château" style hotels built for the Canadian Pacific Railway company at the end of the 19th and the start of the 20th century. It opened in 1893, five years after its sister-hotel the Banff Springs. The railway company sought to encourage luxury tourism and bring wealthy travelers to its trains.

The Château Frontenac was named in honour of Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac, who was governor of the colony of New France from 1672 to 1682 and 1689 to 1698. The Château was built not too far from the historic Citadelle, whose construction Frontenac had begun at the end of the 17th century. The Quebec Conference of 1943, at which Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt discussed strategy for the Second World War, was held at the Citadelle while much of the staff stayed nearby in the Château Frontenac.

Although several of Quebec City's buildings stand taller, the hotel is perched atop a tall cape overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, thus giving a spectacular view for several kilometres. The building is the most prominent feature of the Quebec City skyline as seen from across the St. Lawrence, and is a symbol of the city. The hotel is built near the Plains of Abraham.

The hotel is managed and operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts of Toronto, a firm that manages numerous prestigious hotels around the world. The hotel was sold by Fairmont on October 31, 2000 to the Legacy Hotels REIT for CAD $185 million. However, Fairmont has a long-term management agreement with Legacy Hotels, and as of August 2005, held an 11.14% ownership in the REIT.[citation needed]

In 1953 this hotel was used as filming location for the Alfred Hitchcock's drama I Confess, with Montgomery Clift and Ann Baxter as main stars.

Prior to the building of the hotel, the site was home to the Chateau Haldimand, residence of the British colonial governors of Quebec/Lower Canada.

It holds the Guinness World Record of

"The most photographed hotel in the world". :-)

(source : wikipedia.org)

la Citadelle in the Twilight.., Old Quebec, Povince of Quebec Apr 23 2010

Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Generally speaking 'Old Quebec' refers to the part of the city within the walls. Other parts of the city have structures as old but the term generally refers to "within the walls".

By 1750, Quebec had grown to be the largest town in New France, with a population of about 8,000. It was the center of French power in North America. In a way, Quebec was two towns. The upper town was a walled fortress located high above the river, atop an imposing cliff. It included the Governor's mansion and the homes of the wealthy. The lower town was the port, huddled between the river and the cliff.

it was almost a 10 hours coach drive

all the way up to Quebec city from my place in Toronto.. wow..

i've ever never tried this kind of package tour by bus.

it was not bad at all.. though it was bit uncomforable sitting all time long.

The Old City dates back from the early 17th century, when in 1620 Samuel de Champlain chose the strategic location of Cap Diamant as the site for the Chateau St. Louis. As a result, Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from the very beginning. While the Lower City was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.

This military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.

Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.

The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many houses and buildings from past centuries. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique. In 1985, it was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. Since Old Quebec is a popular tourist destination, there are also several inns, including the famous Chateau Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.