Dufferin Terrace

Dufferin Terrace (La terrasse Dufferin), 16 rue du Petit-Champlain, next to Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, offers a spectacular view of Old Lower Town and the St. Lawrence River. An 1898 monument to Samuel de Champlain is at the north end of the terrace. From here one can descend the 55 metres (180 ft.) to Place-Royale, the center of Lower Town, via a stairway of 61 steps. A funicular also links upper and lower Québec.

Visitors can have a peek at Saint-Louis Forts and Chateaux National Historic Site, which lies underneath Dufferin Terrace, via glass panels dubbed archeoscopes. Here lies the remains of four defensive forts and two castles which served as the official residence and seat of power of French and British governors for some 200 years.

The terrace is linked to Battlefields Park by the Promenade des Gouverneurs, a 670-metre-long (2,198-ft.) walk anchored by cliffs overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Street performers and musicians entertain on the terrrace during the warmer months, while tobogganing down the wooden slide on Dufferin Terrace is a thrilling winter pasttime.

Guided tours are available. Recreational activities are permitted. Picnicking is permitted. Food is available.