Immerse yourself in the Old Québec of 1806

The outstanding universal value of Old Québec is based on the fact that it constitutes “a coherent and well-preserved urban ensemble" and an “exceptional example of a fortified colonial town and by far the most complete north of Mexico" (UNESCO).

In 1860, the scale model was shortened to half its original size because it was taking up too much room at the Museum of Artillery in Woolwich. The part of the model illustrating the Plains of Abraham was sacrificed, reducing its size to 5.2 m by 6.1 m.

It is here, at the Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site, in the Artillery Park sector, that the scale model is exhibited today. Isolated in a glass cage, it is occasionally subjected to a meticulous cleaning requiring a complex installation.

From the beginning of New France until about 1880, the Lower Town market operated there. The covered market can be seen in the middle of the square. Nowadays, it looks like it did between 1725 and 1750.

Here, the model shows the base wall of the future terrace bordering the lower part of the Governor's garden. At the end stand the Fort and the Château Saint-Louis, where Governors sat since 1647. The remains of these buildings now located under the terrace are open to visitors.

This small 49-metre terrace was the first to be built on this site. The Governor Durham constructed the terrace in 1838 to cover the ruins of the colonial governors' residence, Château Saint-Louis, which had burned down a few years earlier.

When the scale model was built, there were 23 guns and two mortars in the area. The Seminary Garden on the edge of the street and the seminary itself a little higher up, near the Catholic cathedral, are shown.

This battery was built in the 19th century using three old, isolated batteries that were in service between 1711 and 1808. It was from here that salvos were fired in honor of the sovereign's birthday or the arrival of a new governor.

The scale model shows the Bishop's Palace then used as the seat of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. It is protected by a high wall as well as by one of the city gates, to its left, Prescott Gate located on Côte de la Montagne street.

In 1893, Québec built a public park on the ruins of the second parliament building that burned down. Montmorency Park was established in memory of the viceroy of New France, Henri II duke of Montmorency, and of the first bishop of Québec, Msgr François de Montmorency-Laval.

A second parliament building was built in 1859 after the previous one burned down. The Fathers of Confederation met here in 1864 to discuss the founding of a new country: Canada. Unfortunately, the building was also destroyed by fire in 1883.

In 1807, a circular covered market topped by a 30-metre diameter dome stood in the middle of the market place. The scale model provides one of the very rare representations of this hall which was used for only 10 years. The Jesuit barracks are also shown beside.

A public market stood here between 1740 and 1878. It is referred to as the Upper Town Market or the Notre-Dame Market because of the nearby cathedral. At that time, the Jesuit barracks stood on the other side of the square facing the cathedral.

This magnificent photo from the 1860s shows the soldiers' guard house at the top of the Saint-Louis Gate. On the left is the Royal Engineers' drafting workshop, today the private Québec Garrison Club since 1879.

In 1745, the engineer of the fortifications of Québec, Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros-de-Léry, built three gates in the current rempart, including this one. At that time, the military gates were a nuisance for pedestrians and carters who shared a narrow 2.7-metre wide passage.

When the scale model was built, the temporary Citadelle erected by W. Twiss had stood on Cap Diamant for some 20 years. The scale model shows us how it was organized: entrenchments, redoubts, gun batteries, covered roads, blockhouses, powder magazines, etc.

Shortly after the American invasion in 1775, the military authorities decided to build a temporary Citadelle on top of Cap Diamant. Engineer William Twiss was in charge of the work, which took from 1779 to 1783 to complete.