The Citadelle of Quebec is a military fortress located in Quebec City and is the only one still active on the continent. Its history dates back to 1693.
The Citadelle complex contains lodgings, food and equipment storage buildings, an armoury and hospital facilities.
Quebec’s Historic Citadelle
The Citadelle of Quebec is a stunning military fortress filled with Canadian history. It took 30 years to construct before it was finally finished in 1850. The fortress’ original purpose was to defend against potential invasions from America, which was a very real threat following the War of 1812.
The Citadelle sits on an edge of land called Cap Diamant and faces the St. Lawrence River on one side. This makes it a tough place to invade as it can’t be easily accessed from multiple directions.
The initial idea of using Cap Diamant for military purposes came from Samuel de Champlain. De Champlain was a French colonist who arrived in Quebec in the early 1600s. Many people consider him to be the founder of Quebec City as he was instrumental in setting up a community in that area.
One of the oldest buildings in the Citadelle is the Cap Diamont Redoubt. This structure was erected in 1693 following the Battle of Quebec that took place three years earlier. Josue Dubois Berthelot de Beaucours, a French military officer, created much of the fortress’ early fortifications. Lots of his architecture still exists within the Citadelle today.
After the War of 1812, the main star fort began construction in 1820 and took 30 years to build. The fortress hasn’t seen many battles since then, but important events have still taken place there. For example, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Mackenzie King gathered at the Citadelle in 1943 and 1944 to discuss strategy during World War II.
The Citadelle was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980, further cementing its place in Canadian history.
A memorial at the Citadelle
What is a Citadel?
A citadel is the structure within which a military garrison lives. “Cittadella”, in Italian, means “small city.” A garrison, meanwhile, is a group of troops based in a particular location.
Activities at the Citadelle
There are usually many interesting things to do at the fortress. They include musical performances by the Royal 22nd Regiment Band, nighttime tours of the fortress, and special holiday programming around Christmas and New Years.
There is a museum in the fortress that shows the daily lives of soldiers who’ve served in the Citadelle and also the history of the fortress. Visitors can see medals, weapons and other artifacts used as well.
As of August 2024, the Citadelle is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. The last tour starts at 5:00 PM.
Here are the admission fees for the daily tours:
- Adults – $22
- Seniors and students – $20
- Teenagers (aged 11 to 17) – $8
- Children under 11 – free
- Family bundle – $50
The Governor General’s Residence
Other Information
For more information about the market click The Citadelle of Quebec.
See the Governor General of Canada‘s website to learn more about the tour of the residence.
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