Canada’s only walled city
The Algonquin called it Kebec, which in their language meant “the place where the river narrows.” Today, we know it as Québec City, a beautiful and enchanting city that’s rich in history, tradition and culture. Did you know that this remarkable city is not only the capital of the province of Quebec, but also has the distinction of being Canada’s first permanent French settlement? Kebec was a good choice for a settlement, because the high cliffs and narrowing of the St. Lawrence River offered extremely good natural and strategic defenses.
Founded by Samuel de Champlain on July 3, 1608, Québec City celebrated a very special occasion in 2008—its 400th anniversary. To recognize this important part of our history, Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp on May 16, 2008. This is the fifth and final stamp in the series dedicated to French settlement in North America.
Here’s another interesting fact about the city. The “ramparts” or defensive walls surrounding Old Québec are the only remaining fortified walls north of Mexico, and were declared a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site in 1985.
|
