DK Travel : Montréal and Québec City : History & Culture

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Robert Lepage

The first North American to direct a Shakespeare play at London’s Royal National Theatre, Lepage (b.1957) is one of the most successful and daring writer/directors in the visual arts world. He has won every available Canadian award for his brilliant theatrical staging and continues to expand his creativity as a filmmaker.
Samuel de Champlain

French settlement began in 1608 when Samuel de Champlain (1567–1635) arrived in the region. The position of Québec City, protected atop Cap Diamant, became the driving force of the settlement, together with newly found riches of the fur trade.
Séminaire St-Sulpice

Erected between 1684 and 1687 as the home of the Sulpician religious order, the St Sulpice Seminary is the oldest surviving building in Montréal. This remarkable historic edifice remains an icon of the institutional architecture that was employed in Nouvelle-France. The Sulpicians’ exterior clock above the main doorway is the oldest of its kind in North America, dating from 1701 (see Séminaire St-Sulpice).
Sir George-Étienne-Cartier National Historic Site

Exquisitely preserved artifacts of the 19th-century upper-middle-classes and their lifestyle are commemorated at Sir George-Étienne-Cartier’s house, now a National Historic Site. Cartier was one of the Fathers of Canadian Confederation and his impeccable home, in which he lived from 1848 to 1871, provides an insight into the mores of his social class at that time. Using the Victorian decor as a backdrop for theatrical re-enactments, the on-site performing troupe enlivens the home and its detailed history (see Sir George-Etienne-Cartier National Historic Site, Montréal).
Sir George-Etienne-Cartier National Historic Site, Montréal

A Victorian home, restored by Parks Canada as a National Historic Site, contains marvelous interactive exhibitions inviting visitors into a typical 19th-century parlor. Enjoy theatrical re-enactments portrayed in shows such as “A Victorian Christmas,” “A Servant Confides,” and “Elegance and Propriety: Etiquette at the Cartiers,” all of which offer a fascinating insight into the lives once lived here (see Sir George-Étienne-Cartier National Historic Site).
The Creation of Canada

After the Constitutional Act (1791) separated the colony into Upper Canada (southern Ontario) and Lower Canada (southern Québec), British Lord Durham was sent to solve the on-going problems between the English and French halves. He declared the Union Act of 1841, which fused the two sides under a single English-speaking parliament and effectively marginalized the French. By 1848, the English were forced to accept the use of French to avoid a backlash. On July 1, 1867, Québec and Ontario joined with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to form the Dominion of Canada.
The Dark Years

Well into the 20th century the Roman Catholic church held considerable political sway in Québec. Maurice Duplessis’ right-wing Union Nationale (1936–39 & 1944–59) used the church’s moral influence to gain votes and accepted $100-million-worth of graft.
The October Crisis

Due to continuing political deadlock with Canada, support for the separatist movement among Québécois was growing. But disaster struck in October 1970 when the radical separatist Front de Libération du Québec (FLQ) kidnapped two high-ranking politicians, murdering one of them.
The Quiet Revolution

The collusion of church and state led to widespread resentment among Québécois. With the death of Duplessis, liberal sentiment grew and a lively intellectual scene developed. In 1960, the Liberal Party was elected, leading to province-wide social reforms and economic development.
Wolfe-Montcalm Monument

Commemorating the French and English generals.