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You can see an incredible congregation of wild birds indigenous to the province by driving 45 minutes east of Québec City. Over 290 species populate the marshes, lowlands and hills of the area, the most photographed being the snow goose – thousands of them return to these fertile grounds every year.

Nowhere is the spirit and passion of Québec Province more obvious than in this 200-km (130-mile) coastal district of rolling hills, quaint villages and pastoral scenes. Baie St-Paul, with its heritage houses, is one of the most charming.

The most photographed landmark in the city, this imposing hotel with its green copper roof is an architectural jewel designed by architect Bruce Price as a French-style château. Since it opened in 1893, the hotel has welcomed the rich, the famous and the noble through its doors and into its plush salons. Guided tours are available (see Fairmont Château Frontenac, Québec City).

Built as a military defence against the British in the 18th century, the striking stone gate (Porte Saint-Jean) is now a tourist draw from which visitors can access and walk for 4 km (3 miles) along the city’s ramparts. The area around the gate, also known as Quartier Montcalm, has an intense concentration of Québécois specialty merchants, as well as designer boutiques, cultural outlets and nightclubs. Bring your appetite too, because this zone is famous for its bistros and restaurants serving fine French cuisine.

These sites commemorate the tragic events experienced by many Irish immigrants who, escaping the potato famine in their native country, were quarantined here on their arrival to Canada but died during the typhoid epidemic of 1847. Take the tourist trolley to the village and hospitals sector, where you can admire numerous historic buildings, and visit the restored 1847 Lazaretto Catholic chapel.

A sensational outdoor playground 40 km (25 miles) east of Québec City, the mountain is one of the most popular destinations for world-class skiing, paragliding, mountain biking or golfing at the 18-hole Le Grand Vallon course. With over 200 km (125 miles) of hiking trails, which double in the winter as paths for snowshoeing, dog-sledding and cross-country skiing, Mont Sainte-Anne defines perfectly the four-season personality of the province.