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This mammoth cathedral site is busy throughout the year with religious pilgrims, following the legacy of answered prayers touted by those who have visited this beautiful shrine (see Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré).

This enchanting island outside Québec City is dotted with quaint farms that produce many of the fruits, vegetables and culinary specialties of the region. Designated a heritage site with over 600 preserved buildings, visiting Ile d’Orléans is a memorable experience (see Ile d’Orléans).

When the first settlers crossed the Atlantic and sailed up the St Lawrence River to this virgin area, they were greeted by the sight of these powerful waterfalls, which, at 83 m (272 ft), are higher than Niagara. Ride the cable car to the top and visit Manoir Montmorency (1781), with its interpretation center, boutiques, restaurant and terrace with a view of the action. Other vantage points are also scattered about the park (see Montmorency Falls).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tadoussac is whale country – whalers were here even before the European explorers, comprising the first white settlement north of Mexico. Visitors can take boat trips out to view the minke, grey and beluga whales in the Saguenay-St Lawrence Marine Park.

The only fjord in North America, leading inland to Lac Saint-Jean, is a designated protected area because it is frequented by beluga whales, dolphins, black bear, moose, and many other varieties of wildlife. Granite walls over 300 m (985 ft) high cast a mysterious and powerful aura over the maritime environment and give rise to the fables and legends associated with the movement of its ocean tides.

This national park is one of Québec’s most beautiful natural monuments. Steep slopes, beautiful natural surroundings, and the unusual course of the Malbaie river make this site unique. The point where the river valley takes a sharp 90-degree turn is a protected UNESCO area. Walk through the valley or in the summer, join a guided cruise along the calm waters. You can also stay at the park overnight.