We, the people of Québec City, say that you just have to dress warmly to take full advantage of a luminous season in a superb city that dons its best white coat from late November to late March. And cold outside means warmth inside: the heat from a roaring fire after a day of activities, from scrumptious dishes that nourish both body and spirit, and from Québec City residents who’ll show you how to enjoy their city, especially when the snow falls and the city transforms as if by magic.
1. VISIT THE GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
From November 23 to December 23, 2017, Québec City’s German community will hold its Christmas market for the tenth year in a row. Come experience the enchantment of the holidays in Europe and visit the village of wooden huts set up in the glittering gardens of City Hall. Each year, the artists and artisans serve up a feast for the eyes and taste buds. Sweets, wool and fur garments, local alcoholic beverages, decorations, original jewellery, activities, and surprises of all sorts await you. The market is the perfect place to find original gifts and revive your inner child!
Québec City’s German Christmas market is held in the heart of Old Québec, just 12 minutes from Hôtel Château Laurier Québec.
2. LACE UP YOUR SKATES AT PLACE D’YOUVILLE
Whether you’re sporty or studious, I recommend the skating rink at Place d’Youville. The proximity to Capitole de Québec with its Beaux-Arts style architecture, the art deco Palais Montcalm, and the Saint-Jean gate and fortifications all create an ambiance that’s lively during the day and intimate and romantic at night. Feel free to join the skaters and let the music transport you. The ice quality is outstanding thanks to the rink’s refrigeration system. Admission is free and you can even rent skates at the rink!
If you’re fond of outdoor skating, you should also visit the skating oval on the Plains of Abraham and continue the fun.
If you’re more competitive, you’ll definitely be interested in the Snow Pentathlon, the biggest winter multisport event in the world. The elite athletes are staying at Hôtel Château Laurier Québec. February 23 to March 4, 2018.
3. FESTIVE EVENING FULL OF LIGHT!
While the days get shorter in winter, the nights are longer thanks to the light projections during the holidays and throughout the Québec Winter Carnival.
Certain streets and squares try to outdo each other in originality to create a warm, festive feel. From the doors of Hôtel Château Laurier Québec on Grande Allée during New Year’s celebrations to the Petit Champlain neighbourhood and Place Royale, to Avenue Cartier and Rue St-Joseph, each one offers an atmosphere all its own.
Christmas trees, giant snowflakes, multi-coloured paper chains, windows decorated with care, and festive music combine to get us walking in the fresh air, no matter what the thermometer says. These streets and squares are all located less than 20 minutes from Hôtel Château Laurier Québec and are filled with shops, restaurants, cafes, and bistros where you can take refuge when you’re hungry, thirsty, or just need to warm up a bit before continuing your delightful visit.
4. WATCH THE CANOE RACE DURING THE QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL!
In 2018, the Québec Winter Carnival will be held from January 26 to February 11. Of course, the Carnival is more than any one activity. There are parades, slides, snow sculptures, Bonhomme, and a host of opportunities to have fun with family and friends. But one activity in particular has caught my eye—the canoe race.
I have to be honest and admit that, for more than 10 years, Hôtel Château Laurier Québec has sponsored an all-female team that takes on the current and ice during this wild race across the St. Lawrence River between Québec City and Lévis. The canoe race could easily be called an extreme sport. This competition takes courage, discipline, and passion, and shows us the power of cooperation as each competitor helps their teammates tackle the elements and win the race. It’s both a fantastic show and a real lesson in perseverance.
Various packages are available for watching the competition from a warm spot, and you can take part in the pre-race activities where the boaters reveal their secrets in a merry atmosphere.
The race starts at the Louise Basin in Québec City’s Old Port, about 20 minutes from Hôtel Château Laurier Québec. Watching the race and participating in the pre-race activities are free of charge.
MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE!
Every day for a few years now, I have seen trucks, cranes, and scaffolding appear and disappear around the Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury, the building that was destroyed by a fire in April 2008 located next to the hotel.
Some weeks ago, the Armoury was finally reborn from the ashes. And the result to this day is magnificent. The Armoury was declared a Canadian historic monument because of its architectural importance and has been rebuilt to be almost identical with its turrets, buttresses, gables, and decorated cresting, while offering the various modern advantages of its ongoing restoration.
I have had the pleasure of visiting the large hall, which, starting in spring 2018, will accommodate some 1,300 guests under the management of our George V catering services. I can already imagine the gala evenings, weddings, and parties that will be held in this impressive setting. I can’t wait to see the final result!
If you would like to know more about the Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury’s multi-purpose room or make a reservation, follow this link . You can contact the team by phone at 418-522-4321 or 1-866-844-5444 or by email at .
A Little about Danielle…
Danielle Talbot’s colleagues describe her as an engaging and reliable person who really knows how to get things done. Danielle says that the main reason she loves working at Hôtel Château Laurier Québec is because it feels like a big family. As the mother of a recently graduated daughter, Danielle understands how hard each hotel employee works to provide our guests with the same attention they’d give someone in their own family.
Danielle’s office at Hôtel Château Laurier Québec is in the heart of the action, just steps from the fortifications between Battlefields Park and Grande-Allée. So feel free to drop by and see her if you would like more information on the topics discussed in this newsletter or just to share your comments! She loves to hear from you!
Email: Tel.: 418-522-3848, ext. 675 (toll free: 1-866-822- 9222)