Rally of Place-Royale from today to yesterday, Quebec city. (video)

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Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:00:00 GMT

Take the challenge! To complete the challenge, you'll have to search, observe, and make deductions...

You can get a map of Place-Royale, showing the points of interest described here, from the entrance of the Centre d’interprétation de Place-Royale. You can also download this printable map from : mcq.org/place-royale.

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Étape 1: Prehistory and Aboriginal People

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:55:00 GMT

According to Aboriginal peoples, when the French arrived, many others had already been here before them—and for many moons. As far back as 5,000 years ago, groups of hunter-gatherers came here to collect, among other things, a type of rock known as chert from the cliff. They used this rock to make their tools.

Centuries later, between 1535 and 1542, Jacques Cartier explored the area. He discovered a fortified town, Stadacona, inhabited by St. Lawrence Iroquois, a non-nomadic people who lived in longhouses. They farmed, fished and hunted for food.

When Samuel de Champlain and his men arrived in 1608, the Innu lived here. They welcomed the new arrivals with shouts of “Kapak! Kapak!” This means “Come ashore! Come ashore!” but the French took it to be the name of the land. Their misunderstanding led them to name the place “Québec.”

The Innu called this land Uepishtikueiau. Proof that it had already been inhabited for thousands of years was found under Rue Sous-le-Fort and beneath the Hazeur House.

Speaking of the historic Hazeur House, it is now part of a building that brings history to life . . . which one?

a) the Centre Québec-France
b) the Centre d'interprétation de Place-Royale
c) the Musée de la civilisation
d) Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church
e) the Fornel House

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Étape 2: The Founding of Québec

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:50:00 GMT

When Champlain and his group of 27 men landed on the riverbank on July 3, 1608, he thought it was a fantastic spot: it had so many geographic and strategic advantages! The river and nearby streams made it possible to venture inland, there was a natural haven for disembarking close by, and the cliff behind created an ideal fortress and lookout point. But above all, it was home to Aboriginal people, who could become fur trade partners.

Upon arrival, Champlain and his men built a wooden “habitation,” which served as a lodging place, a warehouse, a trading post and a fort. The first winter was very harsh: most of the men died; Champlain was lucky to survive. The following winters were less difficult. The local Innu and other Aboriginal peoples who passed through the area made it easier for the habitants to adapt to their new environment.

The first habitation was another story . . . Just 16 years after it was built, it was worth less than a pet d’âne mort, or "a dead donkey’s fart," as they used to say! By 1624, they had to build another habitation. This time, they used stone. They called it the magasin du roi, or King’s storehouse.

By the way, what's this building that has dark cobblestones in front showing the location of the second habitation?

a) the Chevalier House
b) the La Cetière House
c) Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church
d) the Estèbe House
e) the Guillemin House

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Étape 3: The Capture of Québec by the Kirke Brothers

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:45:00 GMT

Can you see the St. Lawrence River? It meant everything to the New France colonists. It gave them hope: hope of seeing fellow countrymen arrive, of getting news from overseas and of receiving goods from their homeland (at that time, next to nothing was produced in Québec). But the great river was also a source of dread, since they were afraid that one day they would see their enemy sail down it . . .

Am I exaggerating? Not at all! You must realize that France and England were both trying to secure as much land as possible in America and, unfortunately, they brought their battles into the New World.

In 1628, for example, the Kirke Brothers arrived by river. They announced that they had been sent by the King of England and they wanted Champlain to surrender the city to them. He refused, of course, and he tricked them into believing that his men had all they needed to go to war and they would fight for as long as it took. His plan worked, and the Kirke Brothers left—but they were back the next year. They had been blocking the passage of supply ships for several months, which meant the colonists were starving, and they were unable to defend themselves. The French surrendered and most of them returned to Europe. The English then occupied Québec until 1632, when the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye officially returned New France to French control.

By the time the French returned to Québec, the habitation and many other buildings had burned down. Did that deter them? No: they had as much courage and determination as there were eels in the river!

Where is the sculpture Dialogue avec l’histoire (Dialogue with History), which, justifiably, pays tribute to them?

a) Place de la FAO
b) Place de l’Unesco
c) Place-Royale
d) Place de Paris
e) Parc de la Cetière

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Étape 4: Fire!

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:45:00 GMT

The inhabitants of Place-Royale were sorely afraid of fire . . . and with good reason, since fire was a constant threat.

In 1682, for example, a huge fire destroyed 55 of the neighbourhood’s 85 buildings, even though Frontenac had, in 1673, brought in regulations aimed at reducing the risk of fire. Over time, the authorities put in place all sorts of fire prevention measures and, eventually, they created a proper building code. But the threat of fire remained, perhaps because—unfortunately—not everyone followed the regulations.

Some did, though. Take this house, for example. As outlined in the building code, it's made of stone. It has raised common walls that act as a firebreak. There's a ladder on the roof, to the right of the two dormer windows: this gives access to the roof so that timbers can be knocked down to keep the fire from spreading. And take a look at this lovely roof! It is covered with tin plate or sheet iron, known as tôle à la canadienne. At one time, this was a very fashionable roofing material. On top of that, it wasn’t expensive and it offered effective protection against fire.

It may not be as tall as some of the others, but you have to admit this is one of the most beautiful houses in the square. Do you recognize which one it is?

a) the Marie-Anne Barbel House
b) the Fornel House
c) the Chevalier House
d) the Lambert-Dumont House
e) the Guillemin House

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Étape 5: The Attack by Admiral Phips

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:40:00 GMT

Now you may have forgotten, but . . . in 1690, the French forced the English to retreat!

The French were given a fright that year when British ground troops prepared an attack against Montréal and a fleet from New England, under the command of Admiral Phips, headed for Québec.

Upon his arrival, Phips sent an officer to meet with Governor Frontenac in order to demand the surrender of Québec. Frontenac made his intentions clear—you may have heard about his famous response: "My only reply will come from the mouths of my cannons!"

Despite Frontenac’s defiant answer, Phips ordered his fleet to bomb the city and his troops to land at La Canardière. But he soon realized that he didn't have the numbers he needed to succeed, and he eventually had to call off the siege. The attack on Montréal also failed.

Could Frontenac rest easy after that? Certainly not! He was sure the British would return to attack again, and so he convinced the authorities that the city’s defences needed to be improved. As a result, the city ended up with a fortified structure with no fewer than 11 embrasures, or openings, through which cannons could be fired.

Do you know which structure this was?

a) the fortifications
b) the Royal Battery
c) the Dauphin’s Battery
d) the Queen’s Battery
e) the Vaudreuil Battery

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Étape 6: Québec: A Port City

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:35:00 GMT

Today, when the tide is high, it’s hard to imagine, but the tidelands used to go right up to the foot of the Chevalier House. This made it much easier to unload the gabarres, or flat boats that were used to bring in cargo from ships anchored offshore. Remember, this was a port—and what a port! Goods from France arrived here: the bundles and barrels were filled with fine provisions, fabrics, clothing, wine, window glass, tools, nails and dishes. And there was molasses, sugar and . . . rum from the southern colonies. Once the ships had been emptied, they were loaded up again with furs to be sent back to France.

This port was a hive of activity. There were navigators, merchants, shipbuilders and countless day labourers. Of course there were also carters, who came to pick up goods, fill their carts and push them across the city to make deliveries. It wasn’t always an easy job, and street corners were the worst. The walls weren’t always rounded in the shape of a cul-de-poule, or “hen’s bottom,” as they used to call it, which would allow carts to pass freely.

Actually, there's a wall like that not far from here. Which street corner is it on?

a) the corner of Rue du Cul-de-Sac and Rue Notre-Dame
b) the corner of Rue Saint-Pierre and Rue Saint-Antoine
c) the corner of Rue Sous-le-Fort and Rue des Pains-Bénits
d) the corner of Rue Notre-Dame and Rue du Marché-Champlain
e) the corner of Rue Notre-Dame and Côte de la Montagne

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Étape 7: The Siege of 1759 and the Battle of the Plains of Abraham

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:30:00 GMT

It was done: the die was cast! The citizens of Québec had become British subjects.

The British arrived in June 1759. Until mid-September, they attacked the city. Some 40,000 cannonballs and 10,000 firebombs fell. Almost everything went up in flames, including the church.

The church had already been through a lot. First dedicated to the Christ child, it was renamed Notre-Dame-de-la-Victoire after Admiral Phips’s siege in 1690. Then, in 1711, after Walker’s failure to conquer Québec, it became Notre-Dame-des-Victoires. On September 13, 1759, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham sealed the fate of New France, and the church had nothing but its stone walls to serve as a reminder of more glorious days.

And yet, not everything was destroyed. I can’t help but think of a beautiful stately home that's still standing after all this time: it’s a true miracle! Its roof just might be what saved it from the fire. There it is, with its 21 rooms and eight fireplaces. You can’t miss it, especially if you like museums. Which house is it?

a) the Gaillard House
b) the Fornel House
c) the Jean-Soulard House
d) the Guillemin House
e) the Estèbe House

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Étape 8: Place-Royale: A Public Square

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:25:00 GMT

“Hams for sale! Get your hams!” I can almost hear the merchants’ voices ringing through the streets. Their voices come from the city’s oldest public market, held in front of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church.

Dating from 1676, this market was already highly regulated. For example, you couldn’t set up your stall just anywhere: only in the square and not too close to the houses, please (especially if you were selling fish!).

Around 1820, people were starting to find the market too crowded—plus, the smell was overpowering—and so a second market was opened at the end of the narrow street running down from the square. All the butchers had to set up their stalls there. What was this new market called? Although it was right next to Isidore Thibaudeau’s warehouse, it was named the Finlay Market, after its benefactor, William Finlay, who had made a generous donation to the city.

But getting back to the first market, the one in front of the church . . . the butchers weren’t the only ones who had to move. Apparently, the bronze statue of a king had to be removed because it was in the way of the carts. And yet there he is today!

Which king is it?

a) Louis XV
b) Henri IV
c) Louis XIV
d) George III
e) Champlain

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Étape 9: The American Invasion

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:20:00 GMT

Surprises all around!

A snowstorm was raging on the dawn of December 31, 1775. American invaders thought they were taking the city by surprise. Their plan was simple: Montgomery would advance along the cliff from the west, while Arnold would arrive from the east. The two were to meet at the foot of the Côte de la Montagne.

But, in the end, they were the ones who were caught off guard.

Hidden in a house in the west, a contingent of colonists was fully expecting Montgomery and his men; here in the east, another group waited for Arnold.

Montgomery, who had said he would eat his New Year’s Day meal in Québec, ended up having it in the heavens above, while Arnold ate his in the hospital. Despite this defeat, the Americans laid siege to the city until May 1776. They were driven to retreat only when British ships arrived bringing armed forces from England. And, believe it or not, they were led by a frigate called Surprise!

By the way, can you see the spot where Arnold and his men were defeated? Where was it?

a) at the corner of Rue de la Barricade and Rue Dalhousie
b) at the corner of Rue de la Barricade and Rue du Sault-au-Matelot
c) at the corner of Rue du Sault-au-Matelot and Côte de la Montagne
d) at the corner of Rue de la Barricade and Rue Bell
e) at the corner of Rue du Sault-au-Matelot and Rue Saint-Antoine

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Étape 10: A Time of Transition

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:15:00 GMT

Have you ever heard of Isidore Thibaudeau, a tradesman . . . and a millionaire? He was quite the character: you needed a lot of guts to succeed in business in his day, and he had plenty. In 1880, when he set up shop in his warehouse—a great warehouse with his name on it—Québec was no longer the international trade centre it had once been.

Why not? Because, among other factors, the railway and the development of a shipping channel along the St. Lawrence had made Montréal the new hub for trade. In addition, a major downturn in shipbuilding and the timber trade had affected the port activity in Place-Royale, as well as the hotel and restaurant business. The commercial and political elite moved to the Upper Town. The buildings they vacated were often less than sanitary, although lived in nonetheless.

Fortunately, grain elevators, storage buildings and warehouses were being built during this period, and new wharves were put in place. Also, banks, insurance and finance companies moved into the area. In 1859, Isidore Thibaudeau, along with a dozen or so other francophones, helped found the Banque Nationale.

Most of these prosperous institutions could be found on the same street. Which one?

a) Rue de la Barricade
b) Rue Saint-Pierre, south side
c) at the corner of Rue du Cul-de-Sac and Rue Notre-Dame
d) Côte de la Montagne
e) Rue Saint-Pierre, north side

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Étape 11: Preserving Québec’s Heritage

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:10:00 GMT

When my grandfather was young, he lived on Place-Royale. It was a poor, rundown neighbourhood at that time—during the 1950s. Then, he explained, the business community and Government of Québec realized that this important site needed to be protected. The idea of restoring and rehabilitating the area took shape with an initial project in 1957. Between 1960 and 1980, major reconstruction and renovation work began.

My grandfather still remembers it well. The workers took a house and demolished it, but they did so very carefully and systematically. They would remove the first floor, the second floor, and so on, until they found what they believed might be the original floor. They did the same thing with the walls and the ceilings. Once faced with the original structures, they compared them with historical documents, which was a very important step. The restoration of Place-Royale had always been based on dual criteria: what was found in the buildings and what was found in the historical archives.

The neighbourhood came to life again. And just imagine: they started with the famous London Coffee House that my grandfather had heard so much about! This house was built in 1752 on the banks of the Cul-de-Sac. It's really worth seeing. Which one is it?

a) the Hazeur House
b) the Gaillard House
c) the Fornel House
d) the Chevalier House
e) the Estèbe House

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Étape 12: The Centre d'interprétation de Place-Royale

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:05:00 GMT

Have you heard of the Centre d'interprétation de Place-Royale? It's part of the Musée de la civilisation complex, and the museum manages it. Does this sound familiar? It opened in 1999. It's a place that recounts the history of Place-Royale. Exhibits focus on the authenticity of its buildings and collections, but the story doesn’t end there. The Centre also brings to life the notable figures, as well as the lesser-known individuals, who shaped Place-Royale over the centuries.

It also gives you the opportunity to watch the amazing Facing Champlain: A Work in 3 Dimensions, which is a joint presentation with the National Film Board of Canada. It’s a real 3-D movie: you even get to wear special glasses! The Centre also has a fantastic model of Québec City as it was in 1635. Have you ever seen Québec in 1635?

Does this give you any clues? Where is the Centre?

a) near the bust of Louis XIV
b) Place de Paris
c) Parc de la Cetière
d) on the corner of Rue Notre-Dame and Rue du Cul-de-Sac
e) Rue de la Barricade

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Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT