Quebec Travel Guide

Place Royale

The site of the historical Place-Royale complex was used in ancient times by the First Nations for trading, until the leader of the first Quebec French settlement, Samuel de Champlain, constructed a formal fortified fur trading post in 1608. The trading post flourished and grew into a thriving town, constructed largely of wood, until in 1682 it was destroyed by fire. Reconstruction was in fire-resistant stone, the buildings that still stand today. Known as the market square, the site once again became a hub of activity, until the end of the 19th century when its importance declined. By 1950 the Place-Royale was a neglected, decaying area. The Government then initiated a restoration programme that has turned this historic site, known as the 'birthplace of French America', into one of the city's main attractions. It features a clutch of interesting museums, living history demonstrations and tours of historic buildings.