Artillery Park Heritage Site, Quebec City

Strategically positioned, overlooking the west side of Quebec City across the Saint Charles River, Artillery Park (Parc de l'Artillerie) is a former major military site established in the late 17th century. Attesting to its legacy now are the four vastly different buildings through which one can trace the history of the city from the French colonial period to the 1940s. The most striking of the four is the Dauphine Redoubt with massive white supports plunging down the side of a hill.

Built from 1712 to 1748, the redoubt served as army barracks both before and after the British Conquest and eventually became home to the superintendent. Nowadays, during the summer, one can see characters in period costumes bringing the barracks back to life with demonstrations and tours of the property decorated to reflect various periods in the building's evolution.

Here, on display, there is also a fascinating model of Quebec City. Created by military engineer Jean-Baptiste Duberger for strategic planning, between 1795 and 1810, it offers an unparalleled source of information on the layout of the city in the years following the British Conquest.

While walking around the park is an enjoyable activity as such, the on-site museum is charming and well-presented, with lots of artifacts, making it easy to understand and appreciate the history of the area.

Tip:
Consider getting a self-guided audio tour. It takes about two hours to go through the entire complex, and you can pace yourself.