I went to Québec City and felt like I'd jetted off to Europe without leaving North America
Joey Hadden
![I went to Québec City and felt like I'd jetted off to Europe without leaving North America](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-111587464%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-602370%2Fi-went-to-quxe9bec-city-and-felt-like-iaposd-jetted-off-to-europe-without-leaving-north-america.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
- I went to Québec City, Canada, in August 2022. It's a historic French city with a European feel.
- Then, I visited four European countries for the first time: Germany, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland.
With narrow, cobblestone streets, European-inspired architecture, and a primarily French-speaking population, Québec City, Canada, feels like a European paradise.
I spent 24 hours in the 400-year-old French-Canadian city in August 2022. Back then, I hadn't explored enough of Europe to decide if Québec City felt like other countries across the Atlantic.
But after visiting Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany in October 2022, I understood the comparison.
Perched on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is 400 years old, making it the oldest city in Canada.
![Perched on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is 400 years old, making it the oldest city in Canada.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587497,width-700,height-525,imgsize-167088/perched-on-a-hill-overlooking-the-st-lawrence-river-quxe9bec-city-is-400-years-old-making-it-the-oldest-city-in-canada-.jpg)
The city was founded by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, according to the city's website.
Québec City is on the eastern edge of the Canadian province of Québec.
![Québec City is on the eastern edge of the Canadian province of Québec.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587495,width-700,height-525,imgsize-131988/quxe9bec-city-is-on-the-eastern-edge-of-the-canadian-province-of-quxe9bec-.jpg)
I traveled by train from Montreal to Quebéc City, but a flight from my home in NYC would take less than two hours — a lot shorter than a trip to Europe. My direct flight from NYC to Berlin was nearly eight hours long when I visited in October 2022.
I spent most of my time there in Old Québec, a neighborhood with preserved French and British colonial architecture, according to the city's website.
![I spent most of my time there in Old Québec, a neighborhood with preserved French and British colonial architecture, according to the city](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587493,width-700,height-525,imgsize-896610/i-spent-most-of-my-time-there-in-old-quxe9bec-a-neighborhood-with-preserved-french-and-british-colonial-architecture-according-to-the-cityaposs-website-.jpg)
I spotted many of these simple, rectangular buildings with decorative shutters during my visit.
I wandered down old Québec's photogenic streets and spotted rows of colorful colonial-style buildings.
![I wandered down old Québec](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587492,width-700,height-525,imgsize-592098/i-wandered-down-old-quxe9becaposs-photogenic-streets-and-spotted-rows-of-colorful-colonial-style-buildings-.jpg)
A few months later, in Zurich, I saw blocks I thought looked similar to those in Québec City.
Many of the streets in Old Québec were made of cobblestone.
![Many of the streets in Old Québec were made of cobblestone.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587490,width-700,height-525,imgsize-588730/many-of-the-streets-in-old-quxe9bec-were-made-of-cobblestone-.jpg)
They looked like the roads I saw in all four European countries I visited.
During my walk through Old Québec, I also noticed most signs were written in French.
![During my walk through Old Québec, I also noticed most signs were written in French.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587488,width-700,height-525,imgsize-386642/during-my-walk-through-old-quxe9bec-i-also-noticed-most-signs-were-written-in-french-.jpg)
That's because 85% of the population of Québec speaks French, according to the Government of Canada.
English wasn't the primary language spoken in any of the European countries I visited, either.
![English wasn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587487,width-700,height-525,imgsize-596232/english-wasnapost-the-primary-language-spoken-in-any-of-the-european-countries-i-visited-either-.jpg)
Most of the signs I saw abroad were written in German or Italian.
While some streets in Québec City were wide, others were quite narrow.
![While some streets in Québec City were wide, others were quite narrow.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587485,width-700,height-525,imgsize-631108/while-some-streets-in-quxe9bec-city-were-wide-others-were-quite-narrow-.jpg)
Later in Rome and Venice, Italy, I stumbled upon alleys that reminded me of the narrow streets in Québec.
After my trip to Europe, I also realized my hotel in Québec City, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, was similar to those I saw abroad.
![After my trip to Europe, I also realized my hotel in Québec City, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, was similar to those I saw abroad.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587482,width-700,height-525,imgsize-754802/after-my-trip-to-europe-i-also-realized-my-hotel-in-quxe9bec-city-fairmont-le-chxe2teau-frontenac-was-similar-to-those-i-saw-abroad-.jpg)
I thought it was the most stunning building, which makes sense as it's known as the most photographed hotel in the world, according to World Atlas.
It was a dramatic castle-like structure.
![It was a dramatic castle-like structure.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587481,width-700,height-525,imgsize-737710/it-was-a-dramatic-castle-like-structure-.jpg)
The hotel opened in 1893 and was inspired by romantic architecture and French castles, according to the Québec City's website and the Canadian Encyclopedia.
I thought the hotel looked like a fairy tale with elaborate landscaping and old-world architecture.
![I thought the hotel looked like a fairy tale with elaborate landscaping and old-world architecture.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587479,width-700,height-525,imgsize-751916/i-thought-the-hotel-looked-like-a-fairy-tale-with-elaborate-landscaping-and-old-world-architecture-.jpg)
I had a similar feeling while strolling through gardens next to historic buildings in Vienna, Austria.
Inside, I thought my hotel room was small, but the view out the window was grand.
![Inside, I thought my hotel room was small, but the view out the window was grand.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587476,width-700,height-525,imgsize-304012/inside-i-thought-my-hotel-room-was-small-but-the-view-out-the-window-was-grand-.jpg)
I perched on the windowsill and marveled at the European architecture surrounding me.
I also saw Québec City Hall, which was inspired by the Second Empire.
![I also saw Québec City Hall, which was inspired by the Second Empire.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587475,width-700,height-525,imgsize-333546/i-also-saw-quxe9bec-city-hall-which-was-inspired-by-the-second-empire-.jpg)
It was built in a European style with prominent rooftops, according to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
I spotted the same style of architecture in Viennese buildings like Schönbrunn Palace.
![I spotted the same style of architecture in Viennese buildings like Schönbrunn Palace.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587474,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1084884/i-spotted-the-same-style-of-architecture-in-viennese-buildings-like-schxf6nbrunn-palace-.jpg)
This architectural style is known as Second Empire Baroque, according to Britannica.
Additionally, old-world cathedrals in Québec City, like Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, reminded me of those I later saw in Europe.
![Additionally, old-world cathedrals in Québec City, like Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, reminded me of those I later saw in Europe.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587473,width-700,height-525,imgsize-214370/additionally-old-world-cathedrals-in-quxe9bec-city-like-notre-dame-de-quxe9bec-basilica-cathedral-reminded-me-of-those-i-later-saw-in-europe-.jpg)
Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral has a Neoclassical style, with towers and stained-glass detailing, according to Québec City's website.
I saw a lot of Neoclassical architecture all around Rome, too, like at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
After visiting both Québec City and Europe, I found that they're not exactly the same, but they're pretty close.
![After visiting both Québec City and Europe, I found that they](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-111587467,width-700,height-525,imgsize-193472/after-visiting-both-quxe9bec-city-and-europe-i-found-that-theyaposre-not-exactly-the-same-but-theyaposre-pretty-close-.jpg)
If you're looking for a European adventure that's closer to home without the jet lag, I think Québec City is a good alternative.
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