Place Royale

Place Royale is one of the most beautiful and historic spots in Old Quebec City. The cobblestone square, surrounded by well-preserved stone buildings, feels like stepping back in time. Every corner showcases the city’s rich French heritage, from the charming architecture to the detailed façades. The atmosphere is lively yet peaceful, making it the perfect place to walk around, take photos, and soak in the history. It’s a must-visit for anyone wanting to experience the true charm and character of Old Quebec.

The birthplace of Québec City and a must-visit historic square! Place Royale is where French America began — beautifully preserved with cobblestone streets, stone buildings, and charming cafés that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s surrounded by quaint shops, local art galleries, and the stunning Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires right at its heart. Every corner here is picture-perfect, especially in the morning light or during the holiday season when it’s decorated with lights and festive charm. A must-see stop for anyone visiting Old Québec — full of history, culture, and postcard-worthy views.

Place Royale is a charming historic gem in the heart of Old Quebec. Cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, and a timeless atmosphere make every step feel like a journey back in time. A perfect spot to soak in the city’s heritage and take unforgettable photos.

Place Royale is like stepping into a postcard from the past. This historic square is beautifully preserved, with charming cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and rich French colonial architecture. It's where Quebec City began, and you can truly feel the history here. The Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church adds to the timeless atmosphere. There are lovely little cafés, shops, and street performers around, making it a perfect spot to soak in the local culture. A peaceful and picturesque place you can’t miss when exploring Old Quebec!

We took the funicular down to lower QC to look at all the historic sites. Walking around we found the Place Royal with the old church and statue of Louis XIV. Very peaceful area.

Lovely town, many art galleries, restaurants, and tourist items for gifts and such. Decent prices. Good quality, very nice people 😁.

My favorite place in Quebec City: heritage building, beautiful stores and restaurants. You can feel European vibe there.

A historical and architectural gem. Full of re-construted buildings in the original location of the first settlement in this area. There are restaurants and shops throughout. It was such a lovely place to visit. The Museum of Civilization is nearby.

This is the tourist center in Québec, both for the history and the modern-day ambiance that comes with the restaurants, patios, and shops that now fill the historic structures. Place-Royale is widely considered to be the birthplace of the French colony and French North America. It stands on the site of Québec's actual foundation, the spot where, in 1608, Samuel de Champlain erected a fur trading post that soon grew into the capital of French America. Named in honor of Louis XIV whose bust adorns it, Place Royale is the largest surviving ensemble of 17th- and 18th-century buildings in North America. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this area of Old Québec acted as the French colony's center of business and industry, supporting a thriving marketplace and housing many wealthy merchants. While exploring this quaint area, you'll come across several notable tributes to its French Colonial past, like- - including a striking bust of Louis XIV (one of France's most famous kings), - the Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, - as well as the Fresque des Québécois, which illustrates 400 years of the city's history. In summer, the area is home to outdoor dining areas. In winter, the snow transforms the old streets and stone buildings into a postcard-perfect scene. This is a beautiful area to wander through in the day or evening and at any time of year. Restroom: if you need one, there is a very clean and spacious restroom right there at the square. Just beside the cafe [Café La Maison Smith Notre-Dame], it's there. see attached photo.

CRADLE OF NORTH AMERICA We visited Place Royale during our stroll through the Basse Ville section of Old Quebec. Known as the cradle of North America, Place Royale marks the location of the French settlement founded by Samuel de Champlain. The cobblestone square is surrounded by historic stone buildings that date back to the 1700 -1800s and were extensively restored in the 1980s. In the center of Place Royale is a bust of King Louis XIV - we later learned that the bust is a 1920s replacement of the original bust that was destroyed in a 1700s fire. Also marking Place Royale is Notre Dame des Victoires, one of the oldest stone churches in North America. We were surprised that the church was not open during our recent visit - we didn't know that after the Canada Labour Day weekend, visitor hours are shortened. We were also told that during the winter, the church is then only open on Sunday. Confirm hours before your visit. History is everywhere in Old Quebec and even plays a part in Café Maison Smith, a popular eatery next to Notre Dame des Victoires. Apparently a family named Smith owned the building for over 100 years and the bakery chain's name, Maison Smith, is a nod to the building's historical past. For a jolt forward to the present modern day, visit the EXMURO Public Art Area, a modern art gallery (free admission) that is also located on the square. The art gallery features thought-provoking installations that may push visitors out of their comfort zones. Movie Trivia: Place Royale was used as a movie location for the movie Catch Me If You Can. It stood in for a French town where Tom Hanks arrested Leonardo diCaprio.

Great place. Beautiful settings. I was there in November. Definitely could see it at Christmas time. It is quite festive.

This is where Quebec City was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. The cobblestoned square is lined with restored buildings (souvenir shops and restaurants) that combine French and British influences. Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, which is also located here, is the oldest stone church in North America and dates back to 1688. La Maison Smith is a cafe where you can enjoy a drink on the patio while you're in Place Royale.

This place is just like the movies. Instagrammable place! I guess this has been a place of shoot for many historical movies. Lots of restos around. Church was not open when we went there on a weekday

Place Royale was originally Fort Villie Marie erected in 1687. It is located in lower (Basse) Old Town, Quebec city. It is a rather steep descent to Place Royale but there is a funicular which runs for most of the day. It became a World Heritage Site in 1985. Quebec City is what the French call "Jolie de via". The ambience of European street fair is every. Cobble stone streets line the way to restaurants, boutique shops, flower gardens and maple syrup products. frozen maple foilies, maple popcorn and ice cream are but a few offerings. There are also many historic homes, monuments and statues to inform the visiting tourist most have only French signage. Other sites worth noting include Church of Notre-Dame des Victoire Champlain (1687). The statue of Samuel de Champlain lies in upper (Haute) Old Town and Petit Champlain with it's narrow streets exudes European charm. Little shops selling chocolates, cured meats, spices, formages and other novelties of French culture. Many Trompe l'oeil frescos adorn buildings in Place Royale. Do not miss the statue of Louis the XlV, who in 1687 was the French King. The present statue is a reproduction as are many of the buildings you see today in Place Royale. There are a lot of restaurants along the Charles river and Sr. Lawrence Seaway where you can enjoy a croissant and cafe-au-lait.

Amazing square just a couple of steps from the Umbrella Alley. While there is a beautiful church there, there are also a few shops and some restaurants. If the day is better there are also musicians playing some instruments. We went during late summer and they had a dome at one end of the square which had an artificial snowstorm created to give a wintery feel. There was also a senior (in his late 70s or early 80s I believe) playing a keyboard. Amazing place to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Nice little plaza. Place-Royale is located in the Lower Town area of old Quebec City. It is built on top of French fortifications that date back to the 17th Century. This small, but picturesque plaza is considered to be the birthplace of New France and French civilization in the New World. And home to Notre Dame des Victoires which is the oldest stone church still standing in North America. Okay, that is the end of a quick history lesson. When in Quebec City, I highly recommend going to the old town!! Place-Royale is located on the lower level of old town, and it makes up a small part of this beautiful area. You get a feeling of being in Europe while you are here. Amazing architecture, many shops, cafes, galleries, and cobblestone streets! Soak up the experience and have fun!

On the east side of the Terrasse Dufferin, the Funiculaire will drop you down to the Place-Royale in Lower Town. Place-Royale is the town square where French America was born. There's a bust of Louis XIV in the center. When I was there, a Christmas Choir was presenting a concert in front of the gigantic Christmas tree. It was lovely to experience ~ & the whole square scene was Charles Dickens. Samuel de Champlain started the 1st French settlement here in 1608. It was here that Champlain chose to erect his "Abitation," which served as a fort, storehouse, trading post, and residence after his arrival in 1608. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this area of Old Québec acted as the French colony's center of business and industry, supporting a thriving marketplace & housing many wealthy merchants. It has also been called a parade ground & a marketplace. The Church Notre-Dame-des-Victoires ~ Québec's oldest stone church, built in 1688 ~ dominates the plaza. Another highlight is the Musées de la civilisation complex.

2017 Review 83/100 Beautiful little section of the city. A walk through Place-Royale almost makes you feel like you're in Europe. Very old world and very French. It's perfect. A great place for shopping, dining, or just a simple walk to take in the beauty. And during Christmastime when it's all decorated and lit up, it's breathtaking. A must-stop when in Quebec City.

While visiting Old Québec we made the decision to walk to Place-Royale from the flat we were renting. As we walked to this area we loved popping in and out of all of the little shops along the way. When we finally entered the town square, we were astonished by the beauty of the old village as well as decorations they had for the fall celebration. In the end, we spent a ton of time in the lower village and enjoyed all of the different shops.

Amazing architecture and so much history all around you. This is why Quebec city is by far my favorite place to visit! There are a lot of little shops alllll around and I particularly enjoy the shops showing off the local artists!! It's great for a leisurely stroll or a romantic night out :)

Place Royale is located in the lower town in the historic district of Old Quebec. When you're here, you will feel almost like you're in a whole different era. When you're in Old Quebec, this is definitely a must place to see. There is a huge mural covering the entire side of a nearby building. Absolutely beautiful!

Amazing architecture and history, going back to the 'oldest' city in north america.