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Canada's largest province, la belle province is known for its deep traditions rooted in centuries of French history and culture. The heart-warming traditions of the people and communities are found in their warm smiles and pride of place and history. That famous Québec passion is in the air. Visitors fi nd themselves immersed in an irresistible tableau of experiences, sights and emotions that spark the beginning of a love aff air with the province. Visit, share and open yourself to becoming wrapped in the heart of it all. FOUR SEASON ADVENTURES Québec is a landscape of superlatives easily explored throughout the entire year. There's warmth, plus an energy and glow that blanket the province. Québecers love to celebrate by fi lling their months with special events and festivals. It's their way to mark dignity and joy in their vibrant heritage and, happily, doors are wide open to visitors. Everywhere, Québec's National Holiday is celebrated on June 24 th with shows, parades, bonfi res and fi reworks. When the sun shines and the air is warm, there are music festivals—Montréal International Jazz Festival (Festival International de Jazz de Montréal), Québec City Summer Festival (Festival d'été de Québec) and many others—as well as cultural festivals, including the Just for Laughs Festival (Juste pour rire). Summertime is glorious in both the cities and the countryside. It is the perfect time to visit pick-your-own farms, follow the province's food trails, or become immersed in the unspoiled wilderness by hiking, climbing and paddling. There is something for everyone who is drawn to the outdoors. As the seasons peak, autumn brings a dramatic splash of colour to the hardwood forests, and springtime follows with the sweetness of maple syrup. A large percent of the world's maple syrup is produced in Québec, making its many sugar shacks a popular springtime destination for samples of just-boiled syrup and treats like traditional maple syrup taff y. When snowfl akes fall, the people of Québec embrace the natural wonder of wintertime. Snowmobiling, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and dogsledding are just the tip of the iceberg. Québecers celebrate hockey like no other spot on earth—the Montréal Canadiens are the oldest hockey team in the world that has played without interruption. The Québec Winter Carnival—the world's largest—anchors the wintertime with its snow slides, ice sculptures and canoe race on the frozen St. Lawrence River. Across the province, they pay homage to the cooler seasons—from Polar Nights (Les Nuits Polaires) in Trois- Rivières to the fall Oktobierfest in Sainte-Adèle, and all points between. HISTORY IS A PART OF THE CULTURAL FABRIC History is not forgotten in Québec. Rather than being relics that are swept aside, history and heritage are embraced and celebrated. Locals and visitors dress up in period costume at the New France Festival (Les Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France) in Québec City, a place that knows how to show off its roots. Canada's most "European" city, Québec City, is known for heritage buildings that harken back to the days of New France, narrow cobblestone streets and excellent cuisine. The Old Port of Montréal stretches for two km (1.24 mi.) along the St. Lawrence River. An historic clock tower marks the entrance to the port, a pedestrian-friendly area of boutiques, bistros, small markets and street entertainment. In Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, the Site of New France (Site de la Nouvelle-France) recreates the daily life of the colony of Quebéc in the 17 th century. Nearby, the historical village of Val-Jalbert is a way to experience company town life in the 1920s, complete with 40 or so original period buildings. FOLLOW YOUR TASTEBUDS There's a deep connection between land and people—from the soil that produces a breadbasket of crops and the dedicated 8,326,100 Québec City www.quebecoriginal.com/en Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, 20 km (13 mi.) from downtown Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, 16 km (10 mi.) from downtown MINGAN ARCHIPELAGO NATIONAL PARK RESERVE • LE QUÉBEC MARITIME/ÉRIC MARCHAND QC 111