Parks and Gardens

Credit: Luc-Antoine Couturier

Plains of Abraham

The Plains of Abraham, part of Battlefields Park, is a must-see on any visit to the city.

The park is home to the Joan of Arc Garden, one of the city's favorite spots for wedding photographs. Located beside one of the Martello towers (built in 1810), its magnificent flower beds are a real treat for local painters, who exhibit their art in the park on occasion. A statue of a defiant Joan of Arc on horseback adds to the atmosphere. Visitors may be interested to know that a huge drinking water reservoir lies beneath this part of the Plains.

Credit: Parc linéaire de la Rivière-Saint-Charles

Parc linéaire de la rivière Saint-Charles

Stroll along the 32-kilometre riverside trail from Lac Saint-Charles to the Old Port and discover an oasis of calm in the heart of the city.

The trail, which boasts an impressive variety of birds and plants, winds its way through a number of parks and historical and tourist sites.

An 8-kilometre stretch in the city center also features a bicycle path.

Click here to find out more about Parc linéaire de la rivière Saint-Charles.

Credit: OTQ

Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge

Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge became a showpiece for horticulture in North America in the early 19th century.

From 1854 to 1966 it was the residence of governors general and lieutenant governors.

Today it is one of the capital's finest public parks and the perfect place to enjoy a stroll, have fun with the kids, or go bird-watching.

Credit: Yves Tessier

Villa Bagatelle Garden

The Villa Bagatelle garden is home to a number of rare plants and understory species.

A brook babbles beneath the trees and flower-lined alleyways add a splash of colour to the beautiful grounds. Visitors may also tour the villa.

Come see time stand still!

Credit: J. Allard

Roger-Van den Hende Garden

Gardeners will be in their element at Université Laval's Roger-Van den Hende Garden.

The botanical garden boasts close to 4,000 plant species and cultivars from across the province, as well as the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Credit: Yves Tessier

Jardin de Saint-Roch

With its waterfall and numerous species of flowers, trees, and shrubs, Jardin de Saint-Roch is an oasis of green in the city center.

A focal point for the revitalization project that brought new life to the Lower Town, it fills with office workers from the Nouvo Saint-Roch neighbourhood at lunchtime during the warm summer months.

A number of IT companies that are now the pride of the city have made the neighbourhood their home. The park also features three busts of painters: René Richard, Alfred Pellan, and Horatio Walker.

Credit: Ville de Québec

Domaine de Maizerets

Built on one of the first concessions in New France (1705), Domaine de Maizerets is both a fascinating historical site and an impressive landscaped garden.

Visitors can enjoy cultural and educational exhibits, concerts, tours of the flower gardens and arboretum, and outdoor and nature activities.

Eleven kilometres of walking trails criss-cross the landscaped and natural environments of the park and its marshland. It is a real bird-watcher's paradise.

Two major bicycle paths leave from the park, and in winter it's a popular place to skate, cross-country ski, snowshoe, slide, or simply come for a stroll. What could be better than getting some fresh air in such pleasant surroundings?

Credit: Ville de Québec

Parc Cartier-Roberval

Parc Cartier-Roberval features a variety of flora and fauna, walking trails, and interpretive panels that present the park and its history.

The remains of the first French colony in North America were unearthed there in 2005, and ongoing archaeological digs continue to uncover new information about the site, which dates back to the 16th century.

The park overlooks Cap-Rouge and its spectacular railroad trestle bridge, with a panoramic view of the St. Lawrence River and the two Québec City bridges just around the corner.

Credit: OTQ

Seigneurie de l’Île d’Orléans

Renowned especially for its lavender fields, Seigneurie de l’Île d’Orléans is a green oasis in the village of Saint-François-de-l’Île-d’Orléans. Visitors will enjoy a feast for the senses as they explore theme gardens scattered around the grounds of a stunning historic estate.

Credit: FloreSsens

FloreSsens gardens

FloreSsens gardens, in the heart of the Portneuf region, offers visitors a glimpse of local fauna and a multitude of plants, including indigenous species. A two-kilometre path through the woods leads from the site’s theme gardens to brightly coloured flower beds and flower-lined ponds. Fountains, statues, and unusual ornaments add an extra visual dimension, creating a unique environment for visitors to explore and relax in.