Quartier Petit Champlain
The heart of New France

The Famous Breakneck Staircase
This staircase is tucked between two rows of buildings and winds precipitously down from côte de la Montagne to rue du Petit-Champlain. A staircase already existed in the same location in 1660. After innumerable repairs made over the centuries, using the staircase became risky business! Originally known as "l'Escalier Casse-cou" in French, the Anglophone population of the city named it the "Breakneck Staircase" in the 19th century.

The Breakneck staircase was redesigned in 1968. The most recent renovations date back to the 1990s. The many terraces located along the staircase give onto boutiques and restaurants located in 19th century homes.

Rue du Petit-Champlain
One of the most picturesque streets in North America. When the city was first founded, this was the site of a small path that led to "Champlain's Fountain". Houses were built along this path starting in the 17th century. Over time, the path became a street, and was successively known as rue De Meulles, rue Champlain, Petite rue Champlain and rue du Petit-Champlain.

From "Petite rue Champlain" to "Rue du Petit-Champlain" In 1876, rue Champlain became Petite rue Champlain when a street located a little farther down (now boulevard Champlain) was named rue Champlain. Over time, the street's English name "Little Champlain Street" was translated back into French as "rue du Petit-Champlain".

During the French Regime, craftsmen worked in shops along rue du Petit-Champlain, where they lived with their families. In the 19th century, working-class Irish families, whose major breadwinners worked at the docks or in the ship-building trade, made their homes here. Today, dozens of artists' workshops and boutiques line this historical street.

· 16 rue du Petit-Champlain - Louis-Jolliet House and the Funicular Located at the very foot of the Breakneck Staircase, Louis-Jolliet House was built in 1683 for explorer and merchant Louis Jolliet, a well-known figure in New France. Today, this house serves as the boarding point for the funicular. A much quicker, and less exhausting, way to get to Dufferin Terrace at the top of the cliff! The first funicular, called the "Griffith elevator", was inaugurated in 1879.

Did you know that? · Louis Jolliet discovered the Mississippi in 1673. · The first funicular, known as the Griffith elevator, was inaugurated in 1879.

· 38 rue du Petit-Champlain - Lemieux House Members of the Lemieux family who lived here during the 17th century accompanied Louis Jolliet on some of his expeditions. · 39 rue du Petit-Champlain - Demers House This house dates back to 1689. It aged well—not a wrinkle! · 68 rue du Petit-Champlain - Théâtre Petit Champlain This theatre regularly hosts Francophone performers of all musical styles. A great place to see your favourite artist! Next to this theatre (a former warehouse) is parc Félix-Leclerc, named after the famous Québécois author-composer whose body of work includes "Moi, mes souliers" and "Le petit bonheur".

Two Staircases and Their Hidden Landings
Two small, picturesque staircases, much like the ones found in older European cities, allow pedestrians to walk from rue du Petit-Champlain to boulevard Champlain. The Cul-de-Sac Staircase is near rue du Cul-de-Sac, and the Quai-du-Roi Staircase is located close to the former King's quay, built in 1746.

An archway stands over the landings of both of these staircases, which were rebuilt in 1890 by Quebec City's engineer Charles Baillairgé. Baillargé also designed many other staircases around the city, as well as the magnificent Dufferin Terrace.

Ruelle du Magasin-du-Roi
A charming alleyway with many steps that is located at the end of rue du Petit-Champlain, near the boulevard Champlain intersection. While walking along this alleyway, you will see a small, triangular park with benches and a sidewalk made of wooden beams. This alleyway used to lead to the King's warehouse (magasin), later a government warehouse, which was destroyed by fire in 1950. At 72 ruelle du Magasin-du-Roi, you will see beautiful Grant House, with its rounded facade. Alexander Grant used to operate a popular grocery store in this building.

Boulevard Champlain
The multicoloured awnings on the terraces and buildings gives boulevard Champlain the appearance of a charming sea port. Most of the building facades, in red or yellow Scottish brick, date from the mid-19th century. Many years ago, the waters of the St. Lawrence River use to reach the boulevard during high tide. The houses here used to be where marine supply merchants set up shop. Their customers were captains of sea-going vessels who used to purchase the supplies and equipment they needed for long journeys.

· 38 boulevard Champlain - Giblin House Architect Joseph-Ferdinand Peachy designed this house in 1865 for marine supply merchant John Giblin. · 46 boulevard Champlain - Former Hôtel Commercial The Hôtel Commercial was located here for many years, before becoming a police station in 1920. Today, a charming restaurant is found here. · 56 boulevard Champlain - A Mansard Roof This house was built around 1885. Its mansard roof is characteristic of Second Empire architecture, popular in Quebec City in the 19th century.

Rue du Marché-Champlain
Many Quebec City residents still associate rue du Marché-Champlain, the street connecting boulevard Champlain and rue Dalhousie, with Chevalier House. Chevalier House once comprised three buildings and stood next to the Champlain Market, where local inhabitants purchased their fruits and vegetables between 1860 and 1910. The middle house was built in 1752 for an important merchant and ship owner, Jean-Baptiste Chevalier. The dock for the ferry crossing the St. Lawrence River has been located on one side of the street since 1931. On the other side of the street, at 40 rue du Marché-Champlain, is Morin House, which was built in 1753.

La petite rue du Cul-de-Sac
This alleyway (which is not a dead end, by the way!) owes its name to the "havre du Cul-de-Sac", or Cul-de-Sac Harbour, that was connected to Chevalier House until 1850. This alleyway runs behind Chevalier House, thus linking rue Notre-Dame and rue du Marché-Champlain.

If you enter rue du Cul-de-Sac from rue Notre-Dame, look at the lower portion of the ground floor wall of Leduc House. Years ago, it was carved in to allow carts to enter the narrow street. Over time, the houses were transformed into warehouses for various types of merchandise. Today, the houses have been restored to their original function appearance.

· 6, rue du Cul-de-Sac - Duray House This house was built in 1724 for Marguerite Levasseur, the widow of butcher Pierre Duray. · 10, rue du Cul-de-Sac - La Brière House This house owes its name to master toolmaker Pierre Normand de La Brière, who operated his smithy on the ground floor from 1673 to 1695. · 28, rue du Cul-de-Sac - Demers House This house was built in 1689.

Rue Sous-le-Fort
This street was drawn in 1636 by Governor Huault de Montmagny, Champlain's successor. It owes its name to the fact it ran beneath the fort or "château Saint-Louis" that dominated the cliff (sous is French for underneath). The street climbs up from the royal battery, built in 1691 by Governor Frontenac, runs along the presbytery of the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church and ends at rue du Petit-Champlain.

During the French Regime, many shops lined this street. It was famous in the 19^th century for its shoemakers, one of whom had had a home built at 44-46 rue Sous-le-Fort, which is now called Lavoie House. The stunning figures on the building's facade have been preserved. They stand there still, smiling down on passers-by.

· 39 and 41 rue Sous-le-Fort – Leduc House and du Roy House These houses were built, respectively, in 1725 and 1724. · 48 rue Sous-le-Fort - Chasle House A house with an original architectural addition: Art Nouveau balconies. · 58 rue Sous-le-Fort - Glass Economuseum Although the desks of the former Notre-Dame-des-Victoires school may have been replaced by the economuseum kilns, you can still learn something new by visiting this building!