When the French explorer Jacques Cartier landed on the Gaspe Peninsula in 1535, Quebec began its French heritage. It is still resplendent today in its language, culture and cuisine.

Encompassing over 600,000 square miles, Quebec boasts a variety of landscapes from snow capped mountains, sprawling forests, rushing rivers and wilderness lakes to dynamic cities and picture-postcard villages, but still attributes its magnificence and uniqueness to its distinct French heritage.

Quebec is primarily recognised for its two major cities, Quebec City and Montreal, but is also home to some lesser known, though no less inspiring, cities such as Gatineau, Trois-Riviere, Sagueney and Sherbrooke.

Quebec City, the province’s capital founded in 1608, is a busy seaport and cultural hot spot. A World Heritage Treasure, the old quarter is a great place to explore the past with visits to Notre-Dame-de-Quebec Basillica and Place Royal. The Old Port, Fortifications and Parliament Hill draw visitors from across the globe, the delectable cuisine and gracious hospitality bring them back year after year. Quebec’s largest city and cosmopolitan hub was once a simple missionary village called Ville-Marie, today Montreal is one of the busiest inland ports with a vibrant cultural life and a myriad of attractions. Horse drawn carriages still clatter down the cobblestones of Old Montreal past Notre Dame Basilica to the Old Port while at the opposite end of the spectrum downtown Montreal’s underground city, an 18-mile network of shops and hotels, is a modern day metropolis.

Quebec, an Indian name meaning “where the river narrows”, is centred around the majestic St Lawrence River which flows from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic. South of the river, the gentle mountains and tranquil lakes create a relaxed and easy-going ambiance, popular with artists and nature lovers.

A combination of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspesie, Cote-Nord and Iles de la Madeleine, Maritime Quebec’s 1,800 mile coastline alternates between fine-sand beaches, rocky bays and towering cliffs. Destinations north of the St Lawrence are sheer paradise to outdoor enthusiasts. Thousands of crystal clear lakes and an astonishing variety of wildlife create an idyllic destination for hiking, biking, fishing and skiing. The Laurentian’s, with 19 mountains spread over a 90-mile radius are a year-round playground. Charlevoix is incredibly beautiful, stretching from the whale-filled waters of Baie-Sainte-Catherine and Tadoussac to the delights of Baie-Saint-Paul. This diverse Province is simply intoxicating!