Quebec City, French Canada’s oldest establishment, is rich in history. What began as an expedition led by Jacques Cartier down the Gulf of St. Lawrence resulting in claiming that area for France in 1534, continued through 3 July 1608, with Samuel Champlain founding Quebec City, where he remained for the rest of his life as administrator of the city. The city’s 400 plus year record is packed with events, scandal and haunting history which must be experienced by every visitor.
Ghost tours around the Old City are nightly at 8 and 9pm, from the spring through early fall, with adult tickets at $18 and student at $15.50. The price is worth every penny. Guests meet at 98 Rue de Petit Champlain, which is easily accessible by foot. The location greets its visitors with a mural façade on a building that looks as if it’s a scene from the early 17th century.
Some Local History
All stories have been thoroughly researched from the Quebec City and surrounding libraries, though the tour guides admit there is a level of theatrics added for entertainment value. The tour is well scripted and informative. Guests will be guided on a 3 mile walk of the city where they will hear stories of murders, executions, scandals and tragedy.
Ghost hunters follow their tour guide through the old city at night, where the sights and sounds make you feel as if you are back in the 1600s. You begin your tour at 32 Rue Notre Dame, where you enter the Place Royal, a site of the city’s early executions. The first to be put to death was a 16 year old girl, for petty theft. It was discovered that the executioner, Duval, was planning to kill Champlain. Champlain discovered the plot and invited his potential assassin for dinner, in turn having him arrested and tried for treason. The former slayer ended his life by being executed.
Guests continue on through the city for a total of about 8 ghost stories, before finishing at their final destination, the Church of the Holy Trinity. What is said to be the most haunted of buildings in the entire city is the oldest Anglican Cathedral built by King George III of England.
Several Ghost Sightings
The church has a long list of those who claim to have seen a lady floating through the balcony. Several organists have claimed that while practicing, they feel a cold chill and hear the cries of a woman. One musician claims to have brought his usually docile dog to the church with him. Once there, the dog was unable to sit still and ran through the aisles, barking at seemingly nothing. All the organist could hear was footsteps from no visible visitor.
In 1964, upon her visit to the church for services, Queen Elizabeth II also had seen the woman in the balcony. After her Royal Highness’ sighting, a medium was called in and confirmed that there was indeed a high level of paranormal activity in the balcony.
It is debated whether this woman is the ghost of a former nun who carried a child and lost her baby while the child was young, or the wife of a governor general who was buried alive during a cholera outbreak. No one knows for sure, but to this day, sightings still occur.
When visiting Quebec City, one must make the Ghost Tour of Quebec City part of their travel itinerary. A combination of spooky local history, humor of the guides and a bit of theatrics make this tour one you will never forget.
 |
 |
 |
 |
