Québec City is a grand, historic city, overlooking the St Lawrence River with a skyline dominated by the impressive Cheateau Frontenac Hotel. This is one of the oldest European settlements in North America, founded by the French Explorer Samuel de Champlain, and one which was wrestled back and forth between the French and English several times before finally being ceded to the English in 1763. The walled Old Upper Town sits atop the Cap-Diamant promontory, a bluff which juts out in to the river significantly narrowing it here. Below this, spilling along the waterfront, is the Old Lower Town, a jumble of narrow streets lined with boutique shops, street performers and artisan eateries. You will find the locals here are passionate about their city and despite its various European influences somehow Old Québec maintains a very unique charm which strikes you from the moment you arrive.