About This Resource
Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the only fortified city in North America and features numerous historic staircases connecting the Upper Town (Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (Basse-Ville). The most famous is the Escalier Casse-Cou (Breakneck Stairs), a steep wooden staircase dating to 1635 connecting the historic Quartier Petit Champlain to the clifftop Château Frontenac area. The city also has a funicular railway (built 1879) providing an alternative to the steep stairs. Additional staircases can be found throughout the old city, many offering views of the St. Lawrence River. The stairs are integral to Quebec City's European character and colonial history.
