12 Movies and TV Shows That Give You a Taste of Québec City
The historic vibe and European charm of Old Québec and gorgeous scenery in all four seasons make the Québec City area a favourite filming location for TV and movie productions. The following feature some of the region’s most iconic spots.
- 1
French Girl
A Brooklyn teacher follows his girlfriend to Québec, a Québecois woman who has been offered the opportunity to compete for an executive chef position in a renowned restaurant at Château Frontenac. Canada, 2024
Locations: Several streets in Québec City, including Old Québec, as well as around Château Frontenac.
- 2
Barkskins
Inspired by Annie Proulx’s 2016 novel, this historical saga covers 300 years in the lives of French settlers in 17th-century New France and their descendants. With a budget of over $60 million, it’s one of the biggest productions ever shot in Québec City. U.S. and Canada, 2020
Locations: Many scenes were filmed in the authentic Petit-Champlain District and at Place Royale, as well as in Stoneham, Château-Richer, and Valcartier, where a historical village (Wobik) was built entirely for the series.
- Martin Bonneau Frangin
3My Wife’s Secret Recipe
This highly popular reality series revolves around the lives of three couples in search of luxury and experiences that take them off the beaten path. One of them, professor, interior designer, author, and blogger Jeseung Yeon and his wife, famous actress Hyun-Hee Hong, come to Québec City to immerse themselves in its unique French North American culture and the charms of Old Québec. Fun fact: Québec’s then-Minister of Tourism Caroline Proulx makes an appearance. South Korea, 2019
Locations: Dufferin Terrace, the Québec Citadelle, Tourny Fountain, the Petit-Champlain District, Place Royale, Montmorency Falls Park, and Île d’Orléans.
- 4
Winter Castle
A young girl who has spent most of her time in sunny California attends her sister's wedding at an ice hotel. Her heart melts over the best man, the problem is he unexpectedly brings a "plus one," seemingly dashing her hopes for a wintery romance. U.S., Canada, 2019
Location: Hôtel de Glace (Ice Hotel)
- 5
Goblin : The Lonely and Great God
This romantic fantasy series starring Gong Yoo, a South Korean megastar, is a love story across space and time between a former general from the Kingdom of Goreyo, turned into an immortal goblin by his jealous king, and his fiancée who, 900 years later, is the only one who can end his life. In 2017, the series had an estimated 245.6 million viewers. Many of Québec’s iconic sites have since become popular with fans of the series. South Korea, 2016
Locations: The famous red door on Rue du Petit-Champlain, the inside of the Château Frontenac, Tourny Fountain, Rue Sainte-Ursule, the Breakneck Stairs (Escalier casse-cou), Pierre-Dugua-De-Mons Terrace, the Christmas store (Boutique de Noël), Parc Samuel-Holland, and Prescott Gate.
- 6
Snow and Ashes
A war correspondent injured while covering an armed conflict in Eastern Europe wakes up in a Québec City hospital after a lengthy coma to find that his long-time partner didn’t make it back with him. He sets out to retrace the events that led to his friend’s disappearance. Canada-Québec, 2010
Locations: Québec–Lévis ferry, Rue Saint-Joseph, and the Québec City bridge. Côte-de-Beaupré served as a stand-in for a Balkan village in the film.
- 7
Battle of the Brave (Nouvelle-France)
Inspired by true events, this historic epic is a love story set in the mid-18th century during the Conquest of New France, at a time when France was slowly abandoning Canada. Céline Dion sings the theme song. Canada, France, UK, 2004
Locations: Cap-Tourmente and a set representing Place Royale during that era.
- 8
Taking Lives
An FBI profiler (Angelina Jolie) is called in by Québec police to catch a serial killer who steals the identity of each new victim. U.S., 2004
Locations: The Québec bridge, the Gare du Palais train station, and various viewpoints of Old Québec and Château Frontenac.
- 9
The Far Side of the Moon (La face cachée de la lune)
Following the death of his mother, a philosophy student fascinated by space travel tries to get closer to his brother, whom he’s always considered superficial and a liar. The action unfolds in the 1960s in Québec City. This multiple-award-winning film is directed by Robert Lepage, a Québec City playwright who has gained international recognition. Canada-Québec, 2003
Locations: Numerous sites throughout the city, including the Québec Seminary’s banquet hall (Salle des Promotions).
- 10
Blizzard
A young girl’s aunt tells her the story of a young skater and an enchanted reindeer. Canada, U.S., 2003
Locations: Place Royale is the perfect fairytale setting for this Christmas movie.
- 11
Catch me if you can
Frank Abagnale Jr realizes it’s easier to forge checks than work and goes on to impersonate an airline pilot, a doctor, and even a lawyer, living the good life while being trailed by an FBI agent. Having Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tom Hanks together in Québec City created a lot of buzz among locals and the media! Canada, U.S., 2002
Locations: You’ll have to wait until the end of the movie, when Abagnale Jr is arrested, to see Place Royale and Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church stand in for a typical little village in Northern France. A few scenes were also filmed in Stoneham-Tewkesbury.
- 12
I Confess
Filmed entirely in Québec City, this Alfred Hitchcock movie is the story of a young priest who finds himself in a philosophical bind after one of his parishioners admits to murder during confession. The master of suspense shows Québec City from every angle and includes French conversations in the film. U.S., 1953
Locations: Château Frontenac, the streets of Old Québec, Le Capitole theatre, the Limoilou neighbourhood, and Île d’Orléans.