Monument to Samuel de Champlain

Located on the Dufferin Terrace next to the Château Frontenac, this monument is dedicated to Samuel de Champlain, the founder of Québec City, the governor of New France and the first European to explore the Great Lakes.

This impressive monument, one of the tallest in the city, overlooks the bustling crowd of tourists and local residents who flock to this part of the Old Québec.

What to do at the Samuel de Champlain Monument

• Enjoy the performances of street entertainers on a warm summer evening.
• Take pictures of the world-renown Château Frontenac, Québec City's emblematic hotel.
• Stroll along the Dufferin Terrace and admire the view of the St. Lawrence River stretched out below.
• Take the funicular down to the Petit-Champlain Quarter in Lower Town.

History of the Samuel de Champlain Monument

This monument dates back to 1898 and is the work of Paul Chevré, a survivor of the Titanic. He had collaborated with architect Paul-Alexandre Le Cardonnel on this project. The monument was installed at the approximate site of the first Saint-Louis Château, which was built in 1647 by Charles Huault de Montmagny, Champlain's successor as governor.

The base of the monument is made of limestone from the same quarry from which stone was taken to build such famous structures as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The statue of Champlain shows him in his forties. In his right hand he holds a cavalier hat decorated with a plume, and in his left, several rolled letters credential. Here is a little-known fact: no authentic portrait of Champlain is said to exist, so the sculptor undoubtedly drew inspiration from some other period portrait.

The bronze in high relief shows a woman, the personification of Québec City, recording major historical events in a book; to her right is a child who represents the science of navigation; and surmounted above is Victory with wings outstretched, holding a trumpet to her lips to sound the glory of this indomitable explorer.