Plains of Abraham - Thirty Minutes That Changed a Continent
Photo: NickHam, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
A stop on Old Quebec City Walking Tour, a free self-guided tour.
These rolling lawns look peaceful, but they are one of the most important battlefields in North American history. The name probably comes from Abraham Martin, a 17th-century river pilot who once held land up here.
In the early hours of September 13, 1759, after a summer-long siege, British troops under General James Wolfe climbed the cliffs from the river and formed up on these fields. The Marquis de Montcalm marched out to meet them. The battle lasted only about half an hour. Wolfe was killed, Montcalm was mortally wounded and died the next morning, and Quebec soon surrendered. Within a few years France had given up Canada.
The French won a rematch nearby at Sainte-Foy in 1760, but British ships arrived and kept the city. In 1908 the land became Battlefields Park, one of the first national historic sites in Canada. Today it's the city's big backyard for picnics, concerts and winter sports.
Getting here: From the Citadelle approach, follow the paths along the fort's western side into Battlefields Park and out onto the open lawns.
Did you know?: The park covers about 98 hectares and draws millions of visitors a year, many for festivals rather than history.
Photo op: Walk toward the cliff edge for a wide shot of the open lawn with the St. Lawrence beyond.
More on Wikipedia: Plains of Abraham · Battle of the Plains of Abraham · Battle of Sainte-Foy · James Wolfe
Stops on this tour
- Dufferin Terrace - A Boardwalk on the Cliff
- Rue du Tresor - The Artists' Alley
- Notre-Dame de Quebec - Mother Church of New France
- Seminaire de Quebec - Where a University Began
- Breakneck Stairs - The Steep Way Down
- Place Royale - Where Quebec Began
- Quartier Petit Champlain - Shops Beneath the Cliff
- Old Quebec Funicular - The Easy Way Up
- Governors' Garden - One Monument, Two Generals
- The Citadelle - Star Fort on Cap Diamant
- Plains of Abraham - Thirty Minutes That Changed a Continent
- Parliament Building - Je Me Souviens
- Porte Saint-Louis - Gateway Through the Walls