If Quebec City is considered as the cradle of French civilization in North America, Place Royale is the birthplace of Quebec City.
Place Royale is a historic square where Samuel de Champlain built a wooden fort and residence called “Habitation”, the first French settlement in North America a few days after his first arrival in 1608. Soon after, Champlain moved his fort to the hilltop of Cape Diamond for better observation and defense. This hilltop became the Upper Town, serving as the center of military, religion and politics.


Place Royale and Notre Dame des Victoires Church in 1759 & today
The Habitation area continued to flourish into a marketplace, named Place du Marché (Market Square). In 1686, a bust of Louis XIV was erected in the middle of the square by Intendant Champigny as per French King’s wish. And the square has changed its name from Place du Marché to Place Royale.