At 10 a.m
m. on the morning of September 13, 1759, two armies - one French, the other British, faced off on the Plains of Abraham not far from Quebec City. Today, over 200 years later, visitors arrive to view the scene of this famous battle. Here, Britain lost a General (Wolfe) and added to a fledgling new nation, Canada. The Plains of Abraham is, therefore, a memorial park. It honors the valor of all victims on this battlefield. It is a park where you can read plaques, take historic walking tours and see a re-enactment of the battle or a retelling of the history of the founding of Quebec City.
Yet, the Plains of Abraham has much more to offer. Since its creation in 1908, the Plains of Abraham has become a place to enjoy a picnic, take a nature hike or become part of an archeological expedition. You can register your child for special activities or allow them to wander the 108 hectares of land. There is a variety of things to occupy you and your family's time.
A popular spot is the Joan of Arc Gardens. This is the 1938 product of landscape designer, Louis Perron. It consists of 150 species of perennial plants, bulbs and annuals. If you are interested in a species, you can even obtain information on its particular requirements. The Info-Plant computerized terminal provides you free of charge with the data. If you wish to print off a copy, do so for a small fee.
Visitors can also stroll a nature path along the cliffs or listen to a concert at the Edwin-Bélanger Bandstand. There are plenty of places to picnic, including Des Braves Park. Climb up to the Grey Terrace for a view of the river below or spend some time in the Arboretum.
