North America · Canada · Quebec
Citadelle of Quebec
The story
History of Citadelle of Quebec
A star-shaped fortress on the cliffs above the St Lawrence, still an active military post and the official residence of the governor general.
Canada · Quebec · Rodriguesan
- Built
- 1820–1850
- Era
- Revival
- Style
- Rodriguesan
- Country
- Canada
- Region
- Quebec
- UNESCO
- —
- Coordinates
- 46.807, -71.205
In depth
The fuller history
Cap Diamant's strategic value was identified by Samuel de Champlain in 1608 and led him to found Quebec City at the base of the escarpment. The promontory was practically insurmountable and thus the only side of the settlement ever to be heavily fortified was the west, the only one not naturally protected by the hill.
The fort is an uneven star shaped citadel and comprises four bastions and three straight curtain walls, all constructed with locally quarried sandstone. Within its walls are 24 buildings constructed mostly of grey cut stone.
Building 1, the Former Hospital Administration Building, is the principal structure in Mann's Bastion. It is a two-storey, rectangular, symmetrical stone structure with a hipped-roof pierced by two brick chimneys. The west-facing façade features restrained decorative detailing of pilasters supporting a flat cornice along the length of the five-bay façade. Loopholes are visible on the second floor on both sides of the building. The rear elevation facing into the bastion is functional and plain in appearance.
Key dates
- 1608Cap Diamant's strategic value was identified by Samuel de Champlain in 1608 and led him to found Quebec City at the base of the escarpment.
- 1763The first British lieutenant governor of Quebec, General James Murray, saw the weakness of Quebec City's defences (indeed, Murray's post existed precisely because the British had conquered Quebec City four years before Murray's…
- 1812The ramparts around the Upper Town cliff and four martello towers (still extant) on the Plains of Abraham were completed before 1812.
- 1842Constructed in 1842, it is a two-storey rectangular stone structure with a hipped roof pierced by three brick chimneys.
- 1867After Canadian Confederation in 1867, Canada became responsible for its own defence; the British departed the Citadelle in 1871.
- 1976These, however, were, on 2 February 1976, destroyed by fire and the other rooms of the residence suffered smoke and water damage.
Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.
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