Monument Samuel-De Champlain: A Tribute to Quebec City's Founder

The Monument Samuel-De Champlain stands proudly on the Dufferin Terrace, a lasting tribute to the founder of Quebec City. Erected in 1898, this impressive monument is the work of sculptor Paul Chevré, a Titanic survivor, in collaboration with architect Paul-Alexandre Le Cardonnel. The monument marks the approximate site of the first Saint-Louis Château, built in 1647 by Champlain's successor, Charles Huault de Montmagny.The monument stands 16 meters high, with the bronze statue of Champlain measuring 4.25 meters. Champlain is depicted in his forties, holding a cavalier hat and rolled letters. The base is constructed from limestone sourced from the same quarry that supplied stone for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A bronze relief shows a woman, personifying Quebec City, recording historical events, with a child representing the science of navigation, and Victory with outstretched wings sounding a trumpet.Located next to the Château Frontenac, the monument overlooks the crowds of tourists and locals who gather in Old Québec. Visitors can enjoy street performances, photograph the Château Frontenac, stroll along the Dufferin Terrace, and take the funicular to the Petit-Champlain Quarter. The monument serves as a reminder of Champlain's legacy as an explorer, cartographer, and key figure in establishing French settlements in North America.