{"id":6898,"date":"2025-06-03T07:32:34","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T11:32:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/?p=6898"},"modified":"2025-06-03T07:32:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T11:32:34","slug":"passages-to-the-past-a-look-at-old-quebecs-gates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/focus\/passages-to-the-past-a-look-at-old-quebecs-gates\/","title":{"rendered":"Passages to the Past: A Look at Old Quebec&#8217;s Gates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Old Qu\u00e9bec is a city rich in history and architecture, and its gates are a testament to its past. From the strong and thick gates that once protected the city, to the ornate structures that now serve as romantic symbols, the gates of Old Quebec have played a vital role in the city&#8217;s history. In this article, we will take a journey through time and explore the history, purpose, and evolution of Old Quebec&#8217;s gates, delving into the stories behind the gates that no longer exist and the ones that still stand today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Evolution of Old Quebec&#8217;s Gates: From Defense to Decoration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Quebec City was founded in 1608 by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographi.ca\/en\/bio\/champlain_samuel_de_1E.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Samuel de Champlain<\/a> as a fur trading post. At the time, the post had no proper fortifications and relied on its location and the strength of the post itself to protect its valuable trading goods.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"807\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-villeneuve-belingue-quebec-city-1685-807x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-villeneuve-belingue-quebec-city-1685-807x1024.jpeg 807w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-villeneuve-belingue-quebec-city-1685-236x300.jpeg 236w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-villeneuve-belingue-quebec-city-1685-768x974.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-villeneuve-belingue-quebec-city-1685.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 807px) 100vw, 807px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Map of Qu\u00e9bec City back to 1685, by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographi.ca\/en\/bio\/villeneuve_robert_de_1F.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert de Villeneuve<\/a>. Qu\u00e9bec City is not a walled city yet, there&#8217;s no gates on St Louis street (A), St Jean street (B), C\u00f4te du Palais (C), C\u00f4te de la Canoterie (D), and C\u00f4te de la Montagne (E). The Ch\u00e2teau St Louis (F) is the only fortified place at the time. Five years later Governor Frontenac built a temporary palissade. Red line: edge of the cliff. Blue line: shoreline at high tide. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3121088\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protecting the town against the British<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t until 1690, under the governorship of Louis de Buade de Frontenac, that a temporary palisade was built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the threat of the British in New France grew, the need for proper fortifications able to withstand cannon fire became increasingly pressing. In the 1690s and again in the first half of the 1700s, French authorities began building thick walls spanning the entire width of the U-shaped cliff, effectively enclosing the vulnerable plateau within a protective barrier. Gates have been built to control access in and out of the city and batteries to protect the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"766\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-bellin-quebec-city-1700s.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-bellin-quebec-city-1700s.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-bellin-quebec-city-1700s-300x224.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-bellin-quebec-city-1700s-768x575.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Map of Qu\u00e9bec City back to the 1740s (published in 1744), by Jacques Nicolas Bellin. We can see the main wall made of dirt and wood designed by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographi.ca\/en\/bio\/dubois_berthelot_de_beaucours_josue_3E.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Josu\u00e9 Dubois Berthelot de Beaucours<\/a> (<em>Vielle Enceinte<\/em> written on the map) and the unfinished construction of the new stone wall, by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographi.ca\/en\/bio\/levasseur_de_nere_jacques_2F.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jacques Levasseur de N\u00e9r\u00e9<\/a>. The Saint-Louis (A) and Saint-Jean (B) Gates of Beaucours are the first gates to defend the city, all built in 1693. The C\u00f4te du Palais (C), C\u00f4te de la Canoterie (D) and C\u00f4te de la Montagne (D) don&#8217;t have any permanent gates yet. The Ch\u00e2teau St Louis (F) is now a fort inside the walled city. Red line: edge of the cliff. Blue line: shoreline at high tide. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3121192\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In the Lower Town, now known as Petit Champlain and Old Port, the area was not heavily fortified at the time, except with batteries. It was seen as challenging for enemies to disembark and too small to maneuver large numbers of troops to reach the Upper Town. The narrow passages in the cliff are also natural obstacles in their own right. As a result, the French did not feel the need to allocate resources towards building permament gates in that area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These gates were designed for practicality, with little embellishment, and were narrow to facilitate closing for protection. They had a guardhouse (<em>corps de garde<\/em>) above or nearby. It is an essential feature for the soldiers, particularly during the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Posterns are secondary gates that are smaller and less heavily fortified, used for flanking an enemy near a main gate or discreetly exiting the walled city.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"890\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-jefferys-quebec-city-1759.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-jefferys-quebec-city-1759.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-jefferys-quebec-city-1759-300x261.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-jefferys-quebec-city-1759-768x668.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Map of Qu\u00e9bec City back to 1759, by Thomas Jefferys. We see the fortifications British had to deal with during the siege. Most of what we see has been designed mostly in the 1740s by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographi.ca\/en\/bio\/chaussegros_de_lery_gaspard_joseph_1682_1756_3F.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de L\u00e9ry<\/a> who used what Levasseur de N\u00e9r\u00e9 started (<em>i, b, g<\/em>). Notice the sparse of buildings on the left side of the wall, situated along the main roads. Chaussegros de L\u00e9ry rebuilt the Saint-Louis (A), and Saint-Jean (B) Gates. He built the first Palais Gates (C). C\u00f4te de la Canoterie (D) and C\u00f4te de la Montagne (E) still don&#8217;t have any permanent gates yet. The Ch\u00e2teau Saint-Louis was used by the French governors of New France until the British took the city in 1759. Red line: edge of the cliff. Blue line: shoreline at high tide. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/2244634\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In the 1760s, France lost the Seven Years War (also known as the French &amp; Indian War, and The Conquest) and was forced to cede Canada to the British Crown. The fortifications were briefly abandoned for a period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protecting the city against the Americans<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to the failed attempt by Benedict Arnold to capture Quebec City in 1775-1776 and recognizing the ongoing threat from the Americans, the British chose to retain, upgrade and expand the city&#8217;s defensive network, which included fortifications above the cliff with new gates, the construction of the Citadel a few years after the War of 1812 and more.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"886\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-sowter-quebec-city-1816.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-sowter-quebec-city-1816.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-sowter-quebec-city-1816-300x260.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-sowter-quebec-city-1816-768x665.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Map of Qu\u00e9bec City back to 1816, by T.W.E. Sowter. British kept the French gates St Louis (A), St Jean (B) and du Palais (C). Following the failed attempt by Arnold and Montgomery to attack the city from the Lower Town, the British expanded the fortifications above the cliff and added the Hope Gate (D) at the C\u00f4te de la Canoterie and the Prescott Gate (E) at C\u00f4te de la Montagne. Both had guardhouses. The Ch\u00e2teau St Louis (F), still standing, is used by the British authorities. Red line: edge of the cliff. Blue line: shoreline at high tide. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/4488227\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As the city grew in the 1800s, pressure from the people and merchants increased to open the old city to the new suburbs. British authorities tried to find a compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nevertheless, the gates were closed every night, effectively separating the Upper Town within the walls from both the Lower Town and the surrounding <em>faubourgs<\/em> (suburbs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protecting the charm of the city<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1867, Canada officially became an independent country and the British army left Canada and Qu\u00e9bec City. As the American threat decreased and artillery technology advanced, the old fortifications were considered obsolete and no longer necessary. Municipal authorities began demolishing the gates and parts of the main wall to accommodate the increasing traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, the Governor General of Canada at the time, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographi.ca\/en\/bio\/blackwood_frederick_temple_13E.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lord Dufferin<\/a>, convinced the city council to preserve the fortifications. In doing so, the city kept most of the wall and built new, larger gates that were designed for the traffic but not for defense, which now serve as iconic parts of Old Quebec&#8217;s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"772\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-maw-quebec-city-1932.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-maw-quebec-city-1932.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-maw-quebec-city-1932-300x226.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/carte-map-maw-quebec-city-1932-768x579.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Map of Qu\u00e9bec City back to 1932, by Maw. The citadel, currently in operation, has its own gate, the Dalhousie Gate (A). The St Louis Gate (B) has been rebuilt as a fancy structure, similar to the Kent Gate (C) which was built at a location where a postern previously existed. The St Jean Gate (D) of 1863 is no longer standing, as the St Jean street now goes through the open wall. Some parts of the wall have been destroyed (E) to connect McMahon and Richelieu streets. Other gates, such as those on C\u00f4te du Palais (F), C\u00f4te de la Canoterie (G) and C\u00f4te de la Montagne (H) have also been destroyed. The Ch\u00e2teau St Louis burned down about a century before this map was created. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/2244062\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The ornate, romantic gates have now tiny fake decorative guardhouses, which now serve primarily as small storage rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gone but not Forgotten: The Demolished Gates of Old Quebec<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the fortifications expanded or their purpose changed over time, many gates have been destroyed. Now, only old paintings and photographs remain as a record of their existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saint-Louis Gates (1690s-1740s-1870s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The first Saint-Louis Gate was built in the 1690s by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographi.ca\/en\/bio\/le_rouge_jean_2F.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jean Le Rouge<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographi.ca\/en\/bio\/janson_dominique_3F.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pierre Janson dit Lapalme<\/a>. It was part of the main wall of the time, which did not include the hill where the citadel now stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To include this higher ground within the city wall, Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de L\u00e9ry built a new wall in the mid 1740s, amid increasing tension between the French and British empires. The previous fortifications and gates were demolished and new ones were constructed closer to the Plains of Abraham, significantly expanding the size of the Upper Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-inside-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-inside-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-inside-quebec-city-300x203.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-inside-quebec-city-768x519.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The back of the St Louis Gate, just before its demolition, by L\u00e9once Cuvelier<a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3269985\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"562\" height=\"631\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-livernois-1870-outside-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-livernois-1870-outside-quebec-city.jpg 562w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-livernois-1870-outside-quebec-city-267x300.jpg 267w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Picture of the front of the St Louis Gate, taken in 1871. From the Livernois archives collection. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3116138\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This second French Saint-Louis Gate, however, was torn down in 1871 as it was considered too narrow and outdated to accommodate the growing traffic demands.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"807\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-demolition-1871-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-demolition-1871-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-demolition-1871-quebec-city-300x236.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-demolition-1871-quebec-city-768x605.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Painting by L\u00e9once Cuvelier that depicts the demolition of the Saint-Louis Gate and the fortifications in front of it in 1871. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3269978\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saint-Jean Gates (1690s-1740s-1860s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The first Saint-Jean Gate has a similar timeline as the Saint-Louis Gate: it was first built in the 1690s, destroyed and rebuilt at a new location in the 1740s, following the expansion of the fortifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"836\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-map-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-map-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-map-quebec-city-300x245.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-map-quebec-city-768x627.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of 1816 Sowter&#8217;s map showing two posterns. This is where the wall has been later destroyed to expand Dauphine (A) and St Hilaire (C) (now McMahon) streets outside the walled city. The St Jean Gate (B) is on the main street.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"636\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-russell-1850s-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-russell-1850s-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-russell-1850s-quebec-city-300x186.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-russell-1850s-quebec-city-768x477.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Illustration of the St Jean Gate, by Alexander Jamieson Russell, with part of the main wall built by Chaussegros de L\u00e9ry and the chapel of the J\u00e9suites in the background. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3109732\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there is a major difference: the original French gate was destroyed in 1863, years before the departure of the British army. The reason for this decision by the authorities was quite simple: Saint-Jean street was a major commercial artery and the gate was too narrow for the growing traffic. The compromise reached was to destroy the restricting French gate and build a new one with four narrow paths: two for pedestrians and two for horse-drawn carriages.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"694\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-livernois-1871-outside-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-livernois-1871-outside-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-livernois-1871-outside-quebec-city-300x203.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-livernois-1871-outside-quebec-city-768x521.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Picture taken in the 1870s, showing the front of the St Jean\/St John Gate built in 1867. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3472688\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>With the arrival of the tramway in 1897, this gate has also been destroyed. Today, parts of it can still be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"691\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-tramway-rue-st-jean-vers-1930-quebec-city-1024x691.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-tramway-rue-st-jean-vers-1930-quebec-city-1024x691.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-tramway-rue-st-jean-vers-1930-quebec-city-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-tramway-rue-st-jean-vers-1930-quebec-city-768x518.jpg 768w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-tramway-rue-st-jean-vers-1930-quebec-city.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tramway in the 1930s heading to Old Qu\u00e9bec, from Place d&#8217;Youville. The wall in the background is the only remnant of the former St Jean Gate built in 1863 and demolished in 1897. The roofs of the YMCA (now Le Diamant) and the Capitole theater can also be seen in the background. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/2990887\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Palais Gates (1740s-1830s-1870s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The first Palais Gate (also know as Saint-Nicolas Gate) has been built in the 1740s by Chaussegros de L\u00e9ry. The name refers to the <em>Palais de l&#8217;Intendant<\/em> (palace of the administrator of the colony). <a href=\"http:\/\/central.bac-lac.gc.ca\/.redirect?app=fonandcol&amp;id=2838142&amp;lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">James Pattison Cockburn painted it<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a major entrance gate connecting the Upper Town to the growing Lower Town with its port and St Roch <em>faubourg<\/em> , the narrow French gate has been replaced by a new and bigger gate in the 1830s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"786\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-palais-gate-inside-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-palais-gate-inside-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-palais-gate-inside-quebec-city-300x230.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-palais-gate-inside-quebec-city-768x590.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Picture taken in the 1870s, from the Livernois archive collection. It shows the back of the Palais Gate. Look at the partially buried cannons placed here to protect the corners from the wheels of horse-drawn carriages. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3113539\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"915\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-palais-gate-outside-quebec-city-915x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-palais-gate-outside-quebec-city-915x1024.jpeg 915w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-palais-gate-outside-quebec-city-268x300.jpeg 268w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-palais-gate-outside-quebec-city-768x860.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-palais-gate-outside-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 915px) 100vw, 915px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Picture taken in the 1870s, from the Livernois archive collection. It shows the front of the Palais gate. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3116223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Nevertheless, this second gate was destroyed in the early 1870s after the British army left, and was not replaced. The new layout of the streets in this area, with a new road on the North-East, made it impossible to build a large gate again and accommodate large vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hope Gate (1780s-1870s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The British improved and expanded the fortifications above the cliff, following the failed attempt by Benedict Arnold to capture the city in 1775-1776. The Hope Gate, named after the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec at the time, Henry Hope, was built as part of these efforts in 1786. The gate was destroyed in 1871.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:64%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-livernois-1870-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-livernois-1870-quebec-city.jpg 766w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-livernois-1870-quebec-city-300x235.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Guardhouse, Hope Gate and C\u00f4te de la Canoterie during winter, around 1870. Picture from the Livernois archives collection. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3115670\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:36%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"742\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-map-quebec-city-742x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7370\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-map-quebec-city-742x1024.jpeg 742w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-map-quebec-city-217x300.jpeg 217w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-map-quebec-city-768x1061.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-map-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of 1816 Sowter&#8217;s map. The natural paths of the C\u00f4te de la Canoterie (A) and C\u00f4te du Colonel-Dambourg\u00e8s (B) connect the shore to the Upper Town, now protected by the Hope Gate (C).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"837\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-outside-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-outside-quebec-city.jpg 600w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-outside-quebec-city-215x300.jpg 215w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Front of the Hope Gate with Sainte-Famille street in the background. Picture taken in the 1870s. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3122110\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-bainsideck-1860s-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-bainsideck-1860s-quebec-city.jpg 600w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-hope-gate-bainsideck-1860s-quebec-city-300x285.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Back of the Hope Gate, back to the 1860s. Guardhouse on the right. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3122109\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prescott Gate (1790s-1870s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>C\u00f4te de la Montagne is a major natural path that connects the Lower and Upper Towns. During the unsuccessful attempt by Generals Arnold and Montgomery to capture the city, the plan was actually to meet at this strategic location and take the Ch\u00e2teau Saint-Louis located above. Recognizing the importance of this steep street, the British decided to build a gate there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-livernois-1870-inside-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-livernois-1870-inside-quebec-city.jpg 760w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-livernois-1870-inside-quebec-city-300x237.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Back of the Prescott Gate, with its guardhouse, in the 1870s. From the Livernois archives collection. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3116144\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"561\" height=\"670\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-livernois-1870-outside-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-livernois-1870-outside-quebec-city.jpg 561w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-livernois-1870-outside-quebec-city-251x300.jpg 251w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Front of the Prescott Gate, in the 1870s. Check the shooting slits for soldiers to safely shoot outside and the ladder to clean the chimney. Picture from the Livernois archives collection. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3116147\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1797, the Prescott Gate was built, named after the General Governor at the time, Robert Prescott. However, the gate was destroyed in 1871.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"959\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-map-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-map-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-map-quebec-city-300x281.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-prescott-gate-map-quebec-city-768x719.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of 1816 Sowter&#8217;s map, with the Ch\u00e2teau St Louis (A), the Prescott Gate (B) from 1797 on C\u00f4te de la Montagne (C).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Timeless Treasures: The Enduring Gates of Old Quebec<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The gates that can be seen today in Quebec City are relatively recent, from the 1820s to the 1980s. Some of these gates feature an ornate, fancy, visually striking design that is reminiscent of medieval architecture, but does not align with the historical reality of the fortifications and gates that existed before. These gates are more intended to convey a sense of nostalgia and romanticism rather than historical accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saint-Louis Gate (1870s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Lord Dufferin successfully persuaded the city to preserve its fortifications and led a project to build a new Saint-Louis Gate, which was designed to accommodate the growing traffic needs. This new gate, built in 1878 was not intended for defensive purposes, as the threat of attack no longer existed. The architectural style of the gate was heavily influenced by the romantic trend of the time, and features a medieval design that is not historically relevant for the time period in which Quebec City was founded, as there were no Europeans present in the area at that time. Nevertheless, this style and the Saint-Louis Gate itself have become integral parts of the city&#8217;s identity, contributing to Quebec City&#8217;s reputation as a beautiful, heritage-rich city with a romantic and old-fashioned charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-postcard-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-postcard-quebec-city.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-postcard-quebec-city-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-postcard-quebec-city-768x485.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Postcard from 1905 showing the Saint-Louis Gate built in 1878. This is the back of the gate and Grande-All\u00e9e is in the background. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3076616\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"545\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-1870s-gate-map-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-1870s-gate-map-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-1870s-gate-map-quebec-city-300x160.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-1870s-gate-map-quebec-city-768x409.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of 1932 Maw&#8217;s map. This Saint-Louis Gate (A) is the structure that can be seen and admired today. The last remaining integral gunpowder house (B) outside the citadel is still standing as well.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kent Gate (1870s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Around the same time as the construction of the Saint-Louis Gate, the Kent Gate was also built with a similar style. It was named after the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographi.ca\/en\/bio\/edward_augustus_5E.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Duke of Kent<\/a>, the father of Queen Victoria. This famous ruler of the British Empire sponsored its construction. Notably, this is the only romantic gate in the city that was built in an area where no gate previously existed, but a postern only. The wall in this location had previously been destroyed to open Dauphine street and provide access to the outside of the walled city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"571\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-1870s-gate-map-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-1870s-gate-map-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-1870s-gate-map-quebec-city-300x167.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-1870s-gate-map-quebec-city-768x428.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of 1932 Maw&#8217;s map. The Kent Gate (A) still stands today. The St Jean Gate built in 1863 has been demolished, making way for the tramway and traffic on St Jean street (B), but the St Jean Gate of 1939 had not been built yet. The Richelieu street, located outside the wall, is connected to McMahon street (formerly St Hilaire street), where the wall and a postern once stood (C). <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-gate-postcard-quebec-city-1024x633.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7376\" width=\"394\" height=\"243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-gate-postcard-quebec-city-1024x633.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-gate-postcard-quebec-city-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-gate-postcard-quebec-city-768x475.jpg 768w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-gate-postcard-quebec-city-1536x949.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-kent-gate-postcard-quebec-city.jpg 1612w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The postcard from 1910 shows the front of the Kent Gate, which was built in 1878. The tower on the right is part of the gate, while the spire in the middle belongs to the chapel of the Jesuits. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3076640\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saint-Jean Gate (1930s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The previous Saint-Jean Gate was destroyed in 1897 to make way for the tramway, nearly two decades after the construction of the wider and fancy Saint-Louis and Kent Gates. By this time, Lord Dufferin, who had been instrumental in promoting the preservation and embellishment of the fortifications, was no longer in office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, during the 1930s and the Great Depression, priorities shifted and many public projects were undertaken across North America to provide employment opportunities for the unemployed. The construction of the Saint-Jean Gate was among these projects and it was built in 1939. The style of the gate is reminiscent of the Saint-Louis and Kent Gates, but with distinct differences in the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:37%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"502\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-le-devoir-27-septembre-1938-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-le-devoir-27-septembre-1938-quebec-city.jpeg 502w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-le-devoir-27-septembre-1938-quebec-city-232x300.jpeg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 502px) 100vw, 502px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Newspaper Le Devoir, <br>September 27th, 1938. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/2803000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:63%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"777\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-1941-outside-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-1941-outside-quebec-city.jpg 777w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-1941-outside-quebec-city-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-jean-gate-1941-outside-quebec-city-768x591.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 777px) 100vw, 777px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The St Jean gate in 1941, still standing today. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3033715\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prescott Gate (1980s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A beautiful, old-fashioned gate could have replaced the former Prescott Gate, but unfortunately, funds were limited. It wasn&#8217;t until 1983 that a footbridge was built roughly in its place, designed by Paul Gauthier, Gilles Guit\u00e9, and Jean-Marie Roy and ordered by Parks Canada. The bridge is made of concrete and covered with stones. Just uphill from the footbridge, as a marker indicating the exact location of the previous gate, there&#8217;s a date carved into the wall: &#8220;1815&#8221;, without any explanation. It&#8217;s in memory of the year Robert Prescott died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dalhousie Gate (1820s)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, among all these gates, which are no longer useful to defend anything, there is one exception: the Dalhousie Gate. This is the gate that gives access to the citadel, a fortress that is still in operation, built by the British in the 1820s under the command of George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie, General Governor of Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-dalhousie-gate-outside-quebec-city.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-dalhousie-gate-outside-quebec-city.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-dalhousie-gate-outside-quebec-city-300x154.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-dalhousie-gate-outside-quebec-city-768x393.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Illustration of the citadel, by Alexander Jamieson Russell, depicting the exterior of the Dalhousie Gate. Built in the 1820s, it remains standing today, making it the oldest surviving gate in Quebec City. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/1958050\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"697\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-dalhousie-gate-inside-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7362\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-dalhousie-gate-inside-quebec-city.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-dalhousie-gate-inside-quebec-city-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-dalhousie-gate-inside-quebec-city-768x523.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rear view of the Dalhousie Gate, taken in the 1940s. Note the presence of two partially buried cannons, which were strategically placed to protect the corners from the wheels of horse-drawn carriages. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3121935?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The citadel is now obsolete but the gate itself has never faced pressure from merchants or traffic. Unlike the other defensive gates mentioned earlier, it was unnecessary to destroy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beyond Defense: The Role of Gates in Defining Quebec City&#8217;s Identity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the only fortified city in North America, Quebec City&#8217;s gates have become an integral part of its identity. They are prominently featured in the logos of local businesses, used by the tourism office to attract visitors, and even incorporated into the imagery of local sports teams, like the <em>Remparts<\/em>. The gates serve as a symbol of the city&#8217;s rich history and cultural heritage and are deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of the community. They are not only a physical representation of the city&#8217;s past but also a cultural touchstone that contributes to the unique identity of Quebec City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:65%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"754\" height=\"495\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/replique-porte-palais-carnaval-1894-quebec-city.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7410\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/replique-porte-palais-carnaval-1894-quebec-city.jpg 754w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/replique-porte-palais-carnaval-1894-quebec-city-300x197.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 754px) 100vw, 754px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Replica of the Palais gate, entirely made of ice, during the Winter Carnival of 1894. Located at the intersection of Notre-Dame Street and C\u00f4te de la Montagne in the Lower Town, it is from the Livernois archive collection. <a href=\"https:\/\/numerique.banq.qc.ca\/patrimoine\/details\/52327\/3116301\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BANQ<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:35%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/remparts-quebec.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"260\" height=\"260\" src=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/remparts-quebec.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/remparts-quebec.jpeg 260w, https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/remparts-quebec-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 260px) 100vw, 260px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Experience the Legacy of Old Quebec&#8217;s Fortifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The only original defensive gate still standing today can be found at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lacitadelle.qc.ca\/en\/informations\/schedule-and-fees.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">citadel<\/a>, where guided tours are provided. The Saint-Louis, Kent, and Saint-Jean Gates are also worth admiring for their beautiful and picturesque old-fashioned style. They are a reminder of the bold vision of those who built them in the past. We owe much to their legacy today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We see some of the gates during our public tours, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/guided-tour\/old-quebec-from-pioneers-to-citizens\/\" data-type=\"guided-tour\" data-id=\"5310\">Old Quebec: From Pioneers to Citizens<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/guided-tour\/old-quebec-winter-walking-tour\/\" data-type=\"guided-tour\" data-id=\"5312\">Old Quebec: Winter Walking Tour<\/a>. Their full history is part of our <a href=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/guided-tour\/old-quebec-battles-sieges\/\" data-type=\"guided-tour\" data-id=\"5309\">public tour dedicated to military history and heritage<\/a>. Additionally, these gates can be included during a <a href=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/guided-tour\/old-quebec-private-walking-tour\/\" data-type=\"guided-tour\" data-id=\"5242\">personalized private tour of Old Quebec<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Experience history firsthand and discover the rich heritage of Quebec City&#8217;s gates on a guided tour. Immerse yourself in the past and uncover the stories behind these iconic structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Thank you to Simon Careau and Neil Schomaker for their help.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Old Qu\u00e9bec is a city rich in history and architecture, and its gates are a testament to its past. From the strong and thick gates that once protected the city, to the ornate structures that now serve as romantic symbols, the gates of Old Quebec have played a vital role in the city&#8217;s history. In&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/focus\/passages-to-the-past-a-look-at-old-quebecs-gates\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Passages to the Past: A Look at Old Quebec&#8217;s Gates<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7402,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","neve_meta_reading_time":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[107],"tags":[502,503,500,499,501,498,497],"class_list":["post-6898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-focus","tag-dalhousie-gate","tag-hope-gate","tag-kent-gate","tag-palais-gate","tag-prescott-gate","tag-saint-jean-gate","tag-saint-louis-gate"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-demolition-1871-quebec-city.jpeg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/porte-st-louis-gate-cuvelier-demolition-1871-quebec-city.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Xavier","author_link":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/author\/xavier\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6898"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6898\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7545,"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6898\/revisions\/7545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toursaccolade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}