Champs-de-Bataille park and national historic site, commonly known as
Les Plaines d'Abraham, downtown Québec, is a great urban park that deserves to be mentioned here. 95 hectares of woods, gardens and plains + the Citadel on a gently rolling land, surrounded by the finest neighbourhoods and historic domains of the city (Montcalm, Bois-de-Coulonge, Colline parlementaire, Sillery...)
Charles Dickens once wrote about the Plains of Abraham and Québec :
« The impression made upon the visitor by this Gibraltar of America: its giddy heights; its citadel suspended as it were in the air; its picturesque steep streets and frowning gateways; and the splendid views which burst upon the eye at every turn: is at once unique and lasting. [...] The dangerous precipice along whose rocky front Wolfe and his brave companions climbed to glory; the Plains of Abraham where he received his mortal wound; the fortress so chivalrously defended by Montcalm; and his soldier's grave, dug for him while yet alive by the bursting of a shell; are not the least among them among the gallant incidents of history. That is a noble Monument too and worthy of two great nations which perpetuates the memory of both brave generals and on which their names are jointly written. »
It's undoubtedly the most significative urban park in the country for everything it symbolizes. It was first planned to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Québec city, and was then imagined as a way to commemorate the French and British soldiers who fought, at this very place, the crucial battle that sealed the fate of our country on Septembre 13, 1759. It's a living monument to peace. The park was designed by Frederick G. Todd, the very first canadian landscape architect and student of F. L. Olmstead, who designed Mont-Royal and Central parks. The plan was realized on a 50 year span, starting in novembre 1909.
Vue aérienne de la foule - Billy Joel by
Festival d'été de Québec, sur Flickr
Source : Google Maps.