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To differentiate between Quebec the city and Quebec the province, the city is referred to as Quebec City. In French, the province is called le Québec ("in Quebec" = au Québec) while the city is simply Québec without the le. "In Quebec City" is à Québec. Officially, the city is called Québec (with an acute accent, no "city") by both the provincial and federal governments in both languages.
The mayor of Quebec City is Jean-Paul L'Allier.
The city is perched on Cap Diamant, a large rock outcropping at the edge of the Saint Lawrence River, whose topography encouraged its defensive use. The thinness of the strait between Quebec City and Lévis on the opposite shore give the city and consequently the province its name (kebek is an Algonquian word for "narrow passage").
Quebec City's skyline is dominated by the massive Château Frontenac hotel, perched on top of Cap Diamant. The hotel is on the Terrasse Dufferin, a walkway along the edge of the cliff, offering beautiful views of the Saint Lawrence.
Near the Château Frontenac is Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral, see of the Archbishop of Quebec. It is the first cathedral and first basilicaThe Latin word, basilica (derived from Greek basilike sto royal stoa , was originally used to describe a Roman public building (as in Greece, mainly a tribunal), usually located at the centre of a Roman town ( Forum). In Hellenistic cities, public basilic to have been built in the New World, and is the primateFor the use of the word "primate" in biology, see primate (biology). A primate in the Western Church is an archbishop or bishop who has authority not just over the bishops of his own province, as a Metropolitan does, but over a number of provinces, such a church of Canada.
The Terrasse Dufferin leads toward the nearby Plains of Abraham, site of the battle in which the BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly took Quebec from FranceThe French Republic or France ( French: Republique francaise or France is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents., and La Citadelle, a Canadian Forces installation and vice-regal residence. The National AssemblyThe National Assembly is the legislative body of the Canadian province of Quebec. It operates in a fashion similar to that of other British-style parliamentary systems. Since the abolition of the Legislative Council (an "upper house") in 1968, the Nationa, Quebec's provincial legislature, is also near the Citadelle.
The Upper Town is linked by stairways and a funicular to the Lower Town, which includes such sites as the ancient Notre Dame des Victoires church, the historical Petit Champlain district, the port, and the Musée de la Civilisation.
Laval University is located in the western end of the city. Founded by the Jesuits one year before Harvard University, Laval was the first university in North America. The central campus of the Université du Québec is also located in Quebec City.Quebec City is known for its Winter Carnival and for its Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations.
Tourist attractions located near Quebec City include Montmorency Falls and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.