Touring La Citadelle de Québec

The biggest military base in North America, La Citadelle was built by the British from 1820-1831  on Cape Diamond, the city’s highest point. La Citadelle was built to control who had access to the northern parts of Canada and to protect Quebec from future American invasions, after the invasion during the War of 1812.  La Citadelle, which is the Italian word for “city”, is star-shaped, with “bashtons” (pointy tips of the star) and Curtain walls.  Citadelle has been inhabited by the military since 1693 and has been the home of the Royal 22e Régiment since 1920.

Today, La Citadelle is still an active military base, although many of the 2,000 soldiers choose to stay at CFB Valcartier, which is north of Québec. La Citadelle has also been the second official home (the first being in Ottawa) and office of Canada’s governor general since 1872.  It is recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada and is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.  Visitors are welcome to explore some parts of the grounds independently and may attend a guided tour of several building of La Citadelle.

Note: The famous Changing of the Guard ceremony, which featured members of the 22nd Regiment changing duties after 24 hours of watch at the Citadelle’s entrance, has been replaced by a daily (Wednesday through Sunday) “Music in Red” musical performance at 10am by the Royal 22nd Regiment Band. There are plans to eventually reinstate the public Changing of the Guard ceremony- check here for up to date information. 

Travel Tips:

Ten Stops on the Tour of La Citadelle

1. Salute the display of two flags: the Regimental Camp flag and the Canadian Armed Forces flag. 
2. Note the names of countries and battles displayed on the corners of the buildings- they represent battle honors given to the Royal 22e Régiment in engagements since World War I. 
3. See the Sherman emergent tank used in World War II and the Korean War, a gift from the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada to the Royal 22e Régiment  
4. Check out the collection of muskets and cannons in the GunPowder Magazine Building, which now houses indoor museum exhibits. Follow the timeline of French Canadian military engagement, and watch the short video that reenacts the firing of a musket.
5. Watch your head and duck traveling down the long tunnel to the Shooting Gallery.

6. Look at the crest outside the Old Hospital, now used as administrative offices. The crest includes the golden beaver (Canadian mascot), the British Crown, and the motto Je Me Souviens, “I Remember.”
7. See the famous Chateau Frontenac in the near distance from the edge of the fortress, 100 meters high. The view also includes the St. Lawrence River and L’Île d’Orléans.
8. Walk through the Old Military Prison, where soldiers who committed petty crimes (most often drunkenness) were imprisoned. Today, the first floor houses indoor exhibits showcasing various uniforms and medals, and visits from Queen Elizabeth and the royal family. 
9. Learn about the regiment mascot, Batisse. Legend has it the King of Persia gave Queen Victoria two goals as a gift in 1840, which became the regiment pet. The regiment has had a Batisse mascot who participates in all major events ever since, and a goat is even featured on the Citadelle logo. 
10. Pay honor at the memorial/ saluting area. Officers must salute the statues of the only three soldiers to earn the Victoria Cross honor (two WWI soldiers earned it posthumously and one WWII soldier earned it while still alive.)

Be sure to leave time to explore the indoor museum exhibits before or after the fortress tour. Make sure kids grab a Find and Seek activity booklet to complete. There are also hands-on exhibits, the permanent “Je me souviens” exhibit, the opportunity to dress in uniform, and an Honour and Memory exhibit, which features over 300 medals and decorations of Régiment members and their biographies.

Looking for other adventures in Québec? Check out our posts featuring the Musée de la Civilisation, the Morrin Centre, Le Monastère Des Augustines, the Assemblée Nationale du Québec, the Plains of Abraham Museum, and the Auberge Saint Antoine hotel. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Disclosure: Our family was given a media pass to tour the Citadelle; all opinions expressed are my own.