tour caleche quebec

Horse Carriage Ride

Want to see the city from a unique perspective? Take a romantic ride in one of Quebec City’s horse-drawn carriages. During the winter months, many of the same companies offer sleigh rides. Known as “une calèche” (singular) or “des calèches” (plural), a horse-drawn carriage ride will give you a personalized tour of at a relaxed pace. Prices are set per-carriage rather than per-person, starting around $65.00 (CAN), but the expense is worth it — the knowledgeable driver of your carriage will be able to give you an authentic, classic feel for the city. Carriage rides are offered during high tourist season, from June through September, and most drivers will pick you up directly from your hotel or another point of interest within Old Quebec. Most tours last about 45 minutes. The scenery alone is well worth the price!

Running rain or shine, there are three companies that offer carriage and sleigh rides in and one company that serves the nearby village of Lac Beauport.

Les Calèches du Vieux-Québec offers three different driver-narrated carriage tours as well as taxi services within the Lower and Upper Town. The “Frontenac” tour lasts 45 minutes, costs $80.00 (CAN) per carriage, and includes such famous landmarks as the Citadelle , the Joan of Arc Garden and Château Frontenac. The “Remparts” tour lasts 90 minutes, costs $150.00 (CAN) per carriage, and includes the entire “Frontenac” tour plus Dufferin Terrace , the rue Ste-Geneviève and the Governor’s Garden, among other famous sites. Finally, the “Champlain” tour lasts two hours, costs $220.00 (CAN) and includes the routes of both the “Frontenac” and “Remparts” tours, plus views of the Saint Lawrence River, the convent of the Ursulines, the Musée de la civilisation and many other beautiful attractions. Les Calèches du Vieux-Québec imposes a four-person maximum capacity per carriage, and reservations are required during the winter season (November through April).

Calèches Royales du Vieux-Québec offers 40-minute tours of the city, with the bilingual carriage driver serving as a knowledgeable tour guide for his passengers. Carriages can also be ordered to convey passengers directly from their hotel to any restaurant or tourist attraction. During Winter Carnival , Calèches Royales is the exclusive provider of sleigh rides for the festival.

Les Calèches de la Nouvelle-France’s 40-minute tour of Old Quebec takes passengers through the picturesque streets of the historic district, the green hills of Battlefields Park, and the Joan of Arc Garden. Carriage drivers are bilingual and eager to share the history of their city. Les Calèches de la Nouvelle-France is also happy to customize the carriage route according to passengers’ requests. The price for the 40-minute tour is based on the number of carriages, not the number of passengers, and each carriage costs $80.00 (CAN) (tax included). The company is also the exclusive carrier for many of the city’s leading hotels, and can be requested for taxi service from the hotel to wherever passengers wish to go. Carriages accommodate up to four adult passengers, and feature warm blankets for brisk autumn days and a retractable waterproof awning for rainy afternoons. Though Les Calèches de la Nouvelle-France employs up to 36 carriages and 50 drivers during the high season, which they present as a mark of their attentive and encompassing commitment to service, reservations are recommended.

Located in the town of Lac Beauport, just 15 minutes outside central Quebec City, Pourvoirie du Lac-Beauport is an all-purpose outfitter (that’s what “pourvoirie” means). In addition to 1-hour sleigh rides for one to eight passengers, Pourvoirie du Lac-Beauport offers many other summer and winter activities including horseback riding, fishing, dog sledding, snowshoeing and igloo camping. The sleigh ride, which costs $175.00 (CAN) for 1 hour, is conducted by an expert guide who will take passengers on a groomed trail through the beautiful winter woods of Quebec, all while pointing out the unique features of the natural surroundings

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My Father was fond of visiting Canada and winter sports. I remember a carriage ride when I was very young.

This sounds fun. I wonder how cold it is there while these carriage rides are going on. How warm would I need to dress?

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Home  / Citizens  / Heritage  / Old Quebec  / Points of interest  / Calèches

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The leisurely way to see historic québec..

Until the early 20th century, horse-drawn carts and carriages ruled the road. The power and speed of the automobile would gradually win out, but carriages would never completely disappear in Québec. Today, they are in the form of tourist calèches that enable visitors to see Old Québec at the more leisurely pace of another era.

Horses make their debut in New France

Intendant Jean Talon introduced horses to New France in the late 1660s by importing stallions and mares from France. From that point onwards, the horse population grew rapidly, and horses played an important role. They were the pride of the colonists, who used them mainly as a means of transportation.

Horse-drawn carts and carriages

During the French Regime, in Québec as elsewhere, the most common conveyance was the two-wheeled horse-drawn cart or carriage. In winter, various kinds of sleds were used instead. In the area around the port, the traffic of carts laden with merchandise could be very heavy. In the first half of the 19th century, public transportation between Québec and Montréal consisted of four-wheeled diligences pulled by teams of four Canadian horses (the breed introduced by Talon). In winter the wheels were replaced by long runners.

In Québec in 1860, there were 2,000 horses to haul goods. Carters were regulated—they had to have a license, and the speed limit was a jog trot. In addition, carts had to be parked in specially designated areas so as not to obstruct traffic. If you could afford it, you had a carriage horse. The number of houses in Old Québec with carriage gates leading to garages and stables behind gives you an idea of the number of residents who had their own horse-drawn vehicles. For the less well-heeled, there were horse taxis.

The transition to tourism

With the job of coachman on the wane in the 20th century, many who were qualified in that trade put their experience to use by offering tours to visitors. The general feeling, even for Quebec City residents, is that the historic section of town is more colourful and authentic with calèches on the road. This service, which used to be a practical necessity, grew naturally into a “tourism product” branded successfully as “nostalgia for the good old days.”

Little by little, the City introduced bylaws to regulate calèche operations and ensure quality and safety. Since contact with horses was increasingly rare in urban settings, calèche drivers had to be trained. The owners of guide companies required their employees to be knowledgeable about Old Québec and its history.

Today Québec is one of the only cities in the world where this kind of tour is available. These calèche rides make it possible to discover Old Québec at the leisurely pace of yesteryear.

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Just Sultan

Blast from the Past: Taking a Calèche Ride through Historical Quebec City with Calèches Quebec

What’s the best way to take in the rich historical and cultural heritage of a place like Old Quebec City? I believe you need to be transported back in time to enjoy the ancient customs; and there’s no better way to tour Quebec City than in a horse-driven carriage ride (Calèche en francais) offered by Calèches Quebec.

The New France Feels

Visiting Old Quebec City in a calèche is as romantic as the rich 400-year old legacy of the city itself. It is a mesmerizing experience that will give you deep insight into the culture, history, and values of Quebec City.

Quebec is often referred to as the First French City in North America . The calèche rides are a part of Quebec’s history and are one of the main tourist attractions as well.

An Unforgettably Cozy Experience

I took the “Upper Town Express” tour offered by Calèche Quebec. It was a 60 minutes calèche ride and the carriage was driven by a beautiful and vigorous horse named Billy. However, the best part of the tour was the well-informed tour guide who narrated the history of Old Quebec City in a fascinating manner and brought the structures around us to life with her captivating account of the old times. The calèche driver was nicely dressed and was good at handling the long ride while the calèche itself was well-maintained and properly equipped, even included a retractable roof and blanket to keep me warm.

An Incredible Journey through Time

Riding in a horse-driven carriage is insanely romantic. Your tour becomes even more exciting as you live through the art, culture, and history of a rich civilization like Old Quebec City. The Upper Town Express tour gives you a flavour of all the must-see places in Quebec City at the rhythmic pace of the horse.

Winding Accounts of History in the Quaint Cobblestone Streets

The Calèches Quebec guide walked us through the tourist attractions like Fairmont Chateau Frontenac, The Basilica-Notre-Dame Cathedral, Scottish Quarter Esplanade Park, St. Louis Street, and The Doors (Porte Saint Louis).

Apart from the usual attractions, the tour includes some peculiar sites like the concrete fortress, Morrin Center, where you could walk down a dark foyer to enter a cell in Quebec’s first prison. Next attraction along the way was Quebec City Hall, a picturesque building that allows you to step into Europe as you visit Canada. The tour also included a visit past the 18-storey Price Building which stands out due to its unique architecture as compared to the other lower buildings. The 286-feet high grey limestone façade is also referred to as the first skyscraper of Quebec.

A Unique Vantage Point to Discover Quebec

Other attractions along the calèche ride include the Latin Quarter which is a gastronomic treat for any foodie with the best, and relatively cheaper, restaurants and busy pubs. As the horse trots down the St. John Street where a string of boutiques, and historic structures entice the tourists. For the history buffs, the tour to Quebec’s Battlements is a unique opportunity to learn more about the wars over FUR and the British Colonial era. From Montcalm House, the tour goes to Quebec Seminary that was founded in 1663 to train the priests. Hotel-Dieu of Quebec is another feature of the Upper Town Express calèche ride and runs on to the spectacular Parc de la Chute‑Montmorency, a scenic beauty that stands between the cliffs and the rivers with its stunning waterfalls.

Other notable attractions of the Upper town Express include Quebec City Convention Center, Fontaine de Tourny, Grande Allée, Voltigeurs Armory of Québec, Place of the National Assembly, Joan of Arc Garden, Quebec Parliament Building, and Grande Allée Est. The tour continues to rhythmic clip-clop as your horse takes your calèche around the Old Port and Place Royale, Antique Street (St. Paul Street), Quebec Wall Street (Saint-Pierre Street), and Palace Station.

Once you have satiated your appetite for history and culture, The Upper Town Express calèche tour ends, in a befitting manner, at the Cartier Avenue-go to place for a nice bite in Quebec!

A Memorable Old Quebec City Tour

The ride was indeed a fun way to learn more about the history of Quebec City and the calèche ride provided a poignant backdrop against which I learned about the fascinating history of the city. To book your own Calèche adventure, please visit:  https://www.calechesquebec.com

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Caleches Quebec - Things You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Romantic guided carriage tour

Discover the rich history and jewels of Old Quebec and the upper town at the rhythmic pace of our horses. Sit back, relax and let your driver-guide tell you all about the more romantic aspects of this city where architecture, heritage, art and culture go hand in hand.

Winter break and exploration of new avenues

While we take advantage of the winter season to review and improve our service offering in Old Quebec, we would like to inform you that it will not be possible to book individual tours during this period. However, we remain at your entire disposal for any inquiries concerning group bookings or to plan your visits at a future date.

Explore the charm of winter with our sleigh tours

We’re also delighted to offer you a unique and magical experience: our sleigh rides, available exclusively during the winter months. Let yourself be carried away by Quebec City’s winter wonderland and discover our snow-covered landscapes from a different angle. If you are interested in this adventure or would like to organize a special event for a group, please contact us. We’re here to make your experience an unforgettable one.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or to discuss your specific requirements. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the beauty of Quebec winter with you.

Our mission

To provide the tourism industry in the Greater Quebec City Area with distinctive horse-drawn transport services while maintaining the highest quality standards and ensuring the utmost respect for horses.

Phone : 418 692-0068 Email : [email protected]

Calèche la Belle Epoque

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Faites de votre visite au Québec, une aventure inoubliable en parcourant la ville en calèche, nos guides sont des professionnels du Vieux-Québec, ils vous ferons revivre l'époque avec nos beaux chevaux

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