Quebec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region.The narrow width of the river as it enters the towns of Quebec and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec being the Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Quebec City is internationally known for its Summer Festival, Winter Carnival and the Château Frontenac, a historic hotel which dominates the city skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec (provincial parliament), the Musée national des beaux-arts du Quebec (National Museum of Fine Arts) and the Musee de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization) are found within or near Vieux-Quebec.
Among the tourist attractions near the city are Montmorency Falls and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in the town of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre.
Climate
Quebec City has a humid continental climate characterized by cold and snowy winters, warm and rather humid summers, and ample precipitation throughout the year. Quebec City is one of the snowiest cities in Canada (the mean annual snowfall is 384 cm) and is almost guaranteed a white Christmas. The prolonged winter season and ample snowfall led to the idea of establishing the Quebec Winter Carnival. The transitional seasons, spring and autumn, are rather short, although autumn produces spectacular foliage colors. The summer is the sunniest, and paradoxically, the wettest time of year.
French is the official language of the province of Quebec, though in the tourist areas of Quebec City English is widely spoken. It is also not unusual to find Spanish, German and Japanese spoken in many establishments in Vieux Quebec. Outside of the tourist areas, some knowledge of French is advisable, if not necessary. It should be noted that while older locals will struggle when attempting to sustain a discussion in English, most youths under 35 should be able to speak conversational English.