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All Canada Québec Québec City Old Québec Funicular

Old Québec Funicular

This steep cable railway has been hoisting passengers in the heart of Québec City for over a century.

Québec City, Québec

Added By
Dawn Felsing
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Old Québec Funicular   Luke H. Gordon
Old Québec Funicular   Luke H. Gordon
From the street   Tony Webster
Descent / Ascent   Luke H. Gordon
Looking down the tracks   reivax
View from the top   3dpete
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
from the lower level   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
  Deniseg2266 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Since its founding at the beginning of the 17th century, Old Québec has been divided into the Lower Town (Basse-Ville) built along the the shore of the St. Lawrence River, and the Upper Town (Haute-Ville) built upon the bluffs overlooking the river valley. Thus, for centuries, travel between these two adjacent, central parts of the city was somewhat laborious. Then, finally, someone built a funicular.

The Old Québec Funicular (Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec) was built by a fellow named William Griffith in 1879. The dual-car railroad is 64 meters (210 feet) long and travels at a 45-degree angle, ultimately depositing passengers 59 meters (194 feet) above their starting point. The Lower Town terminus is located in the historic house of the famous explorer and fur trader Louis Jolliet. The ride offers commanding views of the Lower Town and the river below.

The funicular was originally built to use a water ballast propulsion system, whereby a water tank in the car at the top would be filled until it became heavy enough to start moving down the track, pulling up the counterbalanced car at the bottom. It was converted to an electric propulsion system in 1907. The structure was rebuilt in 1946 after sustaining damage due to a fire in 1945. Major aesthetic and technological renovations were undertaken in 1978 and 1998, respectively.

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Funicular Railroads Cliffs

Community Contributors

Added By

dfelsing47

Edited By

RHyzer, Auroratorealis, Gavin, Deniseg2266

  • RHyzer
  • Auroratorealis
  • Gavin
  • Deniseg2266

Published

August 23, 2016

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  • http://www.quebecregion.com/en/tourist-sites/funiculaire-du-vieux-quebec/
  • http://quebeccity101.com/funicular/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Quebec_Funicular
Old Québec Funicular
16 Rue du Petit Champlain
Québec City, Québec
Canada
46.812513, -71.203947
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

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Québec City, Québec

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Québec City

Québec City

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Places 11

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Québec City

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Places 11

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Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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