✽ Gardens in bloom
The gardens and flowering spaces of Quebec
Quebec is not just about its ramparts and architecture. The city also hides secret gardens, flowerbeds, and green walks that delight strollers from spring to autumn.
Spring awakening
When the city blooms
Every spring, Quebec is covered in flowers. Parks and gardens that seemed asleep under the snow reveal their colors with a generosity that surprises every year.
Spring in Old Quebec
The melting snow transforms Old Quebec into an impressionist painting. Tulips invade the flowerbeds of Terrasse Dufferin and Place d'Armes, creating a striking contrast with the gray stones of the ramparts. A fleeting spectacle that lasts only a few weeks.
The June explosion
June marks the peak of the gardens in Quebec. Roses, peonies, and lavenders take over from the tulips. The balconies of the Victorian houses in Petit-Champlain are covered with geraniums, and the fragrant alleys become true postcard scenes.
The gardens of Quebec
Must-visit addresses
From Upper Town to Lower Town, passing through residential neighborhoods, Quebec has several public gardens and green spaces worth visiting.
Bois-de-Coulonge Park
Former estate of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, this magnificent park in Sillery features formal gardens, lilac-lined walkways, and panoramic views of the river. In spring, the blooms follow one another for several weeks.
The Plains of Abraham in Bloom
In spring and summer, the Plains of Abraham are covered with wild plants and wildflowers. The park offers kilometers of informal botanical walks, among flowering apple trees, century-old lilacs, and wild herbs that scent the air.
Regional flower shows and botanical gardens
Near Quebec City, several botanical gardens and flower shows organize themed exhibitions and guided tours that allow you to discover Quebec's plant biodiversity in all its splendor.
Floral walks
In the alleys of Old Quebec
Old Quebec itself is a hanging garden. Its cobbled alleys, flowered facades, and hidden courtyards make for a living and surprising botanical walk.
Petit-Champlain Street in summer
In summer, Petit-Champlain Street transforms into a flower-lined alley. Overflowing window boxes, pergolas covered with clematis, and terraces adorned with aromatic plants create a Mediterranean atmosphere reminiscent of the alleys of an Italian city. The perfect setting for an espresso on the terrace.
The hidden courtyards
Behind the stone facades of Old Quebec hide courtyards arranged as private gardens. Some hotels and guesthouses open their gardens to visitors, revealing unexpected green havens just meters from tourist routes.
Île d'Orléans
The Quebec garden
Twenty minutes from Quebec City, Île d'Orléans is the region's blooming pantry. Flowering orchards, vegetable gardens, and strawberry fields: nature reigns supreme here.
The flowering orchards of May
In May, the apple trees of Île d'Orléans burst into a cloud of white and pink blossoms. The spectacle lasts barely two weeks, but it is breathtakingly beautiful. An excursion to combine with a tasting of local products and a return to Carrera Café for a well-deserved espresso.
Gardens and terroir
Seasonal pairings
Quebec’s gardens also nourish the tables. Aromatic herbs, edible flowers, and seasonal vegetables appear on the plates of the region’s best restaurants.
Aromatic herbs and coffee
Lavender, mint, and rosemary are increasingly featured in coffee preparations. A lavender latte or a rosemary espresso creates an unexpected bridge between garden and cup, a trend that Quebec baristas explore with creativity.
Flowers and gourmet boards
Edible flowers, nasturtiums, borage, and zucchini blossoms, now adorn the gourmet boards of Quebec’s best tables. At Carrera Café, seasonal products join our boards with Quebec cheeses and Charlevoix charcuterie.
★ Barista’s tip
After a walk in the Bois-de-Coulonge gardens or a flower-filled stroll in Old Quebec, nothing beats a frothy cappuccino on the terrace at Carrera Café. In summer, our iced latte with seasonal flavors is the ideal drink to extend the magic of a day among Quebec’s flowers.
Carrera Café
Flowered terrace in Petit-Champlain
In the heart of Quebec’s most flower-filled neighborhood, Carrera Café opens its terrace as soon as the first beautiful days arrive. A setting perfectly in tune with the beauty of the surrounding gardens.
The Petit-Champlain terrace
Open from May to October, our terrace is surrounded by carefully maintained planters. An espresso against a backdrop of flowers and century-old stones: that’s what Carrera Café offers you in the heart of Quebec’s most romantic neighborhood.
Plan your flower-filled visit
Sillery Gardens, Abraham Plains in bloom, flowered alleys of Petit-Champlain: Quebec is waiting for you. And so is Carrera Café.
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