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LA
CITADELLE – FORTRESS
OF QUEBEC
Museum of the Royal 22e Regiment
It
has been called the Gibraltar of America, the largest fortification
built
by the British
on the North American Continent. The Citadelle of
Quebec City occupies a promontory at the
edge of the capital of Canada’s French speaking province. A maze
of stone walls up to 30 feet high backed by earth fill in a shape of
a four pointed star above the St Lawrence River. When Quebec City surrendered
to the British after the Battle
of the Plains of Abraham in 1759, there was no fortress in place
on the Cap Diamant hill, only a few earthwork defenses and intermittent
redoubts, over-run by the forces of British General James Wolfe (see
Musee du Fort). Following the War of 1812, the Govenor of Quebec decided
it was time the city had
a fortress and a plan was approved by the Duke of Wellington, Britain's
miltary brand name hero after defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. The Citadelle
of
Quebec City has served as the headquarters of the Canadian Royal 22nd
Regiment since 1920.
Construction
was begun in 1820 and not completed until 1832. The fortress covers
about 37 acres with defensive bastions of gray stone provided with
gun embrasures and
loopholes, dividing the approaches with musket and cannon cover, with
the steep cliffs of the St Lawrence to its back. Inside the walls of
the Citadelle remain several earlier buildings from its history. The
King’s Bastion from 1693, Officers Quarters in three separate buildings,
the Residence of the Governor General of Canada and the Officers Mess
of the Royal 22e Regiment, spotted with souvenirs of the regiment's war
service, a carriage cannon from WWI and Sherman Tank from the Second
World War.
The Citadelle
itself played a part in World War II, despite its long distance from
the battlefields of Europe. In 1943 and 1944, the fortress hosted
the secret conferences of the allied U.S. and British leaders, where
Churchill, Roosevelt and Canada’s Mackensie King sat with their
top generals to plan the Normandy Invasions and plans for the end of
the war. The dignitaries remained within the walls of the fort for security
and
privacy
but their
staffs
stayed at the luxurious Chateau Frontenac Hotel visible beyond the walls
in view over the city.
Museum of the 22e Regiment
The Museum
of the 22e Regiment (which by law must be pronounced in French) was
established
at the Citadelle in 1950 in a building built in 1842
as a British military prison, with its cells now holdings parts of the
collection. The museum features military uniforms, weapons from all periods, historical
documents,
miniatures
and an honor hall of medal winners. Among the holdings of historic weapons
at the Citadelle’s arms museum is one of the only remaining canons
from Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston at the commencement of the War of
Independence, which despite attempts to get it returned, short of another
war will likely remain in Canada. It can only be seen on a VIP tour until
a new exhibition space is completed.
Changing of the Guard
Every day
during the summer months, the main attraction of the Citadelle is the
tradition
of the Changing of the Guard. Marking the change of
personnel responsible for the security of the garrison and the governor’s
residence, much like the similar ceremony tourist attraction in London,
the Canadian version offers a colorful precision choreographed spectacle
of pomp, with inspection of the fur capped troops in red uniforms accompanied
by brass music from the regimental band, all observed by the regiments
official mascot the royal goat, Batisse. The goat became a tradition
when Queen Victoria presented all British army regiments with a goat
from the royal herd in 1844. The goat mascot was revived for the 22nd
Regiment in 1955.
Visiting the Citadelle
One
hour guided tours of the Citadelle are offered every day year round,
including
the regimental museum and other historic buildings including
the French powder magazine from 1750. The tours depart every 15 minutes
in summer and four times a day in winter. Tours in English are alternated
with tours in French. During the snowy cold days of winter (see Quebec
Winter Carnavale), one English tour a day is offered. VIP and student
group tours are available
by
reservation. The tours cost $10 for
adults, $9 for seniors and students, $5.50 for
youth 17 and under, with children under 7 free. The Changing of the Guard
ceremony is at 10am daily from June 24 to the first day of September
and Retreat at 7pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday from July 1 to the first
Monday in September. The tours or ceremonies can occasionally be curtailed
or called off due to military duty or bad weather. Entrance to the Citadelle
is through the Saint Louis Gate with a pedestrian tunnel. © Bargain
Travel West
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La
Citadelle
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CHATEAU
FRONTENAC
Guided
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