It’s not the largest city in Quebec, but it’s in many ways one of Canada’s most historically important: founded in 1608, Quebec City is one of North America’s oldest European settlements, a walled fortress situated at a strategic point along the Saint Lawrence River, one of New France’s—and eventually Canada’s—most important shipping and trade routes. In 1759, the medieval town fell into the hands of the British after a months-long siege, but the city’s French Canadian tradition survived. Upon Canada’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1869, Quebec City remained the capital of the French Canadian province, boasting its own National Assembly and a considerable number of federal rights that safeguard its unique heritage. Today it is a beautiful place to visit, a historic city that feels in many ways older than the great metropolises of Europe. See below for a sampling of photos from Quebec.