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The Best Spots for Photographing Château Frontenac

Last Updated on December 24, 2023 by Pamela MacNaughtan

A château designed by Bruce Price as part of a series of luxury château-style hotels (Banff Springs Hotel, Château Lake Louise) by the Canadian Pacific Railway company, Château Frontenac stands tall on a cape overlooking the St. Lawrence River and is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world.

here are the best places for photographing château frontenac to get a pretty postcard shot

terrasse pierre-dugua-de-mons

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One of the more popular photography spots, it’s best to visit Pierre-Dugua-de Mons Terrace in the morning before 9:00 a.m., or after mid-evening as the crowds are almost non-existent that those times. There are a couple ways to get here:

  • Walk along the path that runs atop the outer walls of the citadel
  • Walk to the end of rue des Carrières and take the steep path or the stairs on the right
  • Walk down Avenue Saint-Denis (heading towards the Saint Lawrence River)

rue sainte-anne

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The tree-lined path to Monument de la Foi (one of my favourite fountains in Québec) in Place d’Armes Square is a popular spot in spring, summer, and autumn (high season) and offers a beautifully framed view of Château Frontenac. This viewpoint is from rue Sainte-Anne, in front of 1640 Restaurant. If you want a photo without the crowds, arrive early in the morning (before 9:00 a.m.).

parc montmorency

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On the corner of rue Port Dauphine and Côte de la Montagne, this viewpoint of Château Frontenac is at the far south-west corner just past the Cartier monument. A wonderful spot when the leaves are on the trees!

rue du marché champlain and rue dalhousie

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Another favourite, this Château Frontenac vantage point is from the docks near the Québec-Lévis ferry where rue du Marché-Champlain turns into rue Dalhousie. While this is a lovely vantage point in spring and summer, the best time is in the fall when the trees are changing colour. Simply spectacular!

A benefit to this vantage point is that it’s easy to set-up a tripod without getting in the way of cars or pedestrians. This is an ideal location for night shots (think lit château above and light trails below!).

lévis

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If you’re hoping to get a shot of the Château Frontenac and the rest of the old city skyline, the best vantage point is from the top deck of the Québec-Lévis ferry while it’s in port in Lévis. A roundtrip ferry ticket costs $6.70 per adult, a steal when you score the perfect shot. This best time for this shot is early morning before the sun gets too high, or after 3:00 p.m. **If you’re doing night shots get off the ferry as the vibration of the boat motors will make it difficult to get a crisp shot.

This vantage point is highly recommended no matter what the season!

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The BEST Spots for Photographing Château Frontenac in Québec City
The BEST Spots to Snap a Perfect Postcard Shot of Château Frontenac in Québec City