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In addition to the ice bridge, the frozen river offered many surprising attractions for the people who lived on its banks. A true playground, the frozen river was perfect for racing ice boats, and its snow-covered banks were ideal for snowshoeing. However, these activities did not survive when the port began operating year-round.
1823 - 1836

A destiny bound by ice!

Before the Québec Bridge opened in 1917, residents had two ways of crossing the river. In summer, they could take a boat across. In winter, however, they crossed on the ice bridge that formed when the river froze over. It was then that the crossing—by horse-drawn sleigh—was the quickest and easiest, and that the residents of Québec City and Lévis, on the opposite bank of the St. Lawrence River, spent the most time together. Rediscover this bygone era!

View of Québec City from the ice bridge

James Pattison Cockburn In addition to the ice bridge, the frozen river offered many surprising attractions for the people who lived on its banks. A true playground, the frozen river was perfect for racing ice boats, and its snow-covered banks were ideal for snowshoeing. However, these activities did not survive when the port began operating year-round.
Chronoscope Can you locate this scene on the map? (unilingual French for a limited time) Source: Library and Archives Canada Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Acc. No. R9266-104 - Peter Winkworth Collection of Canadiana - Date: 1823