Located in Canada, the Ramparts of Quebec City are the only remaining fortified city walls in the Americas, north of Mexico.^[1] The English began fortifying the existing walls,^[2] after they took the city from the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The wall surrounds most of Old Quebec, and was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.^[3]

Surviving gates

The Ramparts have four surviving gates:^[4]

• Porte St. Jean: dates back to at least 1694, was demolished in 1791 because of its poor condition and rebuilt. This gate lasted until 1865 when it was demolished and rebuilt again.^[5] The present gate was built in 1923.^[6]
• Porte St. Louis: dates back to at least 1694 was demolished in 1791 because of its poor condition and rebuilt. This gate lasted until 1823 when it was replaced. It was eventually removed altogether in 1871 before being replaced by the gate we seen now in 1880 by Lord Dufferin.^[5]
• Porte Prescott: erected in 1797 by, and named after Robert Prescott. It was demolished in 1871.^[5] The current gate was built in 1983.^[6]
• Porte Kent: erected in 1879 was named after Queen Victoria's father The Duke of Kent.^[5]

Gallery

<gallery> Image:Quebec Ramparts.JPG|The Ramparts as seen from the Citadelle of Quebec. Image:Porte St. Jean.JPG|Porte St. Jean, looking into the Place d'Youville. Image:Quebec City Wall.jpg|Porte St. Louis. Image:Quebec City Wall 2.jpg|Porte St. Louis in winter. </gallery>

References