Canada: Montmorency Falls, Parc de la Chute – Part 2 - Orlando / Florida Guide
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While the park is beautiful in summer it is in the winter that it becomes spectacular. In winter, the hiking trails are only accessible on foot or if you go deeper when you have on snowshoes. It is worth the effort to go for a walk to the park' s cove and see the falls from several vantage points. Amongst the snow and ice you will still see the water surging over the falls. If you are lucky you might even see a few ice climbers as they try to climb about on the frozen rock faces.
Before we look at the Manoir Montmorency later, first take the promenade along the cliff where you will see the suspension bridge. When you walk over this you will feel the power of waterfall rumbling under your feet. If you visit in winter then you will also be dazzled by the Sugar Loaf. This is a natural phenomenon caused by the spray of the waterfall that freezes and accumulates to form a cone of ice. For the return journey in winter you take the promenade back to the Manoir since the panoramic stairway is not accessible.
The Manoir Montmorency with its architecture similar to a grand English house should not to be missed.
First constructed as Governor Haldimand' s summer residence it was designed in the Palladian manner, with a central building flanked by pavilions. Almost square, the main building was two storeys high. The first and second stories were surrounded by covered galleries to provide covered vantage points from which to enjoy the views. A low-pitched hipped roof, with a dormer windows projecting from each of its four sides, extended out beyond the walls of the residence to cover the galleries below. Open passageways led to the two square pavilions flanking the main building. The architecture of the house was unlike that of any building constructed in the area before.
However what you see today is a complete reconstruction of the original building as on May 13, 1993 fire totally destroyed the original building. First constructed more than two centuries before, it had been considerably transformed over the years but had always been one of the best known landmarks in the Quebec City area.
It only took just over a year after the fire for the reconstructed building to be completed. It reopened on June 23, 1994, with a big celebration to welcome the return of the building.
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