Quebec City: best months to visit

Quebec City, capital of the province of Quebec (Canada): 540,000 inhabitants, founded in 1608 by Champlain, the only fortified city in North America north of Mexico (UNESCO 1985). 95% French-speaking (major difference from the more bilingual Montreal). June-August are my favourite months (8.0/10): 6-25°C, 41-53% rain, mild temperatures after the long winter, festivals (Festival d'été de Québec mid-July, one of the largest in Canada). From September to October, it's the spectacular foliage: 5-20°C, red maples, one of the most beautiful regions in the world for this season. From December to March, expect -14/0°C and 37-46% precipitation (often abundant snow, Quebec City receives 3m of snow/year): it's the Quebec City Carnival (late January-mid-February, 3 weeks, the largest winter carnival in the world, Bonhomme Carnaval parades, canoe races on the frozen Saint Lawrence), Ice Hotel (30 min away, hotel rebuilt every winter since 2001, possibility of sleeping there), skating on the Saint-Charles river. Highlights: Old Quebec (UNESCO, divided into Upper Town on Cap-Diamant and Lower Town on the riverside), Château Frontenac (1893, iconic Fairmont hotel of the skyline, the most photographed hotel in the world according to some rankings), Plains of Abraham (1759, French defeat against the British, end of New France), Citadel (still in service, daily changing of the guard), Place Royale and Petit-Champlain district (the oldest commercial street in North America), Fortifications (4.6 km of intact ramparts, walkable on foot). Excursions: Montmorency Falls 15 min away (84m, taller than Niagara), Île d'Orléans (agricultural countryside), Charlevoix 1h30 away. Try poutine, tourtière, maple syrup, cipaille.