Residence of the Governor General at the Citadelle — Attraction in Quebec

2025 Review

Happened to be in the area again this time of year and I decided to take the tour once more, this time with Orla. I had heard high praise for her visit prior and I must say it is completely warranted. It would be disingenuous to directly compare how both guides I've had the privilege of following approached their work, so I will instead say this: the work of the Residence team here at Québec continues to impress me. I maintain the opinion that their tour is a good way to round out one’s visit at the Citadelle and I remain confident in my belief that it meaningfully expands on content covered in the base tour of the grounds though, again, it is worth doing completely on its own merits. Some things have changed since ‘23, some things have remained the same… I think the tour being a good time fits squarely into that latter category (in a positive way). I will refrain from writing another essay of excessive length - only for the sake of brevity, not because it is unearned - and summarize my thoughts as: it was great! Give it a shot if you can!

2023 Review Had the privilege of getting a tour of the Governor General’s Residence with the very talented and passionate Renée at 3pm on the 16th of August in the year of 2023!

I initially thought that talk about politics was going to have trouble holding my attention, but I was very surprised at how quickly an hour went by! It’s much more than just politics: you get the chance to appreciate a lot of fine art in a wide variety of styles and contemplate their meanings, which was incredibly interesting to discuss with the guide. Don’t get me wrong, the political side of the tour was no bore, either! It definitely recontextualizes some of the information I already knew about the Citadelle: I would say it’s a wonderful “add-on” to the base tour of the grounds, but I feel like describing it as such is a great disservice to all of the people who worked hard to organize and deliver this amazing tour. It is really good in its own right, with or without the rest of the Citadelle’s context. (Can you tell I’m running out of synonyms for good, great, amazing, etc. by this point)

The contents of this Residence are incredibly interesting to learn about, especially when presented by an individual such as Renée. She was truly a gold mine of information; I really enjoyed my time with her today. She knew the answers to pretty much all of the questions asked and has a great sense of humor. Shame that it was raining at the end so we didn’t end up going to the balcony but I’m sure she wasn’t the one to orchestrate it so she can hardly be blamed for the lousy weather. Also, she let me borrow an umbrella while we got out of the rain so another reason to justify the 5-star review. Thanks Renée!

Other than the pretty great tour of the interior and the aforementioned exceptional tour guide, the entire building was well-maintained and the team behind it is very professional, I was thoroughly impressed. Honestly, I would consider the tour of the Governor General’s Residence an essential experience to undergo when visiting the Citadelle. Especially considering it’s completely free!...

There is a free of charge excursion to the Governor-General’s residence which I totally recommend. Our tour was with amazing guide Breanna. We’ve learned a lot about the residence and Canadian political system. Canadians are rightfully proud of their Governor-General Julie Payette, who is not only well-educated but also has been into space twice. The residence has very beautiful interior. The furniture is tastefully chosen. The views to the Quebec City...

Great place to learn about Canadian history and the political system. You get to see great art, learn about the Governor General and the work she does. The art and furniture is nice to see and the viewsof yeh St. Lawrence and Quebec are incredible. Our tour guide David was fantastic and very knowledgeable. You can sign up for a tour right after your tour of the Citadel concludes, just ask your tour guide where to go. No tickets...