Breakneck Stairs
Stairs in Quebec City, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Breakneck Stairs, or Breakneck Steps (French: Escalier casse-cou), is Quebec City's oldest stairway, built in 1635. Originally called escalier Champlain ("Champlain Stairs"), escalier du Quêteux ("Beggars' Stairs"), or escalier de la Basse-Ville ("Lower Town Stairs"), they were given their current name in the mid-19th century, because of their steepness. The stairs, which connect Côte de la Montagne in the "Upper Town" to the corner of Rue du Petit-Champlain and Rue Sous-le-Fort in the "Lower Town", have been restored several times, including an 1889 renovation by Charles Baillargé which converted the steps from a single flight to four.[2]
Breakneck Stairs
Escalier casse-cou | |
|---|---|
| Stairway | |
| Breakneck Steps | |
| Former name(s): escalier Champlain ("Champlain Stairs") escalier du Quêteux ("Beggars' Stairs") escalier de la Basse-Ville ("Lower Town Stairs") | |
The steps in 2007, viewed from Rue Sous-le-Fort | |
| Completion | 1635 |
| Steps | 59[1] |
| Location | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
 Interactive map of Breakneck Stairs | |
| Coordinates: 46°48′46″N 71°12′13″W | |
Several businesses are located on the western side of the steps at each of its four flights.
The steps through the years
1870
1892
1900
2010
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