page_title: Petit Champlain
section_title: Breakneck Stairs
hierarchical_section_title: Petit Champlain / Attractions / Breakneck Stairs
caption_attribution_description: English: The Breakneck Steps, Québec, Quebec, Canada, circa 1870 Français&#160;: L'escalier casse-cou, Québec (Québec, Canada), vers 1870
context_page_description: Quartier du Petit Champlain is a small commercial zone in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It is located in the neighbourhood of Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire in the borough of La Cité-Limoilou, near Place Royale and its Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church. Its main street is the Rue du Petit-Champlain at the foot of Cap Diamant. It is claimed that it's the oldest commercial district in North America.
  In French it is referred to as a quartier although it is not an official one recognized by the City. It is named after Samuel de Champlain, who founded Quebec City in 1608.
context_section_description: The Breakneck Stairs or Breakneck Steps (French: Escalier casse-cou), Quebec City's oldest stairway, were 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  have been restored several times, including an 1889 renovation by Charles Baillargé.
caption: Breakneck Steps, 1870
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