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Dominating the southern section of Vieux-Quebec, the massive star-shaped Citadelle is the tour de force of Quebec City's fortifications. Occupying the highest point of Cap Diamant, 100m above the St Lawrence, the site was first built on by the French, but most of the buildings were constructed by the British under orders from the Duke of Wellington, who was anxious about American attack after the War of 1812. The complex of 25 buildings covers forty acres and is the largest North American fort still occupied by troops - it's home to the Royal 22nd Regiment, Canada's only French-speaking regiment. Around the parade ground are ranged various monuments to the campaigns of the celebrated "Van-Doos" ( vingt-deux ), as well as the summer residence of Canada's governor general and two buildings dating back to the French period: the 1750 powder magazine, now a mundane museum of military artefacts, and the Cap Diamant Redoubt, built in 1693 and thus one of the oldest parts of the Citadelle. In addition to entertaining hour-long guided tours around the Citadelle (daily: April 10am-4pm; May & June 9am-5pm; July & Aug 9am-6pm; Sept 9am-4pm; Oct 10am-3pm; $6; www.lacitadelle.qc.ca ), other activities include the colourful Changing of the Guard (mid-June to early Sept daily 10am) and the Beating of the Retreat tattoo (July & Aug Wed-Sat 6pm).
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