Petit Champlain () is a small commercial zone in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It is located in the neighbourhood of Vieux-QuébecâÂÂCap-BlancâÂÂcolline 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 (neighbourhood) although it is not an official one recognised by the City. It is named after Samuel de Champlain, who founded Quebec City in 1608.
Rue du Petit-Champlain is around long, and runs from its convergence with Rue Sous-le-Fort in the north to Boulevard Champlain in the south.
The fresco painted on the side of the building at 102 rue du Petit-Champlain is a trompe-l'Ã Âil measuring 100m<sup>2</sup> (900 ft<sup>2</sup>). It represents the history of the district, the bombardments of 1759, the landslides, and the fires which have occurred in the district.
The Breakneck Stairs or Breakneck Steps (French: Escalier casse-cou), Quebec City's oldest stairway, were built in 1635. Today they are a popular viewpoint for tourists to view rue du Petit-Champlain.