Do you recognize the stairway in the background of this piece by the British artist Cockburn? Yes, it is the Breakneck Stairs in the heart of Old Québec! This 1830 engraving shows the bustling commercial sector at the foot of the staircase, known as the Petit-Champlain. In the midst of this activity is the city’s iconic staircase, which dates back to around 1670.