| Breakneck Stairs | |
| Native Name: | Escalier casse-cou |
| Native Name Lang: | French |
| Place Type: | Stairway |
| Other Names: | Breakneck Steps |
| Former Names: | escalier Champlain ("Champlain Stairs") escalier du Quêteux ("Beggars' Stairs") escalier de la Basse-Ville ("Lower Town Stairs") |
| Image Place: | File:Escalier_Casse-Cou_06.jpg |
| Image Caption: | The steps in 2007, viewed from Rue Sous-le-Fort |
| Steps: | 59[1] |
| Location: | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates: | 46.8128°N -71.2036°W |
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 into three parallel ones.[2]
Several businesses are located on the western side of the steps at each of its four flights.