The aim of this research is to find methods of landscape analysis and classification which would allow the enforcement of sections of the Cultural Property Act (Bill 2, 1972, Province of Québec) specifically those dealing with the declaration of « natural districts ». The proposed methodology was applied to the Charlevoix region, located one hundred km north-east of Québec City. First the author demonstrates the misnaming of « natural districts » which should be called « cultural districts ». The identification of parts of territory that may be declared natural or cultural districts involve a previous landscape analysis of the whole region. Three components of landscape should be considered: shapes, settlement and perception. This paper deals only with the problem of shapes study, namely morphological analysis. Some modem methods of landscape analysis are reviewed. Three phases are generally involved : inventory, classification and evaluation depending on particular assumptions (i.e. : recreation). The Charlevoix region is well fitted for a landscape study because of its strong topography, its early settlement and the mark of various economic activities on its landscape. First, a visual analysis was made, including a survey of Visual boundaries, classification of vistas and a survey of road itinerary patterns. The next step was to make a spatial inventory and to build a geographical data matrix comprising 70 variables pertaining to 47 working zones. Variables which frame the landscapes image and evolution in space and time were selected. The data matrix was handled both with visual and quantitative methods (Bertin's method and factor analysis). The leading factors revealed by data handling are the relief, the age and density of settlement and the importance of historical patrimony. Four major geographical areas were found, each comprising several sub-areas : mountainous unpopulated areas, late settlement plateau areas, the valleys and their edges and the St. Lawrence coast-line. A second classification involves only the variables tied with the definition of « cultural potential ». The result is a grading of Charlevoix areas according to their potential as a possible choice for natural or cultural districts. This classification is supplemented by the identification of various kinds of landscape pollutions. The main threat of landscape damage comes from the disordered spreading of townscapes around Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie (Murray Bay). A concluding remark is that the concept of cultural district does not offer a satisfying answer to the requirements of landscapes protection and development. One must rather think of a global cultural development involving various actions graduated according to landscape patterns and threats to harming them.