Gaspésie

Departure in the morning and drive to the Gaspésie with a stop on the way for lunch. In the early afternoon, free visit to the historic maritime site of Pointe-au-Père and the Empress of Ireland museum. This site offers you 200 years of maritime history. After this visit, the route continues with a stop to observe the sea sculptures of Sainte-Flavie entitled “Le Grand Rassemblement”. This is a unique work of natural art in the world and it is in continual transformation. Inspired by the movement of the sea and its tides, Marcel Gagnon integrates his work into the waters of the St. Lawrence River. At the end of the afternoon, check-in at the hotel for a free evening.

This day takes place from Matane to Gaspé, passing by Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. In the morning, the Monique and Gisèle Benoit Art Center opens their door to you for a free visit. The Center is a one-of-a-kind art gallery, natural science museum and an exceptional place of wonder and knowledge acquisition. Then, immerse yourself in the fascinating underwater world with the Exploramer guided tour, located on the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts wharf. In this exhibition, aquariums and ponds abound with the surprising organisms that inhabit the St. Lawrence. The most intrepid can dip their fingers in the tactile basin to touch mollusks, crustaceans and echinoderms. In the afternoon, a guided tour of the Lighthouse Museum will make you imagine the work of the keepers of yesteryear. Erected in 1906 and still operational, you can go up to the La Martre lighthouse to admire the panorama. After this visit, the road continues towards Gaspé and a photo stop is planned at the Grande-Vallée promontory, a superb viewpoint over the valley and the sea.

Start the day with an orientation tour of the beautiful town of Gaspé with your tour guide. After this visit, take a dose of the outdoors as you discover Forillon National Park, which has been shaped by erosion. An astonishing setting awaits you where mountains, meadows dotted with wild flowers, pebble beaches bordering small coves, as well as steep cliffs overlooking the sea come together. At the end of the afternoon, be part of a sea excursion to the Parc de l’Île Bonaventure and Rocher Percé. This park, sculpted by time and the sea, is located at the end of the Gaspesian peninsula. It has a rich historical heritage, a surprising geological past and unique flora and fauna, including its famous colony of gannets known worldwide.

This history-themed day begins with a guided tour of the authentic historic General Store from 1928! It is an authentic period store with all its oak paneling. There you will see Gaston Cloutier’s office, warehouse, new thematic exhibition room, billiard room and barber shop. Start the afternoon with a guided tour of the historic Banc-de-Paspébiac site. This visit will make you relive the importance that the salt-dried cod industry has had in the development of the Gaspésie region. As the last activity of the day, embark on a guided tour of the Acadian Museum of Quebec in Bonaventure. This museum is housed in a 1914 building that originally housed a boys’ academy, as well as the caisse populaire. Free evening: take the opportunity to take a walk in the fresh air or to rest in the hotel facilities.

In the morning, take part in a guided visit to Parc de Miguasha, where fish and fossil plants tell the story of life. For the quality of conservation of its fossils and for their importance in a page understanding of evolution, the park has been inscribed since 1999 on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. In the afternoon, visit the historic site of the Bataille-de-la-Ristigouche which is an interpretation center exhibiting the remains of an 18th century French frigate recovered during underwater archaeological excavations. It commemorates the last naval battle between France and England for possession of North American territory. You will experience one of the little-known events of the War of the Conquest! Before going to the hotel, a stop is planned en route to visit the magnificent Saint-Octave-de-Métis church.

To start this last day on the road, a stop is made in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli for a guided tour and a tasting at the Moule à Sucre general store. You will taste 4 to 5 different products from today’s terroir and take part in a quiz on the terroir and Quebec’s heritage. Lunch is included at the delicious restaurant Le Café la Coureuse des Grèves. After a good meal, take the road back home.