5 sites to revisit our history

Rédaction

Laura Martin, she shares her crushes and discoveries with us for our greatest happiness!

To know where you’re going, you need to know where you’ve been. Before you think about traveling the world, why not take the time to revisit your own past?

In the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, some heritage sites have a lot to whisper to you, between their walls of wood and stone. Listen carefully, keep your eyes open and let your roots grow in your head.

La Maison Chapais, Saint-Denis-De La Bouteillerie

It’s impossible to miss this sumptuous Victorian residence as you drive through Saint-Denis-De La Bouteillerie!

Located in the heart of the village, close to the church, Maison Chapais was built in 1833 by a merchant who became one of the Fathers of Canadian Confederation. As you explore its three floors, you’ll learn all about the prestigious architecture of the period and the family’s role in national politics. The war fresco in the living room alone is worth the detour!

2, route 132 Est, Saint-Denis-De La Bouteillerie
www.MaisonChapais.com

La Maison Lamontagne, Rimouski

You step back nearly three centuries as you enter this gray house, firmly planted in the Rimouski landscape since 1744. The oldest house open to the public in Eastern Quebec, it stands out for its rare stoned half-timbering, a technique inherited from the Middle Ages and almost impossible to find elsewhere in North America.

Set back on a vast, green site, it houses a museum, where visitors can brush up on their knowledge of daily life in Nouvelle-France. Costumed guides welcome visitors every day during the summer season. (They even bake bread in the outdoor fireplace on Fridays!)

707, boulevard du Rivage, Rimouski
www.MaisonLamontagne.com

Licence d'utilisation de Mathieu Dupuis requise pour tout type d'usage.

Le Fort Ingall, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac

Every child in the region has been on a school trip to this historic site on Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, which stirs the imagination with its cannons and garrisoned British soldiers. A faithful recreation of the military fortress erected here from 1839 to 1841, the site offers surprising insights into a little-known but fascinating episode in our history: a border conflict between Canada and the U.S.

A permanent exhibition will tell you more about this war between neighbors. The bravest will be able to fire a flintlock rifle and even set the cannon alight. For total immersion, book a sleepover in the soldiers’ dormitory, complete with bunk beds and straw mattresses. An explosive family outing!

81, rue Caldwell, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac
www.FortIngall.ca

Le Manoir Fraser, Rivière-du-Loup

Rivière-du-Loup owes a great deal to the Seigneurs Fraser, who developed it with panache and left a lasting imprint. For over 150 years, four generations of this family have lived in this majestic and imposing manor.

Today, guided tours take you back in time through an authentic Victorian setting. Take time to stroll through the gardens on a sunny afternoon, or cool off with an English tea on the elegant gallery! So chic!

32, rue Fraser, Rivière-du-Loup
www.ManoirFraser.com

Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Church, Trois-Pistoles

The construction of this gigantic church, from 1882 to 1887, is the subject of many legends, which are now told to ordinary mortals on guided tours.

The incredible story of this jewel of Quebec’s religious heritage has inspired the most illustrious Pistolois, writer and playwright Victor-Lévy Beaulieu. Rumor has it that a snowfall in the middle of August determined the building’s location… Just hope there’s no storm on the day of your visit!