What the waves tell us...

Rédaction

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

In the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, each wave whispers a piece of our past. The region’s history is inextricably linked to that of the river that borders it, the main player and living witness to centuries of navigation, daring explorations and maritime dramas.

Let yourself be submerged by its salty tales.

Lighthouses

Watching over the river for decades, even centuries, our lighthouses have seen a lot. From the top of their towers, they have observed a thousand and one storms and escorted numerous navigators through the raging elements.

The lighthouses on Île du Pot à l’Eau-de-Vie, Île-Verte and Pointe-au-Père have become veritable icons of the landscape, sharing some of their memories with those who dare to climb up to their heads.

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

The islands of the Bas-Saint-Laurent

The region’s maritime past is also rooted in its islands, veritable floating jewels in the heart of the river.

The Pot à l’Eau-de-Vie islands, for example, were used by ships as early as the 17th century. Home to the oldest lighthouse on the St. Lawrence, Île Verte offers visitors a chance to discover island life from the past to the present, thanks to the École Michaud interpretation center.

Île aux Basques, off the coast of Trois-Pistoles, bears witness to a rich history of hunting and trade between First Nations and Europeans – an archaeological site of exceptional importance.
Île Saint-Barnabé, opposite Rimouski, is marked by the legend of the hermit Toussaint Cartier and the many shipwrecks that have marked its shores. Even today, it remains a place of contemplation, mystery and maritime memory.

Camping à l'île Saint-Barnabé — Île Saint-Barnabé

The wrecks

More than one captain has lost his way on the river’s tumultuous waves. Ten boats rest for eternity at the bottom of its cold waters, up to 240 meters below the surface in the case of the Carolus, which sank off Sainte-Flavie in 1942.

The fascinating story of these silent relics is skilfully told on LeCimetiereduSaint-Laurent.com (infrench only). As for the Empress of Ireland, which sank with over 1,000 passengers aboard, its tragic fate is highlighted at the Site historique maritime de Pointe-au-Père. It’s like being in a James Cameron film.

La route des Navigateurs

From La Pocatière to Sainte-Luce, let yourself be guided along the river by La route des Navigateurs, an immersive tour punctuated by historic stops and breathtaking panoramas. With your phone in hand (instead of a sextant!), you can relive exciting adventures through audio and video capsules. Two hundred kilometers of anecdotes and legends, without the risk of naupathy.