Road map Bas-Saint-Laurent city surrounding area (Quebec, Canada)

Bas-Saint-Laurent      

The Bas-Saint-Laurent, or Lower St. Lawrence, region, which  stretches east to the Gaspe and south to the borders of New Brunswick  and the U.S. border, offers its visitors a mosaic of varied landscapes,  from the broad blue horizon of the St. Lawrence River, to the  spectacular fall foliage of the valleys, to the round, glacial monadnock  rock formations that dot the terrain around Riviere-du-Loup. The land  here, both next to the river and further inland, is particularly  fertile, and the farms still follow the pattern of the old seigneurial  system used to divide land among farmers. The many picturesque islands  along the coast are frequented by thousands of seabirds and shorebirds.  The area is also noted for its fine woodcarving, which can be seen in  many churches and museums.      

Cacouna [C1] Cacouna was once a fashionable resort area for  the Montreal elite between 1850 and 1950, where visitors came for  saltwater bathing and grand hotels. The Heritage Tour includes stops at  an old Anglican church, a number of beautiful heritage homes (the  "summer resorts" of days gone by), and the Saint-George Catholic church  and presbytery (1838), now classified as historic monuments.      

Causapscal [B5]      

Marked by its distinctive sawmills, Causapscal lies on the  Matapedia, one of the best salmon rivers in North America. The Domaine  Matamajaw is a museum that recounts the history of salmon fishing and  the private clubs that operated in the area between 1873 and 1950. You  can observe the salmon in the summer at nearby Chutes et Marais. Don't  miss the pretty covered bridges south of town.      

Rimouski [A3] Capital of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region,  Rimouski is an important educational, religious, and cutting-edge  cultural center, a fact reflected in its many fascinating museums,  galleries, churches, parks, and interpretation centers. The town is  built on three levels, extending from the shore to a plateau that  overlooks the river and Saint-Barnabe Island.      

RlVIERE-du-loup [C1]      

The crossroads between the North Shore, the Gaspe, and New  Brunswick, Riviere-du-Loup has long been a strategic hub, going back to  the days when it was the eastern terminus for the Canadian railway.  Built on winding, hilly streets, the city's eclectic street life and  rich marine and transportation history is best seen on foot. Over 200  new and historic bells are on display at Les Carillons, ranging from 35  kg to 2.5 t. A ferry links Riviere-du-Loup with Saint-Simeon.      

Saint-Fabien-sur-Mer [B2] Saint-Fabien offers many  opportunities to see the local fauna and flora in their element.  Animafaune is an educational wildlife center where you can see more than  15 indigenous animal species. At nearby Bic Provincial Park, you can  kayak around the islands or take an aqua-ecological tour and view eider  ducks, sea otters, and harp seals.      

Sainte-Luce [A3] A quaint seaside village with a pristine  beach, Sainte-Luce holds a unique sand-castle-building competition in  summer (upper left). Don't miss the sumptuous architecture and  stained-glass windows of Sainte-Luce Church, built in 1840.      

Saint-Narcisse-de-Rimouski [B3] Just outside this quiet town  is one of the most breathtaking natural sites in the area: the Canyon  des Portes de I'Enfer (Gates of Hell Canyon). Follow 10 km of footpaths  to the highest footbridge in the province for an unparalleled view of  the canyon. It was named by the first drivers who had to manage the flow  of logs floating down the Rimouski River, where the turbulent waters  thunder down a 90 m gorge.      

LOCAL LORE      

A Wolf by Any Other Name      

Legends in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region often have their  origins in unique place names or geographical features of the landscape.  Three different legends may suggest how Riviere-du-Loup got its name.  The first legend attributes the name to a French ship, Le Loup, which  was forced to wait out the winter of 1659-60 at the mouth of the river.  The second legend has it that a native tribe who called themselves "Les  Loups" (The Wolves) lived on the site where Riviere-du-Loup became a  village in 1850. The third and most likely legend explains that the name  comes from the many seals or "sea wolves" (loups-marins) which  congregated at the river's mouth many years ago, filling the air with  their wolflike cries.