Rimouski

The south shore of the St Lawrence, Hwy 132 – or les Route des navigateurs (the Navigators’ Route) – passes through Rimouski. The administrative capital for a region known as Bas-Saint-Laurent, Rimouski’s busy port provides freight and passenger services to Quebec communities along the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is also home to a major oceanographic research center, the Quebec Maritime Institute. To best appreciate the city’s maritime history, visit the Pointe-au-Père Historic Site, which includes one of Canada’s tallest lighthouses and a powerful exhibit on the sinking of the ocean liner, Empress of Ireland. Several ...

The south shore of the St Lawrence, Hwy 132 – or les Route des navigateurs (the Navigators’ Route) – passes through Rimouski. The administrative capital for a region known as Bas-Saint-Laurent, Rimouski’s busy port provides freight and passenger services to Quebec communities along the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is also home to a major oceanographic research center, the Quebec Maritime Institute. To best appreciate the city’s maritime history, visit the Pointe-au-Père Historic Site, which includes one of Canada’s tallest lighthouses and a powerful exhibit on the sinking of the ocean liner, Empress of Ireland. Several sprawling parks in and around Rimouski offer many opportunities for observing the area’s wildlife. Each October, the city hosts what is said to be the biggest fall festival in the province – one that even includes a pheasant hunt! Year-round, the Les Halles Saint-Germain market is the place to go to sample the best of regional delicacies – from seafood to chocolate.

About the Expert

Joanna Ebbutt is the author or editor of three Insight Guides to Toronto and Canada, and coauthor of Off the Beaten Track: Western Canada. She has been writing about travel for three decades, including chasing the aurora borealis in Northern Ontario.