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Tour the “Whale Route”, a road to discovery
frequented for more than 10,000 years! The first people to occupy
the region were the Innu, formerly called the Montagnais. Around
the year 800, the Vikings disembarked in Blanc-Sablon while the
Basques hunted whales along the entire coast of the North Shore
all the way to Tadoussac, all before the arrival of Jacques Cartier!
Standing before the traces of thousands of years of human occupation
and the sites of terrible shipwrecks that have left a profound imprint
on the minds of the population, will send shivers down your spine.
Learn more about the lifestyle of the Innu people, their techniques
and technologies adapted to the climate, a heritage of knowledge
that they have shared with all new arrivals.
All along the coast you can visit our heritage
interpretation centres, cultural and historic sites, museums and
ecomuseums to learn more about our local culture as well as the
habitats of marine mammals! The history of the North Shore, where
people of diverse origins live peacefully together, can be told
through words, images or the objects of everyday life. Then you
will understand our culture, original and alive, surrounded by the
sea and deeply rooted in the forests.
For more than 35 years, the Daniel-Johnson hydroelectric
dam in the region of Manicouagan, or “Manic-Cinq” as
it known to Quebeckers, has been a must see destination. This colossal
structure, a symbol of modern engineering and an invaluable heritage
for future generations, is sure to take your breath away. Further
north, surrounded by a taiga forest, you will catch sight of the
majestic Groulx Mountains, also called Uapiska or “white mountains”
in the Montagnais language. Continue along this route to hear the
great “Aventure du Fer” told by the people of Fermont,
a modern and friendly mining city that has become a brave example
of adaptation to the harsh climate north of the 55th parallel. And
an open-air amphitheatre where the aurora borealis brightens up
the nocturnal beauty of the boreal horizon, a fabulous show that
is presented for 200 nights every year! Pure entertainment for young
and old. Free entry!
In the off-season, when the workers are on leave
from the sea and the forest, you can engage in longer conversations
with them. Listen to their stories! They tell of their true nature,
authentic and generous, reflective of the beauty of the region.
All year long, numerous cultural and sporting events
take place from one village to the next and set the course for festival-goers
throughout the entire region. All these festivities project a colourful
mosaic of our diverse origins, a living portrait that testifies
to our dual allegiance: to the nurturing sea and the conquered forest.
In summer, many of the village wharfs are invaded by crabs, seafood,
artists, music… and starving visitors! Certain Native communities
also organize Pow Wow’s that are particularly appreciated
by visitors.
You can also share with us the omnipresence of
the sea, to which we pay tribute during the FÊTE DE LA MER,
NOTRE MER, one of the numerous celebrations of the FÊTES DU
QUÉBEC MARITIME. The summer solstice launches the festivities
that liven up the maritime regions of the North Shore, Lower St.
Lawrence, Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands united in a natural
and spontaneous alliance, so typical of seafaring people.
Maritime influences, ancestral traditions, artistic
expression and sports events are all good reasons to celebrate….
together… with you!
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