The maritime history of the Côte-Nord is part of our history. From fishing stories to great navigators, shipwrecks are part of the folklore of our region. Many shipwrecks tell the story of the region's pioneers and of ancient times. The most famous shipwrecks that can be visited are the Lady Era, the Calou, the Brion and the Wilcox. Notable shipwrecks include the great shipwrecks of Admiral William Phips (1690) and Admiral Walker (1711)

The St. Lawrence Shipwreck Centre in Baie-Trinité tells the story of the major shipwrecks of the St. Lawrence from 1690 to the present. You can visit the center from Friday to Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm.

The Brion, Kegaska

The wreck of the Brion, a large cargo ship from the Magdalen Islands, hit a reef and sank near the village of Kegaska in 1976. A trail allows you to observe the wreck.

Le Calou, île d'Anticosti

Le Wilcox, île d'Anticosti

The area of Pointe-des-Monts, like the area of Anticosti Island, is an area dotted with shipwrecks along the coast. The large number of shipwrecks along the coast forced the creation of the Pointe-des-Monts lighthouse in 1829. It is the second lighthouse of the St. Lawrence.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the increase in maritime exchanges between the United Kingdom and its colonies in Canada multiplied the voyages of large ocean-going sailing ships and also, inevitably, shipwrecks. These often occurred during the dreaded autumn storms and the shipwrecked risked dying of cold and hunger while waiting for hypothetical help along a deserted coastline for hundreds of kilometers.

It was in this context that the maritime authorities decided to set up a network of lighthouses to guide ships and provide shelters with a food supply for shipwreck survivors.