Tadoussac, Quebec

Every Spring, local residents prepare to welcome visitors from all over the world. They eagerly open their hearts and their doors. While summer promises to be fast and furious, autumn is more serene and flamboyant.

Near the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord, the waters of the St. Lawrence are a particularly rich feeding ground for marine mammals, making this area a great location to observe a variety of cetaceans from minke whales to blue whales. You can often spot these giants of the sea from the shore, but to see them up close, it’s worth going on a sea excursion in a Zodiac or sightseeing boat. To find out more about the whales, visit the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM) in Tadoussac.

Did you know that Tadoussac Bay is a member of the select Most Beautiful Bays in the World club? Go for a stroll along the boardwalk and you’ll soon see why. You’ll fall under the spell of the village as you take in the view of the sea, the marina and the sailboats. Be sure to walk to the end of the wharf where you can admire the immensity of the St. Lawrence and the mouth of the majestic Saguenay Fjord.

Founded in 1600, the village of Tadoussac was the first French settlement in North America, a site that was visited by several of the great explorers including Jacques Cartier, Pierre de Chauvin de Tonnetuit and Samuel de Champlain. Given its ideal geographical location, Tadoussac served as a fishing post as well as a hub of the fur trade between Europeans and the Innu. Today, you can immerse yourself in the village’s rich history by visiting sites such as the Little Indian Chapel (the oldest wooden church in North America) and the Chauvin Trading Post.