The Gaspe Penninsula that offers its own charms and activities to experience
Five
different regions - The Coast, Upper Gaspe, Land's End, Bay of Chaleur
and The Valley, each with its own charms and activities to experience.
The
Gaspe Peninsula, or Gaspesie, on the eastern tip of Quebec, north of New
Brunswick, is a largely coastal region surrounded by the St Lawrence
estuary and gulf as well as by the Bay of Chaleur. First claimed for the
king of France by Jacques Cartier in 1534, today Gaspe is known for its
deep-water port and the three salmon rivers that empty into it.
Far from the crowds, Gaspe offers an abundance of attractions worth
seeing. Heaped with woodland-covered hills whose slopes drop into the sea
and low rolling pastures with sleepy cattle grazing, Gaspe is dotted with
small fishing villages populated with friendly locals, offering guests an
intimate and relaxing experience. Camping, hiking, biking and fishing
attract people, far away from the bright lights of the big city.
One of the highlights of the north shore near Grand Metis is the Jardins
de Metis, a horticultural spectacle offering more than 2,500 varieties of
plants in a British-style garden. The 100,000 plants attract an array of
colorful butterflies with their fragrant aromas and singing birds flit
from branch to branch.
The Parc de la Gaspesie, encompassing the Chic-Choc mountains of the
northern Appalachians, affords views of rivers brimming with baby salmon
and speckled trout. The woody, meadowed landscape is host to herds of
moose, caribou and deer. The Parc National Forillon is also worth
visiting as its rugged coastline, with steep, craggy rock cliffs and
dense forests is very representative of the native eastern Canadian
landscape.
Perce, the Pic de l'Aurore, or Peak of the Dawn, has stunning views of
Perce Rock, the famous Quebec landmark, and Bonaventure Island. Perce
Rock, also known as Rocher Perce, is a narrow butte jutting out into the
Pacific. On the rock, which you can visit by catamaran, are large numbers
of nesting birds including gannets, cormorants, puffins and razorbills.
If you are lucky you may even spot a whale in these frigid waters.
South of Perce are many scenic beaches including Capaux-Os, Penouille,
Haldimand, Coin-du-Banc, Cap-d'Espoir, Petit-Pabos, Pabos Mills and
Newport, where you can beachcomb, collecting shells and sea glass, and
enjoy the lulling sound of the crashing waves.
Also of interest is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Listuguj Indian
Reserve, Miguasha Park near the Bay of Chaleur, the most temperate area
on the peninsula.
