Stay in a building from 1860, a few dozen metres from the fleuve Saint-Laurent in the Vieux-Port de Québec area. The Hôtel Port-Royal offers 76 spacious rooms and suites housed in two connected buildings, each with an inspiring past and history.
All of this is thanks to the passion and ambition of a construction entrepreneur who bought the complex in the early 2000s and turned it into a chic hotel that opened its doors in 2005. Éric-Yves Doyon travels a great deal, loves the hotel business and appreciates tourist attractions. That was all it took for him to turn his passion into reality. The building that houses the suites, including the royal suite across from the hotel, is a former bank. It also houses the offices of his company.
For history buffs, the building that now houses the hotel was originally a warehouse for food products unloaded from ships. More recently, it has housed various businesses, including a gourmet grocery store, the restaurant Quai 19 and the bar l’Inox.
Each room has a distinctive design of its own, inspired by the original geometry of the building. The warmth of wood, the dignity of stone and brick, and the clean lines of contemporary decor create an environment that is a perfect blend of past and present.
In addition to a comfortable Queen or King bed, all rooms and suites include a kitchenette or fully equipped kitchen, a dining nook, and a bathroom with shower or bathtub/shower. Several rooms and suites also have a double sofa bed.
General manager of Port-Royal for 15 years, Agnès Marsoin is proud to be associated with this hotel's success and to look after guest comfort and satisfaction. With 30 years of experience in hospitality, in France and Québec, she watches closely over the fortunes of this establishment. It combines a host of advantages for guests looking for quality accommodation in Québec.
She is keen to point out that guests' pets are welcome in first-floor rooms, for a fee. There are no carpets in the rooms and suites. Parking and valet service are offered, there is a fitness room, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.
The general manager also notes that the suites are spacious, luxurious spaces decorated in various styles. They offer features such as a separate bedroom, Italian-style baths and showers, work desks, a kitchenette, and a Murphy bed, along with other details depending on the suite chosen.
For its part, the sumptuous 2,200-square-foot Royal Suite is located at place de la FA0, a heritage site in Québec, and occupies the top floor of the massive 19th-century building formerly known as Banque de commerce. It features a luxurious bedroom with a queen-size bed and a large bathroom in marble or granite.
The suite offers an experience fit for kings and queens: an unusual private space in this exceptional setting, with a stately living room, a dining room, and access to an impressive 2,000-square-foot terrace with spectacular views of the streets of Vieux-Québec. Breakfast is included.
The Port-Royal employs up to 40 people and welcomes a diverse clientele: maritime professionals, staff in training, businesspeople, cruise passengers, and tourists from all over Québec, Canada and elsewhere in the world.
For dining, the hotel has Louise Taverne & Bar à vin, which serves breakfast and meals throughout the day, with bar service every day. In summer, guests can relax on the terrace and enjoy the unique cuisine of chef Nikolas, which uses only local Québec ingredients. Dishes are made fresh every day, and the menu changes regularly.
In short, for a stay in the magical setting of the Vieux-Port de Québec and its historical atmosphere, Port-Royal is certainly the obvious choice. It is also inclusive of all types of guests.
Hôtel Port-Royal
leportroyal.com
144, rue Saint-Pierre
Québec, QC, G1K 8N8
418 692.2777
It’s impossible to explore Acadie without being tempted to stop by Bouctouche and its unique attractions.
Acadie is at the heart of Antonine Maillet’s work, and in Bouctouche, her hometown in the southeastern part of Acadie, a thematic park is dedicated to the world of La Sagouine, her spirited character. Built around her work, Au Pays de la Sagouine is a culturally vibrant destination where Acadian traditions come alive, and the contagious joy of life is ever-present. Visitors can breathe in the salty air of Bouctouche Bay while strolling along the boardwalk leading to Île-aux-Puces, where magic unfolds in a bustling world of endearing characters, performances, music, and theater from June to September. At sunset, Akadi Lumina lights up the nearby wooded trails with an enchanting 1.5-km nighttime journey celebrating vibrant Acadian culture from May to October.
To the east of Bouctouche, the Irving Eco-Centre, sponsored by the billionaire Irving family from New Brunswick, showcases the Dune de Bouctouche, one of the longest dunes in North America, stretching 12 km across Bouctouche Bay. The dune is home to a fragile ecosystem that provides essential habitat for numerous plant and animal species.
In September, the annual Bouctouche Eco-Festival celebrates the region’s exceptional natural and cultural heritage by highlighting coastal ecosystems and local products, while addressing current environmental issues and providing tools for action.
At the Restaurant La Sagouine, located next to the inn of the same name in the heart of the town, visitors can savor Acadian dishes or renowned seafood specialties. It’s a favorite stop for excursion groups, who often unload their passengers for an afternoon meal. The breakfasts here are especially famous.
By Gaëtan Vaudry
During a 40-day tour of Eastern Quebec and New Brunswick, we visited many places and met numerous people! Some places captured our attention, and one of them was the LaRichardière inn, located in the village municipality of Godbout on the North Shore, with a population of just 262 inhabitants, according to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
I must say from the outset that the place is simply magnificent. And what about our hosts, Claude-Joseph Gosselin and his wonderful dog Body (a Great Dane-Labrador mix), who welcomed us like royalty! We arrived on a Wednesday evening, after a long day's drive. We were greeted in a splendid house dating back to 1928, warm and tastefully decorated. Claude-Joseph, who has traveled extensively himself, has personalized his hosting style. Proudly, he doesn't overdo it. Just enough. And that's what the guests – myself included – appreciate about him.
Four Artists from the Region
I'd like to begin by talking about the history of this nearly centenarian house. Why is it named LaRichardière? To pay tribute to two important figures in the eyes of Claude-Joseph. The first is the noble Richard Testu de la Richardière (1681-1741), a ship's captain and harbor master, and master pilot in the St. Lawrence River and Gulf. And also for Mathieu Richard, a worker who lived in this magnificent residence with his family for over 40 years. The inn features four bedrooms, each named in honor of a regional artist. There's the Gilles Vigneault room (famous poet from Natashquan), the Éric Maillet room (sculptor and blacksmith, Bergeronnais by adoption), the Claude Le Sauteur room (painter, 1926-2007), and finally, the Francine Chicoine room (author from Baie-Comeau). Notably, the bed in the Éric Maillet room was custom-made by the artist himself (see the photo). A truly unique work of art! "I wanted to honor regional artists," the owner proudly states. "I obtained the permissions and have since made it my mission to introduce their talent to many of our guests."
One could almost say that the LaRichardière inn is a mini museum. It houses several works of art, a multitude of books on the region's history, and a passionate host, who kindly introduced me to the work of the painter Claude Le Sauteur. Truly enriching.
A Delight for the Taste Buds
Claude-Joseph, who has lived in Godbout for three decades, manages this inn with passion. Coming from the hotel industry, he takes care of the management, entertainment, cooking, and even housekeeping. Speaking of food, our host knows his stuff! For breakfast, he starts us off with orange juice, followed by a magnificent bowl of fresh fruit, which is a delight for the taste buds. We finish with excellent French toast, served with homemade raspberry jam and, of course, delicious local maple syrup. What more could one ask for?
I can only say bravo and thank you to Claude-Joseph for these memorable 24 hours. I would have gladly accepted a longer stay, to discover more about this charming little seaside region and to play with
