Hotel and logging

The Kamouraska region is known for its community initiatives and the originality of its entrepreneurship in many respects. The population of Saint-Denis-de-la-Bouteillerie is no exception. When Father Jean-Baptiste Ouellet, the last priest to live in the rectory next to the parish church, left in 2014 after 36 years, the decision was made to revitalize this gem of a building, built in 1895.

In 2017, the Corporation pour le maintien des lieux historiques de St-Denis was created to structure the project to revitalize the rectory. A social economy enterprise made up of community administrators proposed turning the building into an inn with a café. A fundraising campaign raised funds from several local and regional partners to acquire the building in 2018. A team of volunteers then completed the renovations, so the inn could welcome guests to its five rooms and offer breakfast and snacks at the adjacent café.

Each room has retained its authentic charm and has its own private bathroom. Common areas are also available: a living room with a piano, a beautiful dining room, and a common room with a microwave and refrigerator. The room the bishop occupied during his annual visit is also available to visitors, explains Sylvie Gendron, one of the administrators.

The non-profit corporation, operating as a social economy enterprise, employs seven people for the café kitchen and the inn's housekeeping. The inn welcomes guests year-round, but the café is open from Friday to Sunday. It serves a healthy menu featuring local products, available for dining in or takeout.

Working with history, heritage, landscapes, and regional traditions, and making them the foundation of their actions. Ensuring community ownership of the development of the services it needs. Placing local and regional attractions, as well as the expertise of the people of Kamouraska, in the foreground. This is what motivates and inspires the Maison Jean-Baptiste team.

A warm and friendly stop awaits visitors passing through Kamouraska.

La Maison de Jean-Baptiste
lamaisondejeanbaptiste.com
5, route de l’Église
Saint-Denis-De-La-Bouteillerie (Québec) G0L 2R0
418.894.2213

They say that a people or community's future depends on knowing its history. If that's true, a visit to the Acadian Historical Village in Blanchard, near Caraquet, is a must for anyone interested in the history of Acadia and its people.

From June to September, the Village showcases the daily life of Acadians from 1770 to 1949, thanks to some forty historical buildings brought to life by costumed, bilingual interpreters. This vast open-air museum also offers a hotel and a restaurant, in addition to activities and entertainment.

Located in the heart of the Village, the Château Albert Hotel offers 14 rooms and is a replica of the Château Albert, built in 1907 in Caraquet. The rooms respect the historic character, with a few minor details. Enjoy the tranquility of yesteryear in a modern setting. A buffet breakfast is offered to guests.

During a visit to the Historical Village, you can also treat yourself to a snack or a delicious meal. The Village Café-Bistro is a 40-seat family restaurant with a terrace, near the Village entrance. It offers a menu of Acadian dishes and contemporary cuisine staples, as well as a selection of specialty coffees. Open from June 6 to September 16, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

La Table des Ancêtres is housed in the historic Dugas house. The 30-seat restaurant offers traditional Acadian dishes, in addition to the best sugar pie in the region. Discover the delights of yesteryear served with love, just like at Grandma's, from June 6 to September 16, 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

The 2024 season has started since June 6. Season passes are available for visits all summer long, for the whole family. The Acadian Historical Village identifies as LGBTQ+ friendly (homosympa).

Acadian Historical Village
villagehistoriqueacadien.com
506.726.2600
5, rue du Pont
Bertrand, NB E1W 0E1

 For over 25 years, Magella Landry, once a commercial crab fisherman with several boats who spent his winters in Montréal, was involved in the tourism development of Natashquan and the Côte-Nord. Today, he has returned to a somewhat less hectic life, managing and promoting the Auberge Port d'Attache, which he built and has operated since 1995.

Located at the western entrance to the village, directly on the shores of the Golfe St-Laurent, the inn offers eight individually decorated rooms, each with a telephone and television. Guests can also relax in the reading room or simply admire the stunning view. In the morning, guests have breakfast with other travellers in the dining room, lovingly prepared by the chef, who takes pleasure in serving eggs, pancakes, or French toast. All of this is included in the room rate.

 
Like many other villages in the region, tourist accommodation is rather limited in Natashquan. The issue has been addressed in recent years with the aim of providing housing for workers and newcomers. A stay at the Port d'Attache is filled with fond memories, as the place is beautifully decorated with antique furniture, historical images, and paintings depicting local scenes, among other things.

Magella Landry remains an important figure in the Macacain scene*, having been vice-president of Tourisme Côte-Nord and president of the tourism and cultural development organization that recently became Destination Natashquan.

 
He also became involved and coordinated, in the mid-2010s, along with about a hundred other citizens, a movement dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Gilles Vigneault heritage site in Natashquan, or, in other words, to ensure the survival of "La Source." The aim was to prevent the sale of this site to private interests, which would spoil these places steeped in history, and to halt the deterioration of the buildings, which will soon be irreversible.

The people of Natashquan wanted to save these buildings (two houses and three outbuildings) to create a living memorial, a place to share the poet's source of inspiration, a welcoming space for creation, and an artist residency. A national fundraising campaign was launched to raise $500,000 for the Natashquan Fund for the Preservation of the Source. "A very small sum considering the scope of the act of remembrance and transmission of the source that the people of this tiny village are committed to carrying out for the entire province," said Magella Landry at the campaign launch.

After all these years of dedication, and in order to better care for his family, the innkeeper is considering finding a buyer for his inn. With no family member to take over, he must look elsewhere. He hopes a local or regional buyer will come forward when the time is right. The inn is open year-round and has an exceptional location, ideal for both those who appreciate beautiful scenery in the summer and snowmobilers in the winter.

And a word to the wise: the water in the bay at Natashquan is sometimes warmer for swimming than the surrounding air during the summer.

Auberge Port d'Attache
aubergeleportdattache.ca70, rue du Pré
Natashquan (Québec) G0G 2E0
418 726-3569

* Macacain: According to some, the demonym "Macacain" is said to be derived from "Acadian," the people from whom the inhabitants of Natashquan are descended.

As soon as you climb the grand exterior staircase, turn around to admire the fantastic seascape, step through the front door, and find yourself in the reception hall, you know you've just entered a very special place.

The low, coffered ceilings reflect the distant origins of this building, inaugurated in 1892. Located in the heart of the village of Grande-Vallée, a few steps from the wharf and the beach, the Hôtel-motel Grande-Vallée and its restaurant L'Aubergine welcome guests in a unique setting worthy of a haven of peace.
Its 12 rooms, located in the main building (7) and the attached motel section (5), all feature country or rustic décor in the hotel and a more standard style in the motel. But comfort is assured throughout.
The L'Aubergine dining room serves breakfast and dinner menus created by chef-owner Stéphanie Nadeau. A wide range of dishes and drinks is available to satisfy every appetite, plus the stunning view from the dining room.
She and her partner, Mathieu Le Guerrier, fell in love with the place in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, while staying there on vacation. After learning that the owners at the time had been trying to sell for five years, wanting to retire after 18 years, they made an offer that was accepted. Lifelong enthusiasts of the restaurant and hospitality industry, and having worked in the field for over 25 years, they had long dreamed of one day owning their own establishment.
In April 2021, they became the owners, having left their respective long-term jobs in the restaurant and bar industry in Montréal, just as the pandemic had forced them to close. With their two children, they settled in Grande-Vallée, in a house next to the hotel, and took on their new roles as hoteliers and restaurateurs.
They benefited from the sellers' support for a year. The establishment employs 17 people, including 4 students. Except for brief periods in spring and fall, the hotel is open year-round. In summer, you'll want to enjoy the sandy beach in the heart of the village, which runs right up to the hotel. 

In winter, the proximity of snowmobile trails brings its share of seasonal guests.

Hôtel-Motel Grande-Vallée
hotelgrandevallee.com
37, rue du Quai
Grande-Vallée (Québec) G0E 1K0
418.393.2648

Steve and his partner acquired this cottage property five years ago, on an exceptional seaside site. It features 8 newly built cottages: 4 family cottages, two of which sleep up to 7, and 4 others sleeping a maximum of 5.

Domaine Repos du pirate is located at the eastern end of Sainte-Flavie, very close to the Institut Maurice-Lamontagne, a renowned and important Pêches et Océans Canada research centre. Every unit offers everything you need for a comfortable stay and to feel at home. Guests also have access to a shared outdoor spa, outdoor fire pits, BBQs, a children's playground, and direct access to the beach.

For the past five years, it has welcomed seasonal or temporary workers at local institutions and businesses, as well as small groups and families on vacation. Some return year after year.

Flower and garden lovers will appreciate being close to the Jardins de Mitis, a renowned and always fascinating attraction.

Domaine Repos du Pirate
domainereposdupirate.com
780, route de la Mer
Sainte-Flavie, QC GOJ 2L0
418.509.4675

If André Desrochers and his wife and partner Marie-Josée have been running the La Maison Verte guesthouse and campground in Pointe-à-la-Croix for 26 years as of 2023, it's because they have a passion for holidays. Not their own, of course, but those of the thousands of travellers and vacationers who have stayed at their property since then.

 
Encounters here are welcoming and genuine, and shared moments matter to the hosts. Native to the region, they proudly represent and promote the community's way of life. André graduated from Cégep de Matane in Tourism. During his 18-month program, he gained practical experience across a wide range of fields. He knows the region and its attractions well and can therefore serve as an excellent guide for visitors.

 André Desrochers, owner

The La Maison Verte guesthouse in Pointe-à-la-Croix, Gaspésie, where the Baie-des-Chaleurs begins, offers three sumptuous rooms as well as two small apartments and a larger one for rent. The bright rooms overlook nature.

   
It occupies a century-old house, built in 1920 by a wealthy American as a seasonal vacation home and moved from the banks of the Restigouche by André Desrochers' family in 1978. Set on new foundations, the house was rented out for several years until André and Marie-Josée undertook to transform it into a guesthouse in 1997.

All around the house, several restful spots have been created under the trees, around flower boxes or near fire pits, allowing vacationers to relax while enjoying nature.

Note that major renovation work was carried out in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID pandemic, when tourist accommodations were not accessible.

  
In addition, the guesthouse offers two chalets set slightly back on the banks of the Petite rivière-du-Loup. They are rented fully equipped, bedding included.

Make way for nature camping
As for the neighbouring campground, which belonged to the Desrochers family, it was established a long time ago but closed in 1965.

 
It was with the opening of the guesthouse that things really got going again. The site offers over 125 naturally laid-out campsites. The land is landscaped to respect the trees and the natural contours of the forest. What's more, tree clearing is minimal, and each site is unique, respecting the mature flora and fauna on the property. Located in a stunningly beautiful setting on the banks of the Petite rivière-du-Loup, a small, tranquil trout stream, the campground offers sites with one to three hookups.

 
As André Desrochers points out, this campground is run more like a park than a vacation camp. There are no blaring loudspeakers or activity leaders organizing pétanque tournaments. Of all the campers, only two are seasonal. The site is open from late April to mid-November. A maritime microclimate ensures mild and pleasant temperatures most of the time. Sheltered from the sometimes very strong winds of the Baie-des-Chaleurs, camping here is peaceful. And as an added bonus, there are views of the mountain and the river.

 
A strategic crossroads for travellers
Located a few minutes from Campbelton, Nouveau-Brunswick, La Maison Verte in Gaspésie sits at the meeting point of three routes: the road from Québec via Matapédia, Route 132 which circles the Gaspésie peninsula, and the bridge to Nouveau-Brunswick and the Maritimes.

 
The possibilities for activities in the surrounding area are endless, since La Maison Verte in Gaspésie is located where several culturally distinct territories meet. It's well worth the detour.

 
The hosts take the time to guide visitors to local activities and businesses. There's no doubt that the presence of numerous visitors at La Maison Verte has a significant and positive impact on the local economy.

 
Gîte et chalets La Maison Verte
lamaisonverte-gaspesie.com
216, chemin de la Petite-Rivière-du-Loup
Pointe-à-la-Croix (QC) G0C 1L0
418-788-2342

Camping Gaspésien La Maison Verte
lamaisonverte-gaspesie.com/camping-2
79, rue des Méandres
Pointe-à-la-Croix (Qc) G0C 1L0
418-788-2342

Don't be fooled: the innkeepers won't have you walking through a dark corridor behind a building to welcome you to La Ruelle in Saint-Siméon-de-Bonaventure. On the contrary, as soon as you set foot on the grounds of this tourist complex, created in 2013 by Marie-Josée Dugas and Serge Boulanger, you feel as though you're entering an estate where the beautiful ancestral and heritage Arsenault-Gallagher house stands in the foreground.

Initially, the couple decided to establish the La Ruelle fur workshop-boutique there, since Serge has been a fur craftsman since 1977. He offers exclusive clothing and accessories made from fur and other reclaimed materials. He chose to recreate an alleyway from Vieux-Québec as the décor, to set the right context for his products. That's how La Ruelle came to be.
Then in 2017, when the welcoming duo of entrepreneurs transformed a stable on their handsome property into two tourist apartments, and the following year also created a loft in their century-old house, the name La Ruelle was already well established.
As Marie-Josée explains, “I personally welcome every person or group who comes to stay here, and I give them all the information they need to feel welcome and at ease with our concept. I want them to feel at home.”
La Ruelle accommodations offer three beautiful tourist apartments for extended stays of at least 7 days during the high season. Aimed particularly at tourists and business travellers, the three units, offering one or two bedrooms, stand out for their chic yet rustic décor, featuring repurposed materials and works by Gaspé artists and artisans.

Outside, the splendid landscaping, with its pathways and vegetation dominated by large, mature trees, dates from the late 1970s and was enhanced by the current owners around 2010, heightening the natural beauty of the site near the sea. Guests can also enjoy a terrace with a barbecue and an outdoor fire pit in summer. The beach, on Chaleur Bay, is just a few minutes' walk away.

With the La Ruelle workshop-boutique housed in the ancestral home, you'll find a comfortable complex in a place steeped in art, nature, and heritage!” Worth noting: Serge Boulanger has just transferred ownership of his boutique and his expertise to Édith Dubuc and Caroline Hardy as part of a succession project. Since October 2022, they have been operating Les Loutres d’hiver – Récupération de fourrure, which can be visited by appointment.
Don't miss the chance to visit the ancestral home (1820) and its beautifully landscaped heritage trail, created in summer 2021. Featuring eight interpretive panels in French and English about the Arsenault-Gallagher ancestral home, it is open daily for self-guided visits from May 15 to October 15.
The panels reflect the architectural features of the house, as well as the families who lived there and their social and historical circumstances. More broadly, they invite you to explore over 200 years of history of Petit-Bonaventure (now Saint-Siméon-de-Bonaventure). Their content is drawn from information presented in a historical journal and an exhibition produced in 2020 and 2021.

La Ruelle
laruelle.ca
253, Boul. Perron Est
Saint-Siméon-de-Bonaventure, QC G0C 3A0
418.534.4143

Pierre Perreault

The guest house La Mer Veille It has been part of the local landscape for 23 years. However, the ancestral home that houses it was built in 1880. It was converted by its owner to accommodate six fully equipped studios, encouraging stays of five days or more.
The site was largely spared by the high tides of December 6, 2010, which, combined with strong winds, caused flooding and devastated land in several places along the coast, from Rimouski to Sainte-Flavie among others.

Damien RuestDamien Ruest, who served as mayor of Sainte-Flavie for four years in the 2010s, and his partner Lise, are welcoming and charming hosts. Their establishment on the banks of the Saint-Laurent is well located right at the entrance to the village of Sainte-Flavie. With the Québec and Patriotes flags proudly displayed by this longtime independence activist, it's hard to miss. A well-maintained municipal park with family-friendly facilities is right next door.
Seasonal workers, small families passing through, and tourists from all over come to stay throughout the year. Many return regularly.
The La Mer Veille guest house is certainly worth considering if you're looking for peace and relaxation on the banks of the great river.

Motel La Mer Veille
motellamerveille.net
336, route de la Mer
Sainte-Flavie, Qc G0J 2L0
418-775-1700

A visit organized in May 2023 as part of the first presentation of Fierté Charlevoix, in collaboration with the organization Fierté agricole de la région, allowed about thirty people to discover the result of a dream shared by two enthusiasts: Muscovy duck farming combined with a country guesthouse in an exceptional setting in Saint-Hilarion.

Alexis Tanguay and Aleck Vitam, friends and partners in life for almost 10 years, embarked on this agricultural entrepreneurship project in 2021. “The creation of an agricultural business quickly became a life project allowing us to reconcile our ambitions and our personal values,” explains Aleck.

The two partners share much more than the tasks involved in livestock farming, food production, and running their tourist guesthouse. They are both driven by a deep conviction of the importance of challenging the status quo and constantly seeking innovation and elevation in flavours, service, business practices, and human relationships.

“For us, it is imperative to place people at the centre of all decisions and to promote respect, inclusion and personal development, both for our partners and for members of our community,” explains Alexis.

Their impact on the environment is also central to their concerns. Both strive to remain aware of excesses in order to avoid them, and always seek to acknowledge and correct their mistakes in a world bigger than ourselves.

“We must always question the ecological and social footprint of our practices and decisions, with a vision focused on a clean, equitable and profitable future,” adds Aleck, who has a pronounced environmentalist streak, with a touch of the philosopher. “For me, philosophy is the foundation of all science,” he says.

 
To that end, he notes that their duck is free-range and pasture-fed, for a flavour truly rooted in the culinary terroir of Québec and Charlevoix. The birds are not force-fed and are treated well. For Alexis, “guaranteeing the quality of all our products by adhering to the highest standards and using fresh, locally sourced ingredients is what constantly drives us.” While duck may be unfamiliar to some, tastings help people appreciate it.

Because, beyond producing these ducks (which arrive as freshly hatched ducklings and are raised through to slaughter for consumption), the marketing of the shop and its fine duck products, lovingly prepared on site, takes up much of their time and energy.

 
Every weekend for almost three seasons, they set up stalls at public markets in Québec, Saint-Irénée, La Malbaie, and Baie Saint-Paul, rotating between them depending on the events. Their products are also distributed to a few retail outlets and shops in Charlevoix, and appear on the menus of some good restaurants in the region. The ducks and their products are also sold directly at the farm.

Ambrosia Farm therefore has a dual mission: to welcome people for a unique agritourism stay at its guesthouse and to produce flavourful and inspiring food, with respect for the environment and animal welfare.

To this end, seeking to become an agritourism destination in the region, the farm has secured financial assistance of $14,000 from the MRC Charlevoix, as part of a $55,823 farm financing project, to obtain new equipment, reduce dependence on subcontractors and facilitate the development of new products.

 
The company also plans to set up a shop at the farm, a picnic area, structures for observing the ducks, and interpretive signs to enhance self-guided visits.

 
As for the guesthouse, it already offers three carefully furnished bedrooms, each with access to a beautiful bathroom. Breakfast is served every morning. Guests also have access to the common areas of the house during their stay. Several outdoor activities are available on-site and in the area around Saint-Hilarion.

Ferme Ambrosia
fermeambrosia.com
335 Rang 1
Saint-Hilarion (QC) G0A 3V0
(418) 400-8283

No visit to Tadoussac is complete without a stroll down Rue du Bord-de-l'Eau to admire the bay and its sheltered marina. This street captures the very soul of Tadoussac. It's easy to understand why locals remain captivated by the views before them - since 2000, Tadoussac Bay has belonged to an exclusive club of the world's most beautiful bays, alongside San Francisco Bay and the Bay of Mont-St-Michel in France.

Standing proudly over the bay is an unmistakable landmark: the elegant white-and-red Hôtel Tadoussac. Everything about this property speaks to its exceptional character - from the vibrant flower gardens and towering trees that surround it, to its history-rich interior with period furnishings, renowned dining room, and breathtaking views.

 

The story of the hotel begins in 1864, when wealthy families from Montreal and Quebec City built the original Hôtel Tadoussac. That first building boasted a grand façade with twelve windows spread across three floors. After changing hands in 1879 for $12,000, it underwent its first major renovation in 1888. Sadly, the original hotel was destroyed in the fall of 1941.

A new chapter began in 1942, when William Hugh Coverdale, an Ontario businessman and president of Canada Steamship Lines, rebuilt the hotel. When it opened its doors on June 27th that year, the new hotel offered 137 rooms to welcome guests.

  

Today's Hôtel Tadoussac carries forward its rich heritage while embracing the future. Though it has changed hands several times, it remains a cherished destination for travelers from around the world.

At the helm since 2000 is Tina Tremblay, who brings her own deep connection to Tadoussac. A graduate of Université Laval's business program in 1981, Tina joined the hotel as financial controller in 1985. She has guided the property through five different ownerships, including three changes between 2005 and 2016, when it was acquired by its current owner, a Canadian real estate management company.

The hotel's reputation as a regional leader in sustainable development owes much to Tina's dedication. Her commitment runs deep - not only does she work on Rue du Bord-de-l'Eau, she calls it home. Born in Tadoussac, she grew up playing on these very grounds and the nearby beach, where her grandmother also lived.

 General Manager since 2000, Tina Tremblay.

Today's guests can enjoy a full range of activities - from swimming and tennis to hiking and whale-watching excursions. The celebrated Coverdale dining room anchors the culinary experience, complemented by two additional venues: William and Café Lounge Coquart. With 60% of visitors coming from Europe, and year-round conference facilities hosting up to 200 people, the hotel buzzes with international energy.

 

Each June, Tadoussac welcomes the Happening des arts, launching the summer season. In 2025, from June 6th to 8th, artists will once again transform the streets into living galleries, creating works in real time across promenades and outdoor spaces - a truly immersive celebration of art against a stunning backdrop.

 

The Hôtel Tadoussac remains a key partner of this event, which grew from the Tadoussac Song Festival that Tina helped create in 1984. Each year, she also welcomes medical students from Université de Sherbrooke, who combine their conference with enjoying the festival's performances.

Tina's connection to local heritage extends beyond the hotel - she co-owns the historic Maison Tremblay, her family's home for four generations. Now available for rental, this century-old house offers a unique gathering space where families can come together, accommodating up to ten guests across five bedrooms.

Hôtel Tadoussac
hoteltadoussac.com
165, Rue du Bord-de-l'Eau
Tadoussac, QC G0T 2A0
(418) 235-4421