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Lighthouses

Photo: Île Verte Lighthouse (Bas-Saint-Laurent) ©Claude Bouchard

Explore the Lighthouse Trail and discover the more than 40 lighthouses that dot the coastlines of Québec maritime. Proud witnesses to our regional history, many of these sentinels of the sea or their outbuildings have been given new life as museums, inns or cottages.

Lighthouses Packages

Welcome Aboard the Onondaga

Hôtel Rimouski / Centre de congrès

Starting from $94.00

per person, double occupancy, taxes not included Valid from June 9, 2012 to October 8, 2012

Lighthouses Road Trip Ideas

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The Gaspésie Tour

The Gaspésie Tour is a legendary scenic drive that loops around the huge Gaspé Peninsula. National Geographic Traveler included this region in its 20 Best Trips of 2011, while the renowned Michelin Green Guide gave it 3 stars.

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St. Lawrence Road Trips

In Québec maritime, ferries serve as an extension of the road network. In addition to allowing you to visit both shores of the St. Lawrence without retracing your steps, they are a novel way to travel and offer unique perspectives on the surrounding scenery and marine mammals.

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Testimonials about Lighthouses

April 2010

MotoVirée

Explore Scenic Drives by Motorcycle!

"Discover a tourism destination where roads run alongside the sea, mountains, valleys and rivers in a region dotted with rest areas, scenic lookouts and great gourmet finds." Read more »
The Lower North Shore: Where Sea Meets Sky

"The low horizon and the wide sea provide a perfect backdrop for unique sunsets." Read more »

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Highlights

Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre
The Cap-de-Bon-Désir Lighthouses is one of the most recent lighthouses to be built along the St. Lawrence. Participate in activities at the lighthouse to learn about the history of the St. Lawrence lighthouses and their lighthouse keepers.
Anticosti National Park
Proud witnesses to Anticosti's past, magnificent and easily accessible lighthouses still dot the coastline.
Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve of Canada
Petite Île au Marteau and Île aux Perroquets (Parrot Island) are both home to lighthouses and their outbuildings. Although not all of these buildings can be visited, find out more about them by participating in interpretive activities.

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Lighthouse Trail

Île Verte Lighthouse
Built on an island in 1809, the Île Verte Lighthouse was Québec’s first. Learn about the history of this lighthouse and the evolution of its light and sound systems. While you’re at it, you might even see a few belugas. You can spend the night in the lighthouse keeper’s home or the assistant keeper’s home, which have been converted into bed and breakfasts.

Photo: Pietro Canali

Petite île au Marteau Lighthouse
Located in the heart of the Mingan archipelago, the Petite île au Marteau Lighthouse lets you relive the era of lighthouse keepers of old. For a truly unforgettable experience, take part in a guided hike at night by the light of the capailloux lanterns (perforated metal containers with candles inside).

Photo: Nelson Boisvert

Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse
Built over 150 years ago, the Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse is the tallest in Canada. Climb to the top of the lighthouse in the company of a guide and learn about its history and workings.

Photo: Pietro Canali

Pointe-des-Monts Lighthouse
Visit the oldest lighthouse on the north shore of the St. Lawrence. Explore a seven-storey exhibit on the lives of the lighthouse keepers who operated it from 1830 to 1964. Four comfortable rooms are available in the keeper’s home, including a restaurant.

Photo: Pierre Rambaud / Le Cyclope

Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse
Recognized as a national historic site, this lighthouse is the second tallest in Canada. Climb its 128 steps to a unique view of the St. Lawrence. You will learn about the sinking of the Empress of Ireland and visit the submarine Onondaga.

Photo: Pietro Canali

L’Anse-à-la-Cabane Lighthouse
Built by the Government of Canada between 1870 and 1874, the Anse-à-la-Cabane Lighthouse served as a beacon to sailors and fishermen as they approached the Îles de la Madeleine. Still in operation today, the lighthouse is fully computerized.

Photo: Michel Bonato / Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine

La Martre Lighthouse
Still in operation, the La Martre Lighthouse has a unique wooden structure, and the original timing system controls the rotation of the light. The Musée des phares located nearby explains the evolution of the lighting systems as well as the operation and the important role of Québec lighthouses.

Photo: Pietro Canali

Bon-Désir Lighthouse
Located in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, the Bon-Désir Lighthouse is one of the youngest lighthouses along the St. Lawrence. The site offers various interpretation activities and is perfect for observing marine mammals from dry land.

Photo: Marc Loiselle / Tourisme Manicouagan

Pot à l’Eau-de-Vie Lighthouse
This unique lighthouse has been designated as a national historic monument. Take a guided tour and discover the surprising history of the small archipelago on which the lighthouse is located. The lighthouse was restored by the Société Duvetnor in 1989, which rents out rooms with a view of the sea.

Photo: Pietro Canali

Pointe à la Renommée Lighthouse
After spending 20 years in the port of Québec City, this lighthouse was brought home to its original location in 1997, making it the most travelled lighthouse in the world! The lighthouse sits on the site of the first maritime radio station in North America. It is home to two exhibits dedicated to radio operators and lighthouse keepers.

Photo: Jean-Pierre Huard

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