Rimouski & Bic
A seaside city on the south shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary, close to the seals and sunsets of Bic National Park, the Empress of Ireland museum and Reford Gardens.
Rimouski lies in Quebec's Bas-Saint-Laurent region on the south shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary. With about 50,000 residents, it is a regional administrative and university centre and one of Canada's major marine research hubs. The estuary here is over 40 km wide, and its salt water and tides make it feel like the open sea; locals proudly claim one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Summers are cool and pleasant, around 20°C by day, and Jun–Sep is the best time to visit for seals, kayaking and gardens; leaves turn red from late September to early October; winters are cold and snowy, and most attractions close. There are three main areas: Bic National Park, about 20 km west, is the highlight, with seals often on the rocks in the bays and sunsets from the top of Pic Champlain; about 8 km east, the Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site has the Empress of Ireland museum, a lighthouse and the Onondaga submarine, which you can go inside; downtown has a waterfront promenade, a regional museum in an old church, and summer boats to Île Saint-Barnabé. About 35 km further east are the Reford Gardens (Jardins de Métis), famous for Himalayan blue poppies, with the Grand Rassemblement sculptures in Sainte-Flavie on the way; about 30 km south is the suspension bridge at Canyon des Portes de l'Enfer. Getting there: about 3 hours by car from Quebec City on Highway 20; there is also VIA Rail's Ocean train and a small airport. Attractions are spread out, so driving is recommended, and you can continue east to the Gaspé Peninsula. Plan 2 days; most attractions are open only from June to October.
Top sights
- Parc national du Bic – A cape and small bays at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. At low tide seals bask on the rocks, and its sunset is widely considered one…
- Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père – A museum commemorating the 1914 sinking of the Empress of Ireland, with a lighthouse that is Canada's second tallest, which you can climb f…
- Jardins de Métis (Reford Gardens) – A British-style garden created by Elsie Reford at the estuary, famous for its rare Himalayan blue poppies and the annual International Gard…
- Pic Champlain – The highest point in Bic National Park, overlooking bay-dotted islands and the estuary. Widely regarded as the best place to watch the suns…
- Onondaga Submarine – Canada's first retired submarine opened to the public. Wear an audio guide and squeeze through cramped compartments to experience the crew'…
- Île Saint-Barnabé – An uninhabited small island across from Rimouski. A short ferry ride takes you there for hiking, with legends of an 18th-century hermit and…
- Promenade de la Mer – A city seaside promenade along the St. Lawrence estuary, with benches and sculptures facing the great river. A good spot to watch the sunse…
- Canyon des Portes de l'Enfer – A deep gorge carved by the Rimouski River, with Quebec's highest suspension bridge spanning the canyon about 63 meters above the ground.
- Le Grand Rassemblement, Sainte-Flavie – More than a hundred concrete figures walk from the river toward the shore. This large outdoor installation is the work of artist Marcel Gag…
- Musée régional de Rimouski – A museum housed in an 1824 stone-built old church, showing contemporary art, science, and local history.
- Maison Lamontagne – A mid-18th-century house with stone-infilled timber framing, one of the oldest surviving houses in eastern Quebec.
Where to eat
- Narval – A Michelin one-star restaurant in Rimouski serving a seasonal tasting menu built on wild and local ingredients from eas…
- Le Crêpe Chignon Café – A popular Rimouski crêperie opened in 1998, serving buckwheat crêpes from breakfast through dessert.
- Auberge du Mange-Grenouille Restaurant – A long-established inn restaurant on the Bic harbour, where more than thirty local suppliers shape a menu of Lower St…
Itineraries
- Gaspé Peninsula Loop Self-Drive – Drive along Route 132 around the peninsula, visiting Bic, the Chic-Choc Mountains, Forillon, and Percé.