Saguenay (Chicoutimi)
The regional hub of the Saguenay fjord area. The Old Port Trail, a pulp mill museum and La Baie are all nearby. Ice fishing and the snowy landscapes of Monts-Valin are also famous in winter.
Saguenay is in central Quebec, at the upper reaches of the Saguenay River fjord. It was formed in 2002 by merging Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie and other towns. It is the central city of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region and has a strong French-speaking culture. The Saguenay River flows out of Lac Saint-Jean and turns into a deep fjord here, then flows east toward Tadoussac and the Saint Lawrence River.
Sightseeing falls into several areas. In downtown Chicoutimi, there is the Pulperie de Chicoutimi museum, the Petite Maison Blanche (the little white house that survived the great flood), the Vieux-Port waterfront park and the cathedral. La Baie, on Baie des Ha! Ha!, has the Musée du fjord and fjord boat tours, hosts large historical plays in summer, and sees ice-fishing shanty villages appear on the bay in winter. In Jonquière, Alma has the world's first aluminum bridge. A day trip north leads to Monts-Valin National Park. Heading east brings you to the New France heritage site on the south shore of the fjord and the covered-bridge village of Baie-Saint-Jean. Heading west, the historic village of Val-Jalbert sits on the shore of Lac Saint-Jean. Downriver, Baie-Éternité and Sainte-Rose-du-Nord are usually visited together with Tadoussac.
June–September is best for fjord cruises, kayaking and hiking, with fall colours peaking in late September to early October. Winters are long and cold, often reaching -20°C, but snowshoeing, dog sledding, snowmobiling and ice fishing are distinctive. Saguenay–Bagotville Airport has flights to Montréal. Driving from Quebec City takes about 2.5 hours via Route 175, which crosses the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, and long-distance buses also run. Attractions are spread out, so renting a car is recommended. A stay of 3–4 days is suggested.
Top sights
- La Pulperie de Chicoutimi – A regional museum in a century-old pulp mill. Among the red-brick mill buildings and waterfall remains, it displays the colorful painted ho…
- Old Port of Chicoutimi – A riverside park on the Saguenay River, where trails, piers and summer festivals come together. Sightseeing boats depart from here for the…
- La Baie & Baie des Ha! Ha! – A small town on Ha! Ha! Bay, at the inland end of the Saguenay Fjord. Visitors can take cruises into the fjord, visit the fjord museum, or…
- Monts-Valin National Park – A highland forest park north of Saguenay where snow piles up to five metres deep in winter, and ice-laden spruce form the eerie Ghost Valle…
- Val-Jalbert Historic Village – A pulp-mill ghost town on the shores of Lake Saint-Jean, with 1920s houses and the 72-metre Ouiatchouan Falls right beside it.
- Little White House (Petite Maison Blanche) – The little white house that stood firm in the 1996 Saguenay flood, perched on rocks beside a waterfall as a symbol of the city's resilience.
- Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux – An outdoor adventure park on the north shore of the fjord, offering treetop zip lines, fjord kayaking and the chance to sleep in spherical…
- La Fabuleuse Histoire d'un Royaume – A large historical production staged since 1988, with over a hundred volunteer actors, horses and fireworks retelling the history of Saguen…
- L'Anse-Saint-Jean & Covered Bridge – A pretty village on the south shore of the fjord, home to a red covered bridge once printed on Canada's $1,000 bill, with kayaking, horseba…
- Site de la Nouvelle-France – A history theme park built on the set of the film Black Robe, recreating a 17th-century French colonial post and an Indigenous encampment.
- Arvida Aluminum Bridge – The world's first all-aluminium arch bridge, completed in 1950, located in Arvida, an aluminium town planned for smelter workers.
- Saint-François-Xavier Cathedral – A twin-towered Catholic cathedral overlooking the Saguenay River, a landmark of the city centre.
Where to eat
- La Cuisine Restaurant – A French bistro founded in 1994 that serves creative market cuisine made with local ingredients from the Saguenay–Lac-S…
- Inter Restaurant – A long-running favorite on Racine Street East for over thirty years, serving Italian-leaning world cuisine made with lo…
- La Voie Maltée Craft Beer Restaurant (Chicoutimi) – A local Saguenay craft beer brand founded in Jonquière in 2002. It brews its own ales and lagers, and the menu features…