Havre-Saint-Pierre

Havre-Saint-Pierre (population 3337, 2021) is a tiny seaside village in a remote corner of Quebec's North Shore, in the region of Minganie. The town is also noted for the excellent fishing, being made up largely of snow crab, scallops, and lobster, with excellent salmon and trout to be found in the numerous rivers and lakes.

Understand

Havre-Saint-Pierre is on Pointe-aux-Esquimaux on the Quebec North Shore (Côte-Nord). It began as a fishing and lumbering town when settlers arrived from the Magdalen Islands in the 19th century. The dialect spoken is more closely related to Acadian French than to Quebec French.

It is part of the regional of Minganie, on the Route des Baleines and the Route Nature aux mille délices (gourmet route).

The city hospital is the major employer in the region. Tourism contributes significantly to the local economy due to the town's position near the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, a park encompassing a large number of islands in Mingan Archipelago of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It is noted for the unique variety of flora and fauna to be found there, such as puffins and the rare Mingan Thistle, and for the unique geological features on many of the islands referred to as "monoliths".

The town is a seaport handling ilmenite, an iron-titanium ore brought by rail from a Quebec Iron and Titanium Company mine 40 km (25 miles) northwest on the Romaine River.

Its many rivers and lakes include the Romaine River to the northwest and Manitou Falls on the Manitou River to the west.

History

In 1857, a group of Acadian families from the Magdalen Islands, who had been deported from Savannah (Georgia, USA), settled on Eskimo Point (Pointe aux Esquimaux). The first mass was held on in 1857, on the day of the feast of Saint Peter (Saint Pierre).

Climate

In spite of its maritime position just above the 50th parallel, Havre-Saint-Pierre has a relatively harsh subarctic climate, with cold winters and cool summers. It has high precipitation with a lot of snowfall in winter.

Get in

Havre-Saint-Pierre is 218 km (120 mi) east of Sept-Îles on Route 138.

In the territory of Havre-Saint-Pierre, the shortest distance (in a direct line) between the continental Côte-Nord (La Grande Pointe) and Anticosti Island (point jutting north in Anse Girard, near the mouth of the Nugg River) is 41 km. La Grande Pointe is 12 km southeast of downtown Havre-Saint-Pierre.

By car

Havre-Saint-Pierre is located on Route 138 east of Sept-Îles.

Route 138 from Sept-Îles is the only road in the region; it continues through Havre-Saint-Pierre east to Natashquan (154 km) and Kegaska (an additional 48 km), where it reaches an abrupt dead end. The route re-appears about 400 km later at Vieux-Fort, near Blanc Sablon.

By bus

By plane
  • 🌍 Havre-Saint-Pierre Airport (YGV  IATA) (5.6 km (3.5 mi) north of the city). Airport operated by Aeropro owned by Transport Canada serving the regions of Labrador, lower and central North Shore, southern Quebec and Anticosti Island. Operates various scheduled flights from other towns in Québec from its one 4500-foot runway. It has Thrifty and Discount car rentals available. (updated Jul 2022)

By boat
  • Relais Nordik, toll-free: +1-800-463-0680. M/V Bella Desgagnés operates seasonally (early April to early October), carrying passengers and cargo to several otherwise inaccessible communities that depend on this vessel for supplies. The boat travels between Rimouski and Blanc-Sablon including stops in Sept-Îles, Port-Menier (on Anticosti), Havre-Saint-Pierre, Kegaska, La Romaine, Harrington Harbour, Tête-à-la-Baleine, La Tabatière, and Saint-Augustin. Scheduled travel time to Havre-Saint-Pierre from Rimouski is almost 1 day 6.75 hours, from Sept-Îles is 15.25 hours, from Port-Menier is 5.25 hours, and from Blanc-Sablon is 1 day 19.75 hours. One round trip occurs per week. Due varying sailing conditions, the operator recommends booking onward connections 36 to 48 hours after the scheduled arrival time of the boat. (updated May 2022)

Get around

See
  • 🌍 Maison de la Culture Roland Jomphe (Cultural centre), 957, rue de la Berge, ☏ +1 418-538-2450. Mid-Jun to early Sep: daily 09:00-21:00. Former Labrador Stores General Store, Wells, of the Hudson's Bay Company built in 1943. In this old general store near the tourist sector, it houses a permanent exhibit entitled L’Autre Roman (the Other Tale), which relates the history of Havre-Saint-Pierre since 1857. Guided tours are offered (updated Jul 2022)
  • Little Island of Marteau Lighthouse (Petite Ile au Marteau Lighthouse), Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve (boat trips provided by Boreale Services Maritimes late Jun to mid-Aug). (updated Apr 2019)

Do
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Cycling
  • Quad - ATV. Snowmobiling
  • 🌍 Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, 1340 de la Digue Street, ☏ +1 418-538-3285, toll-free: +1-888-773-8888. Park encompassing a large number of islands in the Mingan Archipelago of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence with unique geological features (monoliths). Flora and fauna include puffins and the rare Mingan Thistle. $5.80/person (not including boat transportation to the islands). (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Pourvoirie Baie-Johan-Beetz, 15, rue Johan-Beetz, Baie-Johan-Beetz, ☏ +1 418-365-5021, toll-free: +1-877-393-0557, fax: +1 418-365-3352, . Salmon fishing outfitter with seven-room inn 66 km east of Havre-Saint-Pierre. Baie-Johan-Beetz is one of the last villages before Route 138 ends. (updated Jul 2022)

Buy

Eat
  • 🌍 Casse-croûte au Capayou, 1284 Boréale, ☏ +1 418-538-2122. W-Su 11:00-20:00. Fast food - burgers and fries. (updated Apr 2019)
  • 🌍 Casse-croûte Mille Sabords, 1280, rue de la Digue, ☏ +1 418-538-1272. Restaurant. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Chez Julie, 1023 Rue Dulcinee, ☏ +1 418-538-3070. Daily 16:00-22:00. Family restaurant. Seafood and non-seafood dishes. (updated Apr 2019)
  • 🌍 Le Minganois, Promenade des Anciens, ☏ +1 418-538-1259. From Thursday to Saturday: 16:00 to 00:00. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Restaurant la Promenade, 1197 Promenade des Anciens, ☏ +1 418-538-1718. M-F 11:00-20:30; Sa 07:00-21:00; Su 07:00-20:30. Seafood, pizzas and pub food. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Relais Nordik, 1186, boulevard de l'Escale. (updated Jul 2022)

Markets

Drink

Bar

Liquor store

Sleep

Inns

Hotels

Motels

Gîtes
  • 🌍 4 season cottage (Gîte 4 saisons), 1264, rue Boréale, ☏ +1 418-538-1329, fax: +1 418-538-1532, . Private bathrooms, high-speed wireless Internet access, free private, lighted parking, common lounge, outdoor park with swing, pets not allowed, completely non-smoking establishment Breakfast included. Classified 4 suns by the CITQ (Quebec Tourism Industry Corporation). (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Au Gîte chez Françoise, 1122 Boréale, ☏ +1 418-538-3778, toll-free: +1-855-219-3778, fax: +1 418-538-1926, . Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Two bedrooms with private bathrooms, three studios and access to a shared kitchenette. Internet access, laundry room, BBQ, completely non-smoking establishment, garage for snowmobiles, motorcycles and bicycles, two bicycles available, outlet for electric car charging. Rated 3 suns by the CITQ (Quebec Tourism Industry Corporation). Warm welcome from the Acadiens. from $68. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Gîte de Jeanne d'Arc, 1253, rue du Canot, ☏ +1 418-538-2793. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Gîte de l'Anse, 1704, rue de l'Anse, ☏ +1 418-538-1602, . Four rooms. Private and shared bathroom, two common living rooms, a kitchenette, wireless high-speed Internet. Continental breakfast included. View of the Mingan Islands allowing you to observe marine mammals, direct access to the beach. Rated 3 suns by Tourisme Québec. From $90. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Gîte Dupuis, 1126, rue Duvet, ☏ +1 418-538-2082. (updated Jul 2022)

Camping

Connect

All three major cellphone/mobile networks provide coverage in the town and the surrounding area; however, there are large areas along the roads to Sept-Îles and Keshaga (Dec 2018) not served.

Go next
  • 🌍 Anticosti This natural island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is the largest island in Quebec. It is known for its outdoor activities, fishing and deer hunting. Main attractions: falls of the Vauréal river, the Petit Canyon of the Chicotte river, Port-Meunier, observation of flora and fauna.
  • 🌍 Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan Located in Minganie, this waterfront municipality showcases its long fine sandy beach, its wooden waterfront promenade along the beach, hunting & fishing activities, resorts, excursions to the islands, its museum on marine mammals... as well as services for travelers and tourists.
  • 🌍 Baie-Johan-Beetz Located in Minganie, this picturesque municipality showcases its natural resources to serve travelers and tourists: its bucolic coastline, its magnificent bays, its islands along the coast, the Quetachou Falls trail, the Pontbriand River park, the Château Johan-Beetz, its municipal campsite, its BJB Solidarity COOP, hunting and fishing activities, and vacationing.
  • 🌍 Lac-Jérôme Unorganized territory of RCM Minganie, in Côte-Nord region. This territory is a hunting & fishing paradise under the aegis of outfitters, with access by seaplane. It can be crossed by snowmobile.
  • 🌍 Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve One of the four National Parks of Canada in Quebec. String of islands near the coast known for their monoliths and for birdwatching. The park is located approximately 80 km (50 mi) east of Rivière-au-Tonnerre along Route 138, or facing Havre-Saint-Pierre.
Routes through Havre-Saint-Pierre
Quebec City ← Sept-Îles ←  W  E  → Natashquan → → Blanc-Sablon


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