of the Acadians, French residents of present-day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick who were deported by the British when they took control of those regions in 1755. Many Acadians immigrated to Louisiana, where they became known as “Cajuns,” while others settled in Québec—before it also fell to the British in 1760 and was officially ceded in 1763. Apivotal event in the Anglo-French conflict took place in 1760 on the Baie-des-Chaleurs near the mouth of the Restigouche River where British forces destroyed a French fleet sent to help liberate New France. The story of the battle is dramatically interpreted at a fine little museum on the site. Another worthwhile museum is located in Parc National de
it climbs the blunt forested hills and plateaus of the Gaspésie’s eastern boundary. Stopping for a break in the village of Amqui, we enjoyed a snack at a flower-bedecked al fresco café overlooking a pretty bubbling stream. We arrived back on the Saint Lawrence shore that evening at Sainte-Flavie (home of the Marcel Gagnon sculpture exposition) precisely where our circumnavigation of the peninsula had begun. Luckily we came upon a colorful multi-use complex called Capitaine Homard, appropriately designated by a large billboard featuring a luscious looking lobster. The place fit our every need as we nosed the Roadtrek into a camping space overlooking the river, and adjourned to
The interior of the 1854 Magasin Hyman Store at the Grand-Grave Interpretive Area has been restored and restocked to evoke the late 19th century.
Among the notable buildings preserved at the Grand Grave Interpretive Area at Forillon National Park is Ferme Blanchette, the 19th-century farm of Xavier Blanchette.
Site Historique du Banc-de-Paspebiac preserves buildings erected from the late-18th to mid-19th century by Jersey-based cod-fishing giant Robin & LeBoutillier Companies.
the restaurant for—you guessed it—the largest pair of lobsters we could locate inCapitaine Alain Bellavance’s tank—preceded by a mouthwatering smoked salmon salad and accompanied by crispy frites as only a French-inspired chef can make them. It was our last and best meal, bringing to a satisfying close a Gaspésie adventure that ranks among our best RV road trips ever.
Miguasha, near Nouvelle, just east of Pointe-à-la-Croix. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a paleontology museum displaying marine fossils discovered in the surrounding cliffs that formed the bottomof a lagoon some 180million years ago. The southern side of the Gaspé isn’t given over entirely to museums. We saw quite a number of anglers working several rivers—the Cascapédia, Matapédia, and Bonaventure among them—that are world famous for their salmon and trout fishing. Reason enough for us to return one day. Route 132 turns inland, following the Matapedia River north as
FOR MORE INFORMATION Tourism Québec : 877-266-5678 – bonjourQuébec.com Québec Maritime : 418-724-7889 – Québecmaritime.ca
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