Hafen
Baie-Comeau

OVERVIEW

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of a massive hydroelectric dam that was built in the 1960s with cutting-edge technology that revolutionized the transmission of electricity. For an overview of the Jean-Lesage Generating Station, formerly known as the Manic-2, you will watch a fascinating video that shows how the generating station was constructed. It also explains the ground-breaking technology that drives the eight turbines, each of which weighs as much as 100 elephants. Building the towering dam and the turbines within it was an enormous undertaking because the structure holds back water from two large rivers. Incredibly, the water that rushes through the spillway is double the volume that roars off Niagara Falls. It creates enough hydroelectric power to supply electricity to a city of 250,000 people – that’s more than 10 times the size of Baie Comeau. Afterwards, you will drop by Baie Comeau Manor for tea and a snack or a beer and wine tasting if you prefer.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an eye-opening insider’s tour of an enormous dam and generating station.
• Learn about the cutting-edge technology that set a new standard in hydroelectric power.
• Relax at Baie Comeau Manor over a cup of tea or by sampling some local beers and wines.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for an enlightening drive through Baie Comeau and stop along the way to explore the glorious church Sainte-Amélie. Although its stained-glass windows are impressive, the frescoes adorning the ceiling are the real showstoppers. It will be obvious why the Florentine artist that painted them is known as the Michelangelo of North America. Be sure to ask why the Canadian government imprisoned him during World War II. The city’s founder, Robert McCormick, also left his mark on Baie Comeau. He established a paper mill there in the 1930s to supply raw material for his newspaper – the Chicago Tribune – and built the Manoir of Baie-Comeau, a landmark French colonial hotel. Although the original burned, you will see the new version along with a statue of McCormick in the popular shopping corridor Place LaSalle. For the ultimate view of the natural beauty that surrounds Baie-Comeau, you will pause at the St-Pancrace overlook.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a leisurely drive through Baie Comeau and take in its landmark attractions.
• Admire the stained-glass windows and spectacular frescoes inside Sainte-Amélie church.
• Pause for photos at the St-Pancrace overlook, a natural setting on the outskirts of town.
• Spend free time after the excursion in Place LaSalle, an area full of shops and restaurants.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Follow a winding trail through Pointe-aux-Outardes and gain an appreciation for the vast bio-diversity within this beautiful nature park. Named for the point of land it blankets along the Outardes River, the park includes nine distinct ecosystems, allowing you the opportunity to walk through a variety of landscapes. They include boreal and alder forests, sand flats, peat bogs, a fallow field and a saltwater marsh, all of which provide protected habitat for the abundant flora and fauna. Birds are prevalent throughout Pointe-aux-Outardes, especially migratory birds. What you can expect to spot will depend on the season. The avian species range from tiny songbirds to large birds of prey. Seabirds and small mammals flourish in the marshland, which acts as a water-filtration plant of sorts. You may delve even deeper into the park’s bountiful nature by visiting the interpretation center during free time.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a leisurely and enlightening walk through Pointe-aux-Outardes nature park.
• Travel through a variety of ecosystems, each one exceptionally bio-diverse.
• Look for wildlife in the protected park, especially migratory birds.
• Browse the interpretation center for a deeper look into the natural wonders.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a leisurely and highly informative walk through pedestrian-friendly Baie Comeau, a town full of historical landmarks. Churches are among the main attractions in the heritage district, particularly Sainte-Amélie. Although its stained-glass windows are impressive, the frescoes adorning the ceiling are the real showstoppers. It will be obvious why Guido Nincheri, the Florentine artist that painted them, is known as the Michelangelo of North America. You will also drop by St-Andrew & St-George, a modest Tudor-style Anglican church that was the first place of worship in Baie Comeau. It was built in 1937, the same year that the exquisite hotel Manoir of Baie Comeau was constructed. Although the original hotel burned to the ground, the French colonial version that replaced it offers a spectacular setting for you to linger over tea and cake. Then, back in the heritage district, you will enjoy free time for shopping along lovely Place LaSalle.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See Baie Comeau’s main historical sites while walking through the heritage district.
• Pass the city’s oldest church and another church renowned for the frescoes on its ceiling.
• Enjoy tea and cake at a French colonial hotel before shopping along Place LaSalle.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Gain an overall understanding of Baie Comeau’s past by visiting the area’s most enlightening historical and cultural attractions. While pausing at the St-Pancrace overlook outside the city limits, you will enjoy a sweeping view of the bay and the dense forests that blanket the coast. No wonder bootleggers chose this isolated spot to smuggle their contraband liquor during Prohibition. By the mid-1930s, Baie Comeau began to develop in earnest due to the timber industry as you will discover at the lumberjack village Forestier d’Antan. You will see how those pioneers lived and get an idea of their harsh working conditions through historical exhibits at the village’s interpretation center. Back in Baie Comeau, you will enjoy a brief tour of the city’s quaint commercial heart by driving along Place LaSalle. This shop-lined artery runs between the fountain in Place de la Biosphere and the statue of Colonel Robert McCormick, the founder of Baie Comeau.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the ultimate view of the surrounding natural beauty from the St-Pancrace overlook.
• See how the pioneering lumberjacks lived through exhibits at an interpretation center.
• Drive through Baie Comeau for a look at how it evolved from being solely a timber town.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Zip around the St. Lawrence River on a Zodiac boat and look for wildlife along the coast and on land. The open-air Zodiac is fast, stable and able to navigate into areas other vessels can’t so it is ideal for an adventurous cruise. Depending on the conditions, you may see natural wonders such as the thundering waterfall at St-Pancrace and deep glacial grooves left in the rocks when a massive glacier retreated following the last Ice Age. Along the way, the captain will elaborate on the history of Baie Comeau, which grew greatly as the timber industry flourished. Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife such as seals, ducks and great blue herons, which look especially majestic when standing motionless and scanning the water for prey. You may even spot whales as more than a dozen species can be found in these salty waters.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an exhilarating cruise along the coast of the St. Lawrence River in a Zodiac boat.
• See natural wonders, including grooves left in the rocks from a massive retreating glacier.
• Hear commentary about the timber industry’s effect on the development of Baie Comeau.
• Look for wildlife such as seals, bird and even whales.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.