Must-see attractions in Havre-Saint-Pierre
Croisières du Saint-Laurent / Cruise the Saint Lawrence
Havre-Saint-Pierre may not be the first place tourists think of when planning a cruise on the Saint Lawrence River, but it should definitely be added to the list of must-see destinations. What’s so special about it? Odessa Thériault, General Director at Havre-Saint-Pierre Port has all the answers.
What to do
There are plenty of things to do in Havre-Saint-Pierre, but one in particular is worth a detour: the Mingan Archipelago. Made up of hundreds of small islands, this area is home to Canada’s largest concentration of monoliths. The rock giants were shaped by erosion over thousands of years, and their sight is so impressive that the national park is featured on the New York Times’s list of 52 Places to Go This Year. “It’s a must,” states Odessa. “Everyone should see this amazing place at some point in their lifetime.”
What to eat
Cloudberries are one of the rarest fruits around. They only grow in the harshest of environments, like… The North Shore region! Visitors stepping off the ship here can sample cloudberry tea, eat cloudberry jam, or pour cloudberry syrup over just about anything. Make sure you have room in your suitcase to stock up on locally made cloudberry-based delicacies during your trip!
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What to drink
Distillerie Puyjalon is a Minganie-based distillery that produces a whole array of spirits inspired by this unique region. Their flagship creation, the award-winning Betchwan gin, is made using various herbs picked right here in the area, such as north-coastal juniper, Labrador tea and cloudberry. You can practically “taste the nordicity” as the distillers say!
Did you know?
The Apollo 11 mission lunar module’s landing legs were built by Héroux Machine Parts, a Longueuil-based company. According to Odessa, the mineral used to manufacture these cutting-edge rocket ship components were mined right here in the Minganie region. This was back in 1969, a full seven years before route 138 was extended from Sept-?les to Havre-Saint-Pierre. Or as Odessa says: “We landed on the moon before we even had a road!"