A network of authentic heritage villages, located in remarkable landscapes

All Rights Reserved, 1998 / 2012, Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec

Lying at the confluence of the small Jean-Noël and the huge Saint Lawrence Rivers, clinging to the mountain base and along the beach shores, Saint-Irénée is spread along the rolling horizon to form a picture-perfect landscape. Cradled between the Saint Lawrence River and the majestic mountains that line its scenic roads, St. Irénée is a haven for music and relaxation set in a spectacular landscape, with breathtaking views.

Founded in 1840, the village is home to rather modest colonial architecture. As French Canadian vacationers began to arrive around 1850, they erected opulent villas. Follow the road that leads down from the mountain top to the beach shores—it winds directly into the village after crossing the torrent of a river. The main core of institutional buildings can be found on the bottom slope of the village, including the 1927 church.

A bit higher up on the mountainside, the country road of Saint-Antoine leads past the farmers’ fields just above the Forget Domain. There, every summer, the music school hosts a wonderful classical music festival of international calibre. This music centre is named after Rodolphe Forget, a federal Member of Parliament at the beginning of the twentieth century who built the railway that follows the north shore, connecting Saint-Joachim (near Sainte-Anne Mountain) and Malbaie.

At the top of the village, the Deblois Studios (Deblois Ateliers) offers a collection of pottery and giftware, as well as an art gallery where artists can be seen working on their creations.
At the beach, visitors can catch site of the capelan, a very unique springtime phenomenon. The capelan features the arrival of millions of tiny fish swimming amidst the waves, casting off a remarkable silver reflection in the water. Here, you can also try your hand at smelt fishing. Quaint private residences such as the lovely Auberge des Sablons (290, chemin Les Bains) can be admired from outside, but are not open to public tours.

The region of Charlevoix was designated as a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1989. At the very heart of the Reserve, Saint Irénée exhibits an impressive balance of natural phenomena (meteoric craters, glacial valleys, semi-arctic ecosystems, caribou, breathtaking capes overlooking the river, islands, whales) and cultural sustainability (shipbuilding, forestry, artistic and musical center and local arts and crafts). This communion between nature and its inhabitants helped shape a prosperous region. Home to the most breathtaking of sites, Saint Irénée evokes the most powerful of emotions.

Up peaks and down valleys, in the World Biosphere Reserve

M. Pierre Boudreault,

Mayor of Saint-Irénée