A network of authentic heritage villages, located in remarkable landscapes

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The village of Tadoussac (800 permanent residents) lies at the foot of wild rounded hills (“totouskak” means “breasts” in the Innu language) that mark the confluence of the majestic Saguenay Fjord and the immense St. Lawrence River (about 30 km wide at this point) where the whales come to play;  it is a meeting place of giants.

It was at this strategic location in 1535 that Jacques Cartier, struck by the beauty of the site, dropped anchor and visited the area.  He was followed in 1599 by Pierre de Chauvin de Tonnetuit, who erected the first fur trading post here, which became the most important in the colony. Samuel de Champlain came in 1603, writing the first pages of the European history in North America even before Quebec was founded.

Throughout the 17th Century, Tadoussac saw many Europeans drop anchor, including Basque whalers, English and French ships. Among them, the Kirke brothers established their headquarters here when they attempted to seize New France in 1628-1629.

The village began to grow in earnest when the Hudson’s Bay Company purchased the trading post in 1831 and William Price built a steam-powered mill in 1838 near the ferry dock.

Tadoussac is a special place combining an interesting historical and architectural heritage, an outstanding location and spectacular nature on an enormous scale. Its natural surroundings include steep rocky cliffs that frame the fjord and provide habitat for bears and moose, the lovely Tadoussac Bay, the St. Lawrence estuary as far as the eye can see, immense sand dunes, and marine mammals (whales, belugas and seals) that cruise the waters just off the village.

In 1866, the Tadoussac Hotel and Sea Bathing Co. built the first red-roofed Grand Hotel in Tadoussac (which is still there in a rebuilt version) which would establish its reputation as a resort.  English Canadian and American tourists arrived in the “white boats” that descended the St. Lawrence.  For more than a century, Tadoussac was one of the top tourist destinations in North America.  This fascination has never faded away and, year after year, the village receives some 300,000 visitors who are charmed by beauty of the natural setting and the value of its heritage.

The prettiest way to reach Tadoussac is to approach it slowly on the regular ferry that crosses the fjord, giving the impression of disembarking on an island.  The village of Tadoussac and its surroundings are crossed by hiking trails with outstanding lookout points. You can see whales nearby, take a long hike along the fjord capes, walk for just a few hours to the closest capes, or run down and climb back up the sand dunes, a great delight for children (who will sleep well that night).

Tadoussac is a worthy representative of its country in the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World. The goal of this international association is to promote, develop and protect its various member bays in a sustainable development perspective.  The beautiful bay offers breathtaking views.

The sand dune area is a favorite spot for bird watchers, especially in fall when Tadoussac is on the migratory path of birds of prey.  These former marine terraces provide an exceptional view of the river and an immense area of sand for nature lovers.

While very small, the village is comprised of several sectors. There is the beach area near Tadoussac Bay, the central village with the church, the Moulin à Baude sector with the road to the famous sand dunes and Saguenay National Park, the Anse-à-l’eau area at the western entrance to the village, and the coast, including the top of the village hills.

The architectural heritage of Tadoussac, while not very ancient relatively speaking, presents a fairly wide diversity of traditional buildings. This diversity can be explained by the tourism role that the village adopted very early.  The domestic architecture shows a marked influence of Anglo-American architecture compared to a more specifically Quebec style, which is nevertheless present in the area.  The resort tradition and ethnic origin of certain residents (British, Scottish, Irish and, later, American) could explain the many borrowings from American architecture

Meeting place of giants the world's most beautiful bay

The citizens of Tadoussac are proud of the natural beauty of their environment and the historic background of their village. Come and visit us, Tadoussac is an international tourism destination for you ti discover !!!

Mr. Hugues Tremblay, Mayor of Tadoussac and member of the Board of Directors of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec.