The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Quebec
The largest province in Canada, Quebec is known for its breathtaking natural geography that incorporates mountains, forests, valleys, and maritime views. With a long indigenous history and mixed settlement heritage, the towns and villages that are scattered through the landscape offer insight into the province’s architectural past and present. Taking you beyond the popular destinations of Montreal and Quebec City, here are ten of the most beautiful towns in Quebec.
Notre-Dame-du-Portage
Notre-Dame-du-Portage
Located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, Notre-Dame-du-Portage is a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec. This charming village has been a popular vacation spot for many years now, with its beautiful architecture and natural surroundings.
Notre-Dame-du-Portage, Quebec | © Eric Chabot/ Flickr
Saint-Pacôme
Saint-Pacôme
Calling itself the “Capital of the Detective Novel,” Saint-Pacôme is another must-see village of the Bas-Saint-Laurent, situated among the foothills of the Haut-Pays (Upper Country) and the meandering Ouelle River. Here you can find stunning landscapes, best seen from the top of mountains or designated lookout locations. The village itself is characterized by historical architecture, framed by hiking paths that lead visitors deeper into the local countryside. Two other beautiful villages in the same region are Kamouraska and Cacouna.
Stanstead
Museum, Post Office
Stanstead
Located right at the Quebec-Vermont border in the Eastern Townships, Stanstead was founded by pioneers from New England in the 1790s. Prior to European arrival, the area was home to the Abenakis. The town grew through the 19th century through the arrival of United Empire Loyalists and the development of the granite industry. As a result, the town is home to collections of beautiful historic buildings. The main route, Dufferin Street, has been called an “outdoor museum” due to the numerous churches and other landmark buildings, such as Stanstead College (1873), the Collège des Ursulines (1881), and the former post office.
Les Éboulements (Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive)
Les Éboulements (Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive)
Situated in a 100 km-wide meteor crater, Les Éboulements (named for a landslide that followed an earthquake in 1663) in the Charlevoix region has been a popular vacation destination since 1900. Nestled 200 metres above the St Lawrence River, the town maintains multiple art galleries and inns that enhance the experience of viewing one of the most breathtaking panoramas in Québec. The area overlooks the river, where ships head toward the ocean, along with the Appalachian plateau, the Charlevoix capes, and Île aux Coudres.
View from a mountain of Les Éboulements, Quebec | © Malagauche/ WikiCommons
Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse
Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse
Around 30 kilometres from Quebec City on the banks of the St Lawrence River, Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse offers a beautiful view of the river’s estuary and channel, with Île d’Orléans framed against the background of the Laurentian Mountains. The town has a population of around 1,800, and Old Saint-Michel displays quaint white wooden houses influenced by the Neo-Classical style of the 19th century, along with a convent and church, a presbytery (1739), Notre-Dame de Lourdes chapel (1879), and the Benoît Lacroix library (1850). Visitors can also enjoy the village’s heritage walk, artist’s workshops, and the Musée le Voiturier (miniature carriage maker), along with a summer theatre.
Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Quebec
Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec | © Miville Tremblay/ WikiCommons
Métis-Sur-Mer
Resort
Métis-Sur-Mer
At the gateway of the Gaspé Peninsula, Métis-Sur-Mer takes its name from the Mi’kmaq word that means meeting place. Established by Scottish settlers in 1850, the area became a resort for English aristocrats during the 19th century. They constructed grand Victorian summer homes and four distinct chapels: the Presbyterian Church (1847), the United Church (1866), the Methodist Church (1883), and the Anglican summer church (1905), along with a lighthouse built in 1909. With a population of around 600, Métis-Sur-Mer is located 350 kilometres from Quebec City and is celebrated for its maritime scenery.
Lighthouse in Métis-Sur-Mer, Quebec | © Mathieu19/ WikiCommons
Percé & L’Anse-à-Beaufils
Percé & L’Anse-à-Beaufils
Also located in Gaspésie, Percé was initially a small fishing village. Offering a stunning maritime panorama, the area is home to historic fishing buildings, ancestral houses, a museum, art galleries, and beaches. Some of its distinctive geographical features include Percé Rock, which resembles an enormous shipwreck, with steep cliffs on both sides and is accessible at low tide. Also, the nearby Île Bonaventure, a provincial park that offers a summer sanctuary for over 250,000 migratory birds.
Percé Rock, Quebec | © Andrea Schaffer/ Flickr
Havre-Aubert (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine)
Aquarium, Museum
Havre-Aubert (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine)
Île du Havre-Aubert is the largest island of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine archipelago, a series of islands located near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. Six of these islands are connected by almost 100 kilometres of golden sand dunes, which contrast with the red rock of the cliffs, the blue-green sea and lagoons, and the colourful houses that pattern the landscape. In this area, fishing (mainly lobster, crab, and scallops) is a way of life. Île du Havre-Aubert is home to indigenous archeological sites and the historic La Grave quarter, which showcases historic fishing buildings, an aquarium, a maritime museum, cafés and boutiques.
Havre-Aubert, Quebec | © Raymond Brow/ Flickr
Champlain
Resort
Champlain
Located on the Chemin du Roy — which was the first road in New France (1737) along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River near Trois-Rivières — the town of Champlain is one of the oldest settlements in Québec: the first French settlers arrived in 1664-65. Through the 19th century the area became a resort destination. Now there are more than 200 buildings of heritage interest, including the impressive church (Notre-Dame de la Visitation), a 19th-century structure that contains elements of the first church of 1671.
Aerial view of Champlain, Quebec | © Rene Beaudoin/ WikiCommons
.JPG){kind=link}
L’Anse-Saint-Jean
L’Anse-Saint-Jean
Beautifully located in a sweeping valley tucked in the bay of the St. Jean River and the fjord of the Saguenay, L’Anse-Saint-Jean is another village that offers breathtaking natural vistas. Here, visitors can enjoy kayaking in the ocean, sailing in the harbour, horseback riding, hikes along the capes of Saguenay Park, fishing, and in October, an art symposium (Villages en couleurs). In the winter, there are plenty of opportunities for both cross-country skiing and alpine skiing on Mount Edouard, as well as ice fishing on the fjord.
L’Anse-Saint-Jean – Fjord du Saguenay de l’Anse de Tabatière, Quebec | © Yves Ouellet/ Flickr
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
Read Next
See & Do
Best Places to See Wildlife in Quebec, Canada
See & Do
Must-Visit Waterfalls in Quebec
See & Do
National Parks in Quebec You Need to Visit
Places to Stay
The Best Camping and Glamping Spots in Quebec
See & Do
How to Go Polar Bear Watching in Quebec
Guides & Tips
The Best Places to Go Fishing in Quebec
Guides & Tips
The Best Places to Go Hiking in Quebec
Home & Interiors
This Beautiful 'Bird Hut' Retreat Is Perched High Among the Trees
Guides & Tips
Quebecois Swear Words that Confuse the French
Home & Interiors
This Amazing Home in Quebec's Breathtaking Laurentians Blends into its Natural Setting
