On foot or by bike, discover the town of Baie-Saint-Paul from a different perspective as you follow the route past the most beautiful houses that bear witness to its history, complete with interpretive panels. Each house has been re-depicted by a local painter.
Baie-Saint-Paul Built Heritage Tour
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Stop 1
Downtown
Stop 1
Downtown
Your journey begins on the north side of rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste, on the other side of the Bras River, at the former Hercule Fortin general store, closed since 1981. The quadrangular shape of the building is the result of several extensions added since its construction in 1870. Once a meeting place for all villagers, it sits next to a house originally built in the traditional Quebecois style of the 1850s, but expanded to include a second storey and an adjoining building echoing its former summer kitchen.
Turning right on rue Saint-Adolphe, you’ll come upon another traditional Quebecois house, with its typical colonial architecture. This one has a rendered post and plank frame and simple roof, once located on the edge of the fields before the nearby Gariépy mill on rue Tremblay sped up the neighbourhood’s growth. This water mill was used to grind grain, card wool and produce cedar clapboard. After a fire, the building was rebuilt from the original walls and is now an apartment building.
Stop 2
Rue Sainte-Anne
Stop 2
Rue Sainte-Anne
A little further south, where rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste becomes rue Sainte-Anne, on the other side of the traffic lights, you’ll come across an interpretive panel at 11 rue Sainte-Anne recounting the history of place de l’Église, just behind you, with its church, presbytery, former teachers’ college, former courthouse and, in front of you, the house that served as studio to two famous artists, sisters Blanche and Yvonne Bolduc.
Still on Rue Sainte-Anne, you may be surprised to see one of Charlevoix’s highly symmetrical American vernacular houses, inspired by New England, also built with a post and plank structure and cedar clapboard. Turn right into the small dead-end rue Saint-Gabriel and you’ll come to the former Baie-Saint-Paul creamery, which ceased production in 1966.
Stop 3
Rue Ambroise-Fafard and rue Saint-Joseph
Stop 3
Rue Ambroise-Fafard and rue Saint-Joseph
If you retrace your steps a little and turn left onto rue Ambroise-Fafard, today a commercial thoroughfare, or right onto rue Saint-Joseph, one of the town’s first streets affording a pleasant stroll along the Rivière du Gouffre to the St. Lawrence, you’ll discover pretty mansard roof houses typical of the region and others of colonial, urban or Victorian inspiration.
Stop 4
Hidden treasures
Stop 4
Hidden treasures
To complete your tour in style, hop on a bike or jump in your car to follow rue Ambroise-Fafard to the end, where you’ll find a truly unique regency cottage. Turn left on Chemin de la Pointe and you’ll fall under the spell of numerous houses built in the 19th century, including one in rural neoclassical style and another typical of the sailors’ homes of yesteryear.
Two final areas are well worth a visit: terrasse La Rémy, home of the monumental Anglo-Norman house of the late La Rémy miller Roger Bouchard, and chemin Saint-Laurent, an idyllic row of colourful imposing houses facing the mountains, six of which boast over 200 years of history.