With a population of just under 20,000 people, Rivière-du-Loup is located on the southern shores of the St. Lawrence River between Quebec City and Canada’s maritime provinces. The town was established in 1673 and was named either because of a local native tribe named “Les Loups” (the wolves) or because of the many seals in the area, which were known as “loup-marin” (sea-wolves). The town was renamed Fraserville in 1850 and had a significant Anglophone population until the 1950s. In 1919 the town then reverted to its original name Rivière-du-Loup. The city has a lot of history and nature surrounding it. If you’re visiting Quebec’s eastern area, check out some of these best things to do in Rivière-du-Loup, Canada.
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1. Go view the waterfalls in Parc des Chutes
You won’t have to go very far from the city to view these waterfalls, but you’ll still get the benefit of a good hike through Riviere-du-Loups gorgeous forests and nature trails. Parc des Chutes is a public park featuring marked trails and paths that take you through historic orchards and is actually just a few steps away from downtown. The waterfalls are a 33-meter drop (100 feet) and are part of an old power station.
Parc des Chutes
Address: Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec G0L 1G0
Website: Parc des Chutes
Opening hours: 9am - 9pm (daily)
Price: Free
2. View local art at Musée du Bas Saint-Laurent
The museum has two functions. It aims to present art and contemporary art to the people of the area and serve as a photographic and ethnographic museum for the people of the lower St. Lawrence area. The museum operates on a rotating basis with 8 to 12 exhibitions per year, over half of which are from locally produced artists.
Musée du Bas Saint-Laurent
Address: 300 Rue Saint-Pierre, Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 3V3
Website: Musée du Bas Saint-Laurent
Opening hours: Tue - Wed: 1pm - 5pm; Thu: 1pm - 7pm; Fri - Sun: 1pm-5pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 5 - 7 USD
3. Get a view of the city from Parc de la Croix
Translated in English to “Park of the Cross,” this park is probably the best location in the entire city to get a view of the skyline. The park has a giant cross located on the top of the hill serving as a sort of lighthouse. The cross is illuminated at night and has the best views of the city, the surrounding islands, and the mountains in the distance. There are benches, rest areas, and observation spots located throughout the trails, as well as a memorial to a local journalist.
Parc de la Croix
Address: Rue Sainte Claire, Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 2T6
Website: Parc de la Croix
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
4. Trek out to Brandy Pot Island Lighthouse
Brandy Pot Island Lighthouse is a nationally recognized historic place in Canada and is a symbolic location in Rivier-du-Loup. The lighthouse is located on a flat rock outcrop in the St. Lawrence River and was built in 1860. The 19-meter high (62 feet) cylindrical structure is attached to another portion that was the lightkeeper’s house. The style of the building is very traditional for eastern maritime design and although it is no longer operational, it is a reminder of the region’s past.
Brandy Pot Island Lighthouse
Address: 200 Rue Hayward, Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 3Y9
Website: Brandy Pot Island Lighthouse
Opening hours: 6am - 9pm (daily)
Price: Free
5. Go camping or hiking with the Societe Duvetnor Ltee
Supported by volunteers, the Societe Duvetnor is a group of people dedicated to preserving the natural landscapes and ecological richness found in lower St. Lawrence. Started in 1979, the area around the islands and the Pot à l’Eau de Vie archipelago has been taken care of by biologists and ecologists to preserve the area, and now it is a place where people can come camping by the water, go for hikes, and observe the flora and fauna of the region.
Societe Duvetnor
Address: 200 Rue Hayward, Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 3Y9
Website: Societe Duvetnor
Opening hours: 8am - 4:30pm (daily)
Price: 20-30 USD
6. Take a trip through time at Fraser Manor
Fraser Manor was built in 1829 for the family of Scottish businessman Alexander Fraser. Before being renamed Riviere-du-Loup in 1919, the town was briefly named Frasierville after the Fraser family. Alexander’s father was the first Fraser in North America and took part in the fight against the French, resulting in the English conquest of New France. The Fraser Manor is now a museum showcasing life in a typical 19th-century bourgeois house. Around 80% of the objects and artifacts in the house belonged to over five generations of the Fraser family. After some renovation, the house has been fully restored to its former Victorian glory.
Fraser Manor
Address: 32 Rue Fraser, Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 1C2
Website: Fraser Manor
Opening hours: 9:30am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 4-15 USD
7. Visit the historic site of Église Saint-Patrice
Built in 1855, Église Saint-Patrice is a nationally recognized landmark of historic significance. The church is one of the oldest in the area and has a former convent, presbytery, and park attached to the property. The church is built in a Neo-Gothic tradition with the convent built in a Second-Empire style with stone and a mansard roof. This church played a central role in the formation of the city as it is located near the river and was a central part of the early days of the settlement.
Église Saint-Patrice
Address: 121 Rue Lafontaine, Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 3A3
Website: Église Saint-Patrice
Opening hours: Sun - Fri: 9:30am - 5pm (closed on Sat)
Price: Free
8. Hang out by the water at Park of the Pointe
Located right on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, the park, known to locals as “Parc de la Pointe,” is the perfect spot to hang out by the water. Catch the sunset over the river or maybe pack a lunch for a great romantic picnic. There are hiking trails, bike paths, and benches nearby, as well as playgrounds and a harbor for recreational activities.
Park of the Pointe
Address: Rue Mackay, Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 5Z8
Website: Park of the Pointe
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
9. Grab a meal at Café L'Innocent
Café L'Innocent is one of the best spots for food in the city. The locally renowned restaurant is one of those rare places that has a wide variety of food options, and all of them are delicious. The quaint little space gives off an artsy atmosphere while also being cozy and fun. The menu spans everything from vegan options to desserts. The menu changes on a pretty regular basis so you’ll want to be coming back often to check out what’s new.
L'Innocent
Address: 460 Rue Lafontaine, Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 3C2
Website: Café L'Innocent
Opening hours: Tue: 10am - 3pm; Wed: 10am - 8pm; Thu - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun 9am - 3pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 5 - 30 USD
10. Go whale-watching with Croisières AML Rivière-du-Loup Billetterie
Croisières AML Rivière-du-Loup is a Quebecois company specializing in taking people out on cruises in the St. Lawrence River. Their operations in Riviere-du-Loup mostly revolve around sightseeing cruises in the lower St. Lawrence area, where there is always plenty of whale activity. Take an afternoon cruise and hit the open waters and hopefully see some majestic whales doing their thing.
Croisières AML Rivière-du-Loup
Address: 200 Rue Hayward, Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 6A4
Website: Croisières AML Rivière-du-Loup
Opening hours: 9am - 1pm (daily)
Price: 50 - 75 USD
Nature and history in Rivière-du-Loup
Rivière-du-Loup has a lot of great things that make it a fun and unique town. With a history that spans 200 years and natural landscapes at every turn, Rivière-du-Loup is a place that’s beautiful and one of a kind. It’s a mix of an old-world charm and a natural one.
History
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