OVERVIEW

Discover the unique qualities of the land and people around Saguenay by visiting several unusual museums devoted to the Saguenay Fjord and pulp mill. Departing from the pier, you will immediately be struck by the natural beauty surrounding Saguenay, which sprawls along the Saguenay River, a tributary of the mighty St. Lawrence. Its fjord, deeply chiseled in the Laurentian Mountains, is one of the world's largest and was discovered by French explorer Jacques Cartier in the mid-1530s. Marine life thrives here, including Beluga whales, Minke whales and Greenland sharks. Arriving at the Fjord Museum, you will discover how the waterway was formed, its importance to the province, and why the museum's strange Ha! Ha! Pyramid monument was created out of more than 3,000 traffic yield signs. Then a self-guided visit will be made, at the historic old paper mill, which is a National Historic Site of Canada, located in a partially forested valley on the Chicoutimi River. The pulp mill once belonged to the Compagnie de Pulpe de Chicoutimi, which mechanically transformed wood into paper pulp to meet the demand of European markets at the beginning of the 20th century. Since summer 2002, following major renovations, La Pulperie de Chicoutimi opens its doors to the public and offers artistic and ethnologic displays on the history of the locals’ inhabitants. Finally, you'll visit Le Chevrier du Nord, a farm that raises angora goats for mohair clothing. It's quite the enterprise and a memorable end to your tour before driving back to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Marvel at the majestic Saguenay River fjord and discover more about it at the Fjord Museum.
• Visit a goat farm and see how mohair is harvested for a variety of garments.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See many of the key attractions that define Saguenay, especially in its decidedly French Chicoutimi district. Saguenay lies at the tip of a majestic fjord where the waters of the Saguenay and the Saint Lawrence rivers meet, and as you drive through the charming town the guide will elaborate on the fjord’s importance to trade through the centuries. Upon reaching Chicoutimi, you will pause for photos of the Little White House that survived the devastating floods of 1996. The house is now considered a symbol of perseverance. You will also pass the Ha! Ha! Pyramid, a contemporary art piece that commemorates the destructive flood. The whimsical pyramid is constructed with thousands of Yield Road signs. during this tour you will see a 19th-century pulp mill that helped spur development throughout this part of Canada.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover how the fjord in this area spurred trade over the centuries.
• Gain an understanding of the 1996 flood that caused widespread devastation in Saguenay.
• See a whimsical pyramid-shaped art installation that commemorates the flood.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover how local artisans make cheese, blow glass and weave alpaca wool using time-honored traditional techniques. Your immersion into these crafts will include the family-owned Fromagerie Boivin, where you will see how a variety of cheeses is made and then sample a selection of them. One of the most popular items is a cheese curd that squeaks when you chew it. You will enhance your understanding of glass-blowing at the Touverre Workshop as the craftsmen demonstrate how to manipulate glass into creative shapes. You may also learn about the materials needed to produce glass and the history of glass-blowing. Similarly, at the Alpaga Bersi farm, you will see how craftsmen skillfully weave alpaca wool into sweaters, hats, scarves and other clothing. Unlike sheep’s wool, alpaca wool doesn’t contain lanolin so it is hypoallergenic.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample a variety of cheeses that are produced using traditional techniques.
• Watch glass-blowers manipulate molten glass into all sorts of useful and creative items.
• See how alpaca wool is woven into clothing with the added benefit of being hypoallergenic.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.