Off the Canadian coast, discover Saint Pierre Island, one of the two main islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago, the only French territory in North America. Endowed with a natural harbor, the island, whose name is a reference to the patron saint of fishermen, developed around the fishing industry and still has many traces of its past today. Whale hunting, cod fishing, alcohol smuggling during Prohibition: all of these memories are still very much alive in the capital, Saint-Pierre. The island is also renowned for the observation of exceptional fauna including, among others, whales, fin whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and petrels.

At the entrance of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, not far from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, Miquelon is one of the two main islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago and will delight those with a love of wide open space. Made up of three peninsulas connected by long sand spits, this wild land, famous for being home to France’s only boreal forest, has sublime scenery of hills, dotted with ponds, woods, and bogs, and ringed by lagoons and steep cliffs. The rich and varied wildlife is the promise of fine encounters, whether inland, populated with white-tailed deer, snowy owls, and bald eagles, or on the coast, home to many sea birds and grey seals.

Standing guard at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, the Canadian island of Newfoundland, battered by the waters and storms of the North Atlantic, stirs the imagination. Officially discovered by the navigator Jean Cabot in 1497, Newfoundland bears traces of a Viking occupation around the year 1000. The island also carries the memory of the Terre-Neuvas, tough cod, and whale fishermen from Brittany or the Basque Country. From the 16th century, these seamen would set off for long months on perilous but lucrative fishing trips along the Grand Banks, shoal waters teeming with fish, but where fog and hurricanes reign. These days, the summer is an ideal time of year for whale watching, observing icebergs drifting by from Greenland, and hiking.

Set off in the wake of the discoverers of Quebec during an unprecedented exploration of the north coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Jacques Cartier landed there during his first voyage in 1534, and the fishing trade subsequently attracted many settlers. The first people to settle in the region thousands of years ago were the Innu and the Naskapi. Today, several communities maintain a nomadic lifestyle close to nature. From Havre-Saint-Pierre, you will be able to discover the Mingan Archipelago, where limestone monoliths sculpted by erosion rise from the waters, forming an enchanting decor. Aboard local boats, the naturalist guides will help you identify the rich marine wildlife and a multitude of birds.

The city of Saguenay nestles in a valley through which flows the eponymous river, one of the region’s treasures. As it joins the Saint-Lawrence, the Saguenay River forms a spectacular fjord boasting extraordinarily differing landscapes. From Saguenay, you can explore the attractive Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, which is a paradise for those who love the great outdoors. You can combine country walks with boat trips within the various national parks studded throughout this extraordinary natural kingdom.

The capital of "La Belle Province" sits at the confluence of the St Charles River and the Gulf of St Lawrence in southeast Canada. Founded in the 17th century, the city still has an encircling wall, a historic civil engineering work, and the only one of its kind remaining in North America. You will love the postcard-perfect stone houses of Old Quebec, the historic district listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shopping is a pleasure in pedestrian streets such as Petit-Champlain Street, or you can relax over a spruce beer, seasoned with pine buds. Dufferin Boardwalk, an esplanade near the emblematic Château Frontenac, is the perfect place for views of the river and the old city.

Famous for its gentle way of life, Montreal, Canada’s second-largest city, is a warm and cosmopolitan metropolis. Situated on the eponymous river island, it is home to a multitude of districts, each as unique as the other. Set off to discover Old Montreal, most of which is declared a historic area, Little Italy, where you’ll be able to stroll around the largest open-air market in North America or the Golden Square Mile, the luxurious district located on one of the hills of Mount Royal and which has sumptuous Victorian-style residences. Simultaneously marked by the influences of the Old Continent and North American gigantism, Montreal will never cease to amaze you.