Geleë aan die oostekant, Persie is die bruisende toeriste - episentrum van die Gaspé-skiereiland. Alhoewel dit 'n trotse lid van die Mooiste dorpies in Quebec(Association des plus beaux Villages du Québec), Kan Percé aanvanklik ontstellend wees: die skares, taai aandenkingswinkels, eindelose motelle langs die pad en gîtes, en diverse toeriste-klokkies is 'n skrikwekkende kontras met die majestueuse natuurskoon langs Route 132 waar besoekers waarskynlik die afgelope paar uur of dae aan gedrink het. Maar daar is 'n goeie rede vir die brouhaha: Percé Rock(Rocher Percé), die boogvormige buitelandse rotsformasie waaruit die stad sy naam kry, is 'n wonderlike natuurwonder wat 'n ikoniese embleem van die Gaspé-skiereiland geword het en jaarliks duisende besoekers lok. Dit en die nabygeleë Bonaventure-eiland(Île Bonaventure), 'n massiewe broeikolonie vir 'n verskeidenheid watervoëls, en is die Percé (en die Gaspé-skiereiland) se trekpleister-aantrekkingskrag, Bonaventure Island en Percé Rock Nasionale Park(Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé).
Verstaan
In 1971 is die grense van Percé uitgebrei tot hul huidige grootte toe die omliggende dorpe van Barachois, Bridgeville, Cap-d'Espoir, en Saint-Pierre-de-la-Malbaie is in die stad saamgesmelt. Plaaslike inwoners gebruik steeds die ou name, maar alle besienswaardighede en ander besienswaardighede in hierdie voormalige plekke word in hierdie artikel bespreek.
Percé is baie 'n seisoenale bestemming. Die toeristeseisoen duur ongeveer vanaf middel Junie tot einde September, waartydens die strate, winkels, restaurante en losies dikwels irriterend besig is. Die meeste besighede en besienswaardighede is ook oop gedurende die skouerseisoene van middel Mei tot middel Junie en einde September tot middel Oktober, en in sommige gevalle is daar minder ure. Buite-seisoen kan Percé egter amper soos 'n spookdorp lyk. As u gedurende die winter in die stad is, besoek die webwerf Vakansiebestemming Percé (sien die afdeling "Besoekersinligting" hieronder) bevat 'n volledige oorsig van aktiwiteite en dienste wat die hele jaar oop bly; hierdie neig sterk na wintersport soos sneeuwscooter, sneeu-skoe en hondeslee.
Percé spog met 'n bevolking van ongeveer 3,300 wat saamgevoeg is in 'n ketting dorpies wat langs die kuslyn versprei is.
Geskiedenis
Die Percé-gebied was vir eeue 'n visveld vir die plaaslike Mi'kmaq-bevolking, en dit was bekend aan die Europeërs in die 17de eeu (ontdekkingsreisiger Samuel de Champlain het in 1603 die Percé-rots gesien en benoem, en die gebied was 'n tussenstop vir skepe op pad na Quebec-stad). Maar eers in die vroeë 1800's het die permanente nedersetting van die stad afgeskop. Aanvanklik was Percé 'n stil vissersdorpie soos baie van sy bure op die Gaspé-skiereiland, maar nadat Percé Rock in die vroeë 20ste eeu op reisigers se radarskerms gekom het, het toerisme geleidelik begin oorneem as die ekonomiese steunpilaar van die stad. In die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het die Royal Canadian Navy ook 'n belangrike draadlose onderskepstasie by Percé bedryf wat verantwoordelik was vir die opsporing van Nazi-U-bote wat in die waters voor die ooskus van Kanada geslinger het.
Besoekersinligting
Vakansiebestemming Percé is die webwerf van die Toeriste-inligtingsentrum van Percé(Bureau d'accueil touristique de Percé). Dit is 'n uitgebreide bron vir besoekers aan Percé, met die gewone aanbiedings van besienswaardighede, hotelle, restaurante, winkels en kroeë, maar veral ook 'n gebeurteniskalender, historiese en argitektoniese wandeltoere vir druk, 'n skedule vir laagwater (nuttig om by Percé uit te kom. Rots sonder 'n boot), en bygewerkte inligting oor padbou en sluiting in die plaaslike omgewing.
Percé se baksteen-en-mortier 1 Toeriste-inligtingskantoor is reg in die middel van die stad, op 142, rue de l'Église. Dit is op 'n seisoenale basis oop: daagliks van 08:00 tot 20:00 in Julie en Augustus, met korter ure gedurende die skouermaande Junie en September.
Gaan in
Met die motor
Dit is hoe die oorgrote meerderheid besoekers na Percé kom. Die dorp is aan Provinsiale roete 132, die hoofpad op die suidelike oewer van die St. Lawrence.
Neem van Quebec City na Percé Autoroute 20 oos tot aan die einde van die pad in Trois-Pistoles, gaan dan ooswaarts voort op roete 132. Die afstand is ongeveer 750 km (465 myl), so beplan ongeveer agt uur in die motor, uitgesonderd haltes. U kan 'n paar kilometer van daardie afstand afskeer deur by af te draai L'Anse-Pleureuse en neem die binnelandse kortpad deur Murdochville via Provinsiale roete 198, maar dit gaan ten koste van die majestueuse natuurskoon wat u langs die kusroete sal sien.
As u van die Maritimes, Percé is ongeveer 245 km (153 myl) van die Nieu-Brunswick grens by Campbellton, via roete 132 oos. Die reis duur 2½ tot 3 uur.
Met die vliegtuig
Die naaste lughawens met geskeduleerde passasiersdiens is Michel Pouliot Gaspé-lughawe(Aéroport Michel-Pouliot de Gaspé) (YGP IATA) in Gaspé en Bonaventure-lughawe(Aéroport de Bonaventure) (YVB IATA) in Bonaventure, met diens aan Îles de la Madeleine, Quebec-stad, en Montreal. Diegene wat van verder af aankom, moet eers vlieg Pierre Elliott Trudeau Internasionale Lughawe(Aéroport internasionale Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau) (YUL IATA) in Montreal of miskien Jean Lesage Internasionale Lughawe(Aéroport internasionale Jean-Lesage) (YQB IATA) in Quebec-stad; u kan 'n aansluitingsvlug na YGP vanaf een van hierdie lughawens neem via Air Canada Express.
Gaspé- en Bonaventure-lughawens het motorhuurgeriewe op die perseel of in die omgewing (Afslag, Onderneming, en Nasionaal in eersgenoemde; Spaarsaam in laasgenoemde) waar u u reis na Percé kan voortsit.
Met die bus
Die Orléans Express busnetwerk bedien die hele provinsie Quebec, insluitend die Gaspé-skiereiland. Daar is een daaglikse bus wat vertrek vanaf Rimouski om 14:55 en arriveer om 22:19 in Percé. Die tarief is $ 84,05 per passasier, insluitend belasting en twee ingeboude tasse, met 'n opslag van $ 5 vir elke bykomende tassie tot 'n maksimum van vier totaal. Die bus laai u reg in die middedorp af, oorkant die toeriste-inligtingskantoor.
Met die trein
Die 1 Percé-treinstasie is suid van die middedorp, op 44, route de l'Anse-à-Beaufils. Tot 2013, VIA Rail het diens gedoen in die Gaspé-skiereiland oos van Matapédia. Dit is onbepaald opgeskort. Daar is geen rooster vir die hervatting van die spoorwegdiens na Percé nie.
Kry rond
Om van plek tot plek binne die middestad van Percé te kom, is stap 'n uitstekende opsie; as u verder gaan, is 'n motor 'n absolute noodsaaklikheid. Taxi-diens is beskikbaar, hoewel dit duur is.
Met die bus
RéGÎM, die Gaspé-skiereiland se landelike openbare vervoernetwerk, het twee roetes wat Percé bedien.
- Roete 31 vertrek twee daaglikse vertrek Maandag tot Vrydag vanaf Chandler noord om Sentraal-Percé om 23:59 en 15:59, en onderskeidelik om 12:53 en 16:53 en onderweg stop. Retoerreise vertrek om 13:00 en 17:00 vanaf Percé en arriveer onderskeidelik om 13:56 en 17:56 by Chandler.
- Die oggend loop aan Roete 32 verlaat Paspébiac om 06:20, arriveer om 08:08 in Percé. Retoerreisigers (24 uur vooruitbespreking benodig, skakel 1-877-521-0841) verlaat Percé om 09:00 en kom om 10:50 terug in Paspébiac, waar diegene wat verder wes op pad is, na 'n Poute 40-bus kan ry Carleton-sur-Mer. Middag vertrek vanaf Paspébiac op Roete 32 nie bedien Percé, en eindig eerder by Grande-Rivière.
- Ook, Roete 22 Dit loop tussen L'Anse-à-Beaufils en Gaspé en bedien Coin-du-Banc, Barachois en ander afgeleë gebiede van Percé, maar nie die middedorp nie. Gaspé-gebonde busse vertrek L'Anse-à-Beaufils van Maandag tot Vrydag om 06:40 uur en ry onderskeidelik om 06:52 en 07:00 deur Coin-du-Banc en Barachois voordat hulle om 07:47 in Gaspé aankom. Suidelike reise vertrek om 17:50 van Gaspé en stop om 18:41 in Barachois, 18:50 in Coin-du-Banc en 19:02 in L'Anse-à-Beaufils.
Tarief is kontant ($ 4) of met kaartjies ($ 3 per stuk, beskikbaar in boeke van tien by deelnemende handelaars of direk by die busbestuurders). As u van plan is om RéGÎM baie te gebruik tydens u verblyf in die Gaspé-skiereiland, kan dit nuttig wees om 'n voorafbetaalde toegangskaart te koop (aanlyn beskikbaar vir $ 5), wat 'n hele maand lank goed is en u dieselfde afslag gee. $ 3 kos as kaartjies.
U kan ook 'n kaartjie koop vir 'n paar dollar op die Orléans Express bus na een van Percé se buitewyke (daar is haltes in Barachois, Bridgeville, L'Anse-à-Beaufils en Cap-d'Espoir); bestuurders stem soms selfs in om aan die kant van die pad direk op u bestemming af te trek, maar dit kan 'n rukkie duur voordat daar weer 'n bus kom om u terug te neem na Percé.
Sien
Bonaventure Island en Percé Rock National Park lê heeltemal in die stad Percé, en u moet hulle bedank vir al die geskenkwinkels, oulik gîtes, en menigte toeriste hier. Die druppel ryk mense wat Percé Rock teen die begin van die eeu begin sien het, het ná die Tweede Wêreldoorlog 'n bestendige stroom geword en in 1971 is Bonaventure Island deur die regering van Quebec gekoop en in 'n nasionale park verander. Percé Rock is drie jaar later bygevoeg. Vandag besoek meer as 60 000 mense die park elke jaar.
Afgesien van die twee titulêre komponente wat hieronder in meer besonderhede beskryf word, bevat Bonaventure Island en Percé Rock National Park ook die Sektor Charles Robin(sekteur Charles-Robin), saamgestel uit 'n handvol noukeurig gerestoureerde 19de-eeuse pakhuise langs die beskuldigdebank wat deur Charles Robin, 'n entrepreneur van Jersey en stigtervader van Percé wie se groot vismaatskappy 'n belangrike rol gespeel het in die kabeljouvissery van die Golf van Saint Lawrence. Hierdie geboue huisves vandag die Discovery Centre van die park, Le Chafaud Museum (sien hieronder), en La Saline, 'n vergaderingsaal waar spesiale geleenthede deur personeel van die park gehou word.
Bonaventure Island en Percé Rock Nasionale Park is nie 'n Kanadese nasionale park - ondanks sy naam, word dit deur die Quebec bestuur provinsiaal parkdiens. Daarom is u Parks Canada Discovery Pass nie goed hier nie, maar as u 'n Jaarlikse Parks Quebec-netwerkkaart, u toegang is gratis. (As u nie een het nie, en u van plan is om ander dele van Quebec te besoek, kan dit 'n goeie belegging wees: Parks Quebec se netwerk bevat tientalle parke, natuurreservate en ander besienswaardighede in alle dele van die provinsie.)
Vir diegene wat nie 'n jaarkaart het nie, is toegang $ 7,50 vir volwassenes en $ 3,25 vir kinders tussen 6 en 17 jaar. Diegene wat 5 en jonger is, kry gratis toegang. Afslagpryse vir gesinne is ook beskikbaar ($ 10,75 vir een volwassene en kinders; $ 15 vir twee volwassenes en kinders). Parkering is $ 10 vir motors en RV's en $ 6 vir motorfietse nie gedek deur die Parks Quebec-netwerkkaart. In 2017 was die park daagliks 09:00 tot 16:00 oop van 22 Mei tot 9 Oktober en tot 17:00 gedurende die piek toeristeseisoen van 5 Junie tot 16 September.
- 1 (Île Bonaventure). Die paradys van 'n voëlliefhebber, Bonaventure Island, is ongeveer 4 km² aan die kus van Percé, wat veral bekend is as 'n broeiplek vir ongeveer 'n dosyn soorte migrerende seevoëls. Hier vind u aalscholvers, papegaaiduikers, murgpampoentjies, en die bekendste van alles, die wêreld se grootste en maklikste toeganklike kolonie noordelike seewiere, met 100 000 voëls sterk. Na 'n kort bootrit stap u aan by L'Anse à Butler aan die westekant van die eiland, en u sien 'n groep ou kleedhuise voor u: voordat dit 'n beskermde natuurlike toevlugsoord was, was Bonaventure-eiland die tuiste van 'n klein, maar vooruitstrewende gemeenskap van vissers en die familie van die voorvaders huise wat hulle agtergelaat het, is volledig herstel met behulp van outentieke konstruksiemetodes en argitektoniese kenmerke. Dan kan u gerus op u gemak rondstap: die eiland het 'n verskeidenheid landskappe en natuurskoon, insluitend lieflike velde, afgesonderde piekniekplekke en skilderagtige uitsigte wat op die oewer of op die oop oseaan uitkyk, en u sal verruk word te alle tye deur die klaaglike liedere van die voëls. Dit is die besienswaardighede, geluide en reuke (ten goede en ten kwade - die geur van die veldblomme is heerlik; die voëlmis, nie soseer nie) van die Gaspé-skiereiland van vroeër. Moenie vergeet om voor die vertrek van Bonaventure Island te gaan nie restaurant aan die kant van die beskuldigdebank vir hul beroemde vissop.
- 2 Percé Rock (Rocher Percé). Hierdie reuse klipmonoliet is 'n natuurwonder wat vir reisigers amper sinoniem geword het met die Gaspé-skiereiland self. Van 'n afstand af sê hulle dat Percé Rock lyk soos 'n skip onder seil, maar kom 'n bietjie nader en jy sien 'n 20 meter (66 voet) natuurlike boog wat die rots deur sy basis steek - vandaar sy naam, wat vertaal is in "deurboorde rots". 'N Paar meter (voet) uit die hoofdeel wat u sien Die Obelisk(L'Obélisque), 'n eensame seestapel wat vroeër die basis van 'n tweede boog was, wat ineengestort het na 'n klein aardbewing in 1845. Die meeste mense besoek Percé Rock per boot, maar met laagwater is dit moontlik om vanaf die oewer daarheen te loop (daar is 'n getyrooster by die toeriste-inligtingsentrum). As u te voet na Percé Rock is, hou die tyd dop en let op vallende rotse, want erosie is hier 'n konstante feit - maar neem die kans om die 150 spesies versteende seediere te sien in die kalkstene, oorblyfsels uit die Devoon-periode, ongeveer 400 miljoen jaar gelede.
Dorpsentrum en omstreke
- Vir liefhebbers van buitelug is die nasionale park nie alles wat Percé bied nie. In die berge agter die middestad is daar 'n trio besienswaardighede wat toeganklik is vir stappers op 'n netwerk van roetes agter die stad (q.v.):
- 3 Die Grot (La Grotte) (1,4 km verby die spoorkop, via Chemin de la Grotte). Die naam is nie presies akkuraat nie, maar dit is tog lieflik: dit is nie 'n grot nie, maar 'n lieflike waterval in die nis tussen Mont Sainte-Anne en Mont Blanc, waar 'n bergstroom oor 'n muur van rooi rots tuimel. 'n vlak poel. Dit alles vind plaas in 'n halfsirkelvormige natuurlike amfiteater waar, in ooreenstemming met die geskiedenis van hierdie berge as 'n Katolieke pelgrimstog (sien hieronder), standbeelde van die Maagd Maria en ander godsdienstige koeke volop is.
- 4 Mont Sainte-Anne (1,8 kilometer verby die spoorkop via Chemin de la Grotte; draai links by Chemin du Mont-Sainte-Anne en hou aan tot aan die einde van die roete). Bekend in die 17de eeu as "Roland's Table" (La Table à Roland) Vanweë die plat top, het Mont Sainte-Anne se asemrowende majesteit dit 'n godsdienstige plek vir Gaspesiërs gemaak: van die Mi'kmaq wat pasgebore babas van hul stam hierheen geneem het om hulle aan die songod voor te lê, tot die 19de en vroeë 20ste- eeue Québécois-aanhangers van St. Anne wat elke 26 Julie daarheen sou gaan pelgrim. Vandag kan stappers in hul voetspore volg en 'n pragtige uitsig oor die stad geniet en na L'Anse-à-Beaufils, Percé Rock en Bonaventure Island.
- 5 Mont Blanc (4,7 kilometer verby die spoorkop via Chemin de la Grotte, Chemin du Mont-Ste-Anne, Sentier des Sources, Sentier des Pieds-Croches en Sentier de la Crevasse). Dit is 'n langer staptog na Mont Blanc as The Grotto of Mont Sainte-Anne, maar dit is die moeite werd: die Sentier de la Crevasse Die roete neem u langs 'n diep spleet aan die kant van die berg, wat op 'n hoogte van ongeveer 300 m reguit af sorg vir 'n duiselingwekkende ervaring. Mont Blanc self is 'n bietjie langer as Mont Sainte-Anne; sy kruin is bereikbaar via 'n steil grondpaadjie wat aan die einde van sentier de la Crevasse begin en 'n pragtige uitsig bied oor die Gaspesiese kus noord van Percé en tot by die oop oseaan.
- 6 Cap-Blanc-vuurtoring (Phare du Cap-Blanc) (Buite roete 132, 2,5 km suid van die middestad). Hierdie prentjiemooi vuurtoring is 7 m (24 voet) hoog en is in 1915 gebou om 'n vroeëre struktuur uit 1874 te vervang. Alhoewel dit nie meer in werking is nie, het die lig van hierdie agtkantige, stomp, rooi-en-wit baken eens geskyn vir 24 km (15 myl), waarsku skepe weg van die rotsagtige skote af Wit kop(Cap Blanc) suid van Percé. Die land waar die Cap-Blanc-vuurtoring staan, is vandag deel van die Camping du Phare à Percé kampeerterrein; Terwyl die terrein nominaal gesluit is vir besoekers, is die perseel van die kampeerterrein geneig om verdraagsaam te wees teenoor mense wat vir 'n kort kiekie daarheen kom.
- 7 [dooie skakel]Le Chafaud Museum (Musée le Chafaud), 145, roete 132, ☏ 1 418-782-5100. Daagliks van 10:00 tot 20:00, 24 Junie tot 21 September. Die pragtige natuurskoon in die Percé-omgewing het 'n bootlading landskunstenaars gedurende die jaar geïnspireer, en hul werke word vertoon in hierdie museum op die grondvloer van 'n ou 19de-eeuse pakhuis aan die water wat eens deur die Charles Robin-visserybedryf besit is. Le Chafaud se permanente versameling bevat meestal skilderye, maar ook enkele gravures, foto's en pen-en-ink-tekeninge. Daar word gereeld ook reisuitstallings aangebied. $ 5, kinders onder 12 $ 2, studente en senior burgers $ 3,50, gesinne $ 13.
L'Anse-à-Beaufils
L'Anse-à-Beaufils is 'n klein dorpie 10 km (6 myl) suid van Percé se middestad, vernoem na 'n Franse edelman wat na bewering die halfbroer van koning Lodewyk XIV was. Dit het deel geword van Percé in 1971. Vandag vind u 'n paar historiese besienswaardighede rondom die hawe aan die monding van die L'Anse-à-Beaufilsrivier.
- 8 Historiese L'Anse-à-Beaufils Algemene Winkel (Magasin général historique authentique), 28, rue à Bonfils, ☏ 1 418-782-2225. Daagliks 10:00 tot 17:00, middel Junie tot laat Sept of vroeg in Oktober, beperkte buiteseisoense ure. Gebou in 1928 en eens die sentrale middelpunt van L'Anse-à-Beaufils, die ou Robin, Jones en Whitman General Store word nou bedryf as 'n soort lewendige historiese museum, waar outydse droë goedere, plaastoerusting en ander handelsware die rakke vul. Op die begeleide toere wat hulle uitvoer, sal kunstenaars in 'n tydelike kostuum agter kasregisters en kruidenierskappe uittree wat reguit van 'n tydmasjien lyk en mense se anekdotes van plaaslike geskiedenis afskud. Elders in die museum vertel ou foto's en artefakte die geskiedenis van die dorp. Webwerf slegs in Frans. $ 6, kinders onder 7 jaar gratis.
- 9 Die ou fabriek (La Vieille usine), 55, rue à Bonfils, ☏ 1 418-782-2277. Daagliks 09:00 tot 16:00, middel Junie tot laat Sept.. Dit was eens 'n visverwerkingsaanleg en die stewige klapbordstruktuur in die hart van L'Anse-à-Beaufils se "kulturele en toeristehawe". (havre culturel touristique) dra baie hoede: die Old Factory dien as 'n fynproewersbistro met 'n aangename terras met uitsig oor die water, 'n opvoerruimte met lewendige musiek, toneelstukke en komedie-shows, 'n opnamestudio en 'n kunsgalery waar die werk van ongeveer drie dosyn kunstenaars uit die Gaspé-skiereiland en regdeur Quebec vertoon. Die versameling van die galery is 'n eklektiese versameling en bevat sowel amateur- as professionele werke in die media wat die skildery en beeldhouwerk tot juweliersware en keramiekwerk behartig. Daar word ook kursusse vir kuns en kunsvlyt vir volwassenes en jongmense aangebied.
Val-d'Espoir
- 10 Percé Rock Organiese Tuine (Bio-Jardins Rocher-Percé), 397, chemin de St-Isidoire, ☏ 1 418-782-2777. Die Percé Rock Organic Gardens is 'n uitbreiding van die werk van Msgr. François Xavier Ross, die eenmalige biskop van Gaspé wat die Val-d'Espoir Landbouskool gestig het (École d'agriculture de Val-d'Espoir) op hierdie webwerf in 1926 om die ontwikkeling van gebiedsplase aan te spoor. Hierdie samewerkende instelling is tans die tuiste van 'n reeks tuine met temas waar die volhoubare landbou en voedsel wat plaaslik gekweek word, beklemtoon word. U kan ook 'n beskeie reeks ander plaaslik vervaardigde ambagsprodukte by die Gardens koop, insluitend 'n reeks natuurlike skoonheidsmiddels.
Doen
Op die water
Percé maak ten volle gebruik van sy skilderagtige ligging aan die see, met 'n aantal akwatiese aktiwiteite wat gedurende die besige somermaande op besoekers wag.
Walvis kyk
Die riviermonding van St. Lawrence en sy omgewing wemel van walvisse gedurende die warm maande, en in Percé is daar 'n paar uitrustings vir walviskykers wat u die kans bied om 'n verskeidenheid spesies te sien, waaronder vin, minke, bultrug en selfs bedreigde persone. blouwalvis, sowel as witkantige dolfyne en robbe. Albei toere vertrek vanaf die 2 Toeriste werf(Quai de toerisme) in die middedorp. Die seisoen duur van Mei tot Oktober, met walvisse die meeste in Julie en Augustus.
- 1 Les Bateliers de Percé, 162, roete 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2974, tolvry: 1-877-782-2974. Vertrek 15-30 Mei slegs op groepbespreking; 1-24 Jun 10:00. 25 Junie - 30 September 10:00, 13:00 en 15:30; 1-30 Oktober 10:00 & 13:00. Maak 'n keuse: twee-en-'n-half uur walviskyk-vaarte word aangebied in die gemak van die klimaatbeheerde Capitaine Duval II, of u kan 'n Zodiac huur vir 'n meer nat-en-wilde, naby-en-persoonlike ervaring (waterdigte toerusting word voorsien vir u gerief). Kundige tweetalige personeel. $ 79, kinders 7-12 $ 37,95, kinders 6 en jonger gratis, Zodiac-handves $ 85.
- 2 Croisières Julien Cloutier, 9, rue du Quai, ☏ 1 418-782-2161, tolvry: 1-877-782-2161. Op bespreking, 15 Mei - 30 Oktober. Hierdie familiebedryf bedryf walviskykvaarte van drie uur in 'n groot, gemaklike skip: as u geneig is tot seesiekte, is dit die opsie vir u. Webwerf slegs in Frans. $ 69, kinders 7-12 $ 33, kinders van 6 en jonger gratis.
Boottoere
Die boottoere na die nasionale park word aangebied deur dieselfde twee uitrustings wat die walviskyk-vaarte hanteer. Hierdie vaarte gons gewoonlik deur Percé Rock op pad na en / of vanaf Bonaventure Island; hou in gedagte dat as u van die eiland afklim, u die toegangsgeld vir die park moet betaal wat nie by die onderstaande pryse ingesluit is nie. Toere duur gewoonlik tussen een en twee uur en duur vanaf middel Mei tot einde Oktober. Albei hierdie maatskappye vertrek vanaf die Toeriste werf.
- Les Bateliers de Percé, 162, roete 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2974, tolvry: 1-877-782-2974. Vertrek 15-31 Mei 10:00; Junie 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 en 17:00; Jul-Sep elke halfuur van 09:00 tot 17:00; 10:00 en 13:00. Les Bateliers de Percé bied tweetalige vertelde vaarte (alhoewel die bemanning van die bemanning Engels wankelrig is) van Bonaventure Island en Percé Rock National Park. Die roetine sien dat bote by Percé Rock verbygaan voordat hulle op Bonaventure-eiland by L'Anse à Butler opklim en dan die eiland omseil voordat hulle terugkeer na die kaai in Percé. Diegene wat 'n rukkie van die eiland wil afstap en verken, moet tydens die vertrek reëlings tref vir watter reis hulle terugkeer. $ 25, kinders 7-12 $ 12,15, kinders 6 en jonger gratis.
- Croisières Julien Cloutier, 9, rue du Quai, ☏ 1 418-782-2161, tolvry: 1-877-782-2161. Gereelde vertrek 15 Mei-15 Oktober, slegs op bespreking 15-30 Oktober. Croisières Julien Cloutier sal op Bonaventure-eiland stop as u dit spesifiek versoek, maar die standaardopsie sal die eiland eenvoudig omseil voordat hy terugkeer na die oewer (via Percé Rock). Maanligvaarte word af en toe beplan; skakel vir meer inligting. 'N Betroubare maatskappy wat al meer as 20 jaar sake doen. Webwerf slegs in Frans. $ 25, kinders 7-12 $ 12,15, kinders 6 en jonger gratis.
Geleide seekajaktoere word ook aangebied:
- 3 Avolo Plein Air, 1669, roete 132, ☏ 1 418-782-5403. Op Avolo Plein Air lei Jeffrey Samuel-Bond en sy crack-span gaste op 'n reeks seekajaktoere in en rondom Percé wat geskik is vir almal, van ervare buitelugavonturiers tot beginners wat nog nooit voorheen 'n roeispaan gelê het nie. As u die gewone Percé Rock / Bonaventure Island-roete wil doen, kan u dit doen, maar Avolo se spesialiteit is half-, volle- en meerdaagse uitstappies langs die kus van Pointe-Saint-Pierre, 'n onbepaalde pad in die noorde van Percé wat bekend is vir sy wilde en wonderlike natuurskoon. U sal onder die vleuels van talle piepende seevoëls gaan, hallo sê vir robbe en (as u gelukkig is) 'n walvis of twee en u verwonder aan die wonderlike gesig van Indiese Head Rock(le Tête d'Indien) as u gids u leer oor die wye biodiversiteit in die streek. As u u seebene nie heeltemal vertrou nie, bied Avolo ook uitgebreide lesse deur die Quebec-federasie vir kanovaart en kajakvaart(Fédération québécoise du canot et du kayak): basiese, tweedaagse gevorderde en vierdaagse gevorderde kursusse word eendag aangebied vir onderskeidelik $ 125, $ 225 en $ 500. Uitstappies begin by $ 50 (kinders $ 40); sien webwerf vir gedetailleerde prysstruktuur en vertrekrooster.
Visvang
Die waters in en rondom Percé wemel van visse en seelewe met uiteenlopende beskrywings. As u van een van die verskillende dokke en jachthavens in die stad werf, sal u waarskynlik die beste geluk hê om makriel in Julie en Augustus te vang. Forelle en salm kom ook baie voor in die binnelandse riviere, maar in teenstelling met die vorige scenario is provinsiale toestemmings nodig (dit is maklik beskikbaar op 'n aantal plekke in die stad) en onderworpe aan seisoenale beperkings.
- 4 Op die see met die kusvissers (En mer avec les pêcheurs côtiers), ☏ 1 418-782-6007, tolvry: 1-877-689-6595. 09:00, 13:00 en 16:00, Jul-Sep. Kaptein Michael Moreau bind sy vissersboot, die Omirlou, oorkant die rivier van Die ou fabriek by die L'Anse-à-Beaufils-hawe. Hy neem u op 'n twee-en-'n-half uur lange uitstappie op die water waar u makreel en kabeljou sal koester en u geluk met die kreefvangers probeer, terwyl u die ins en outs van die Gaspesiese visserybedryf leer. Engels word gepraat. $ 50, kinders $ 35.
Duik
- 5 Percé Yacht Club (Club nautique de Percé), 199, roete 132, ☏ 1 418-782-5403. Die Percé Yacht Club is die Gaspé-skiereiland se belangrikste episentrum vir duik. Die klub is gestig as 'n nie-winsgewende organisasie met die doel om besoekers in te lig oor die uiteenlopende en brose waterekosisteem van Bonaventure Island en Percé Rock National Park. Die klub bied duike op 'n dosyn plekke langs die noord- en oostelike oewer van Bonaventure Island. Half- en voldag-ekskursies onthul 'n groot verskeidenheid skouspelagtige duikbootbesienswaardighede, soos majestueuse rotsformasies, groot ondersese grotte en 'n uitgebrande vissersboot wat in 1984 verniel het - om nie te praat van die seelewe soos sponse, krewe, seeanemone, en haweseëls. As u nie u PADI-sertifisering het nie, sal $ 300 u 'n voldag-sertifiseringskursus met 'n toetsduik koop - die prys sluit toerusting, vervoer na en van die duikplek, die inskrywingsgeld vir die Nasionale Park en u provinsiale sertifiseringskaart in - maar as u dit wil opspoor, is daar ook 'n halfdag-kursus 'Inleiding tot diepzeeduik' vir $ 150 wat voldoende is vir 'n duik saam met 'n gesertifiseerde instrukteur. U tweede duik is $ 75 as u laasgenoemde opsie kies. Webwerf slegs in Frans. Kyk op die webwerf vir 'n gedetailleerde prysstruktuur.
Die strand
As u 'n blaaskans wil neem vir 'n avontuur en 'n dag op die strand wil lê, het u twee opsies: 6 Coin-du-Banc-strand en 7 Cap-d'Espoir-strand, onderskeidelik noord en suid van die middedorp. Cap-d'Espoir is die kleinste van die twee, maar dit word in die somer redelik druk; dit is die terrein van die jaarlikse Festi-Plage musiekfees en bied ook piekniekbankies en kleedkamers aan. Intussen is dit by die lang sanderige strand van Coin-du-Banc net jy, die golwe wat bots en die asemrowende landskap langs die see.
Stap
Van die windverwaaide velde en weergeteisterde woude van Bonaventure-eiland Die Percé-gebied bied 'n verskeidenheid landskappe vir stappers na die kras berge in die binneland.
- Ideaal vir beginners, Bonaventure-eiland het 15 km (9 myl) staproetes met 'n maklike moeilikheidsgraad met pragtige uitsigte tot die pragtige Percé Rock, in die eiland se reuse-neskolonie van noordelike seegaarde, en oor die oop see (hou walvisse dop!) Chemin du Roy Die roete is die ruggraat van die netwerk: dit sirkel meestal rondom die eiland en omhels die kus vanaf die toerbootdok by L'Anse à Butler aan L'Anse Chatouilleuse, altesaam 4,7 km (2,9 myl). Intussen het Sentier des Mousses, Sentier des Colonies, en Sentier Paget is 'n bietjie moeiliker: hulle kruis deur die beboste, ietwat heuwelagtige binneland van die eiland en verbind aan Chemin du Roy aan beide kante. Dit maak nie saak watter roete u kies nie, dit is noodsaaklik om voor die laaste vertrek na die bootvaart terug te keer na L'Anse à Butler, anders bring u die nag deur
- Ondanks 'n opwaartse klim van meer as 300 m, is dit ook relatief maklik om te gaan Mont-Sainte-Anne en Mont Blanc-roetes[voorheen dooie skakel](Sentiers du Mont Sainte-Anne et du Mont Blanc) (slegs gekoppelde kaart in Frans): die paadjies is óf geplaveide óf goedversorgde grondpaaie wat gereeld rus, ruskamers en piekniekbanke. Dit is 'n netwerk van 13 km (8 myl) onderling verbind roetes wat binnelands vanaf die middestad binnelands uitstrek, wat aan die agterkant van die parkeerterrein agter die 3 Katolieke kerk van St. Michael(Église St-Michel) op 57, rue de l'Église. 'N Sekondêre ingang net buite roete 132 noord van die middedorp is ideaal vir diegene wat van Mont Blanc af kom of gaan. Afgesien van hul naamgenootlike besienswaardighede hierbo beskryf, die roetes self spog ook met panoramiese uitsigte wat 'n groot deel van die oostelike Gaspesiese kus sowel as die nasionale park inneem. Op 'n helder dag kan u selfs Miscou Island, New Brunswick, sien.
- Weggesteek in die berge agter die middedorp (effens verder as Mont Sainte-Anne en Mont Blanc), is die Route des Failles strek vanaf die klein gehuggie Cannes-de-Roches tot aan die suidekant van die middedorp. Die Route des Failles is 'n geplaveide pad wat te voet, per fiets of in 'n motor gery kan word - maar wees baie versigtig as u 'n voertuig gebruik, want dit is 'n buitengewone kromweg met ongeveer 'n halfdosyn haarnaald draai slegs 5,7 km (3,5 myl) se afstand af. Maar vir stappers wat die hoogteveranderings kan hanteer, is die beloning van die Route des Failles die moeite werd: op die kruin is 'n ekstravaganza van asemrowende panoramiese berge- en seegesigte (u kan egter nie Percé Rock van hier af sien nie).
- Verder nog van die middestad af, kan veral ywerige stappers 'n meer uitgebreide geniet netwerk van roetes[voorheen dooie skakel] (slegs gekoppelde kaart in Frans) wat deur Percé se buitewyke strek. Die twee komponente is:
- die Bergroete(Sentier des montagnes), wat die korter, maar moeiliker van die twee is: dit loop 14 km (8,7 myl) vanaf die 4 Auberge de Gargantua, waar dit skakel met die Route des Failles en die roete-netwerk Mont Sainte-Anne / Mont Blanc, na die vissershawe by L'Anse-à-Beaufils, met verskeie steil opdraandes en afdraande langs die pad. Diegene wat van die manjifieke uitsigte op die Route des Failles gehou het, sal hier meer van dieselfde vind: die skilderagtige uitkykpunte en fotogeleenthede kom vinnig en woedend terwyl u van piek tot piek beweeg, met 'n asemrowende uitsig oor die rotsagtige berge en ongerepte kus . Vir die groot finale daal die roete die Côte de la Fourche en volg 'n kabbelende spruit suidwaarts na die kus, waar dit eindig by ...
- die Rivierroete(Sentier des rivières), 27 km (16,7 myl) maklike tussentydse staptogte wat noord lei na Coin-du-Banc. Eerstens loop u oor die vreedsame vallei van die L'Anse-à-Beaufilsrivier (steek dit herhaaldelik oor op vyf lieflike toubruggies) terwyl u noordwaarts na Val-d'Espoir ry. Then, you cross over some comparatively easy-to-traverse hills, follow a pair of bucolic mountain streams, and pass by a beautiful waterfall on the charmingly and aptly named Emerald River(Rivière aux émeraudes) before ending up at a parking area a few hundred metres (about a third of a mile) from Route 132.
If you're visiting Percé in autumn and plan to hike, please note that hunting season runs from late September through mid-November. During those times, it is essential to wear bright-coloured clothing and take other sensible precautions. This doesn't apply on Bonaventure Island, where hunting is prohibited per the regulations of the national park.
Voël kyk
Aside from the obvious answer (Bonaventure Island), there are a number of other places around Percé where an abundance of bird life can be found, such as Cap-d'Espoir, Pointe-Saint-Pierre, en die Malbaie Lagoon(Barachois de Malbaie) in Coin-du-Banc. In addition to the famous northern gannets, Percé is home to a number of different types of migratory birds including puffins, red-necked grebes, and various species of scoters, guillemots, mockingbirds, and warblers.
With a mission of promoting the awareness and conservation of bird life in the region, the Gaspé Birdwatchers' Club(Club des ornithologues de la Gaspésie) (website in French only) is an exhaustive source of information and organizer of activities for birders in Percé and all over the area. The club frequently hosts birdwatching excursions at sites throughout the Gaspé Peninsula, and their website contains a comprehensive list of migratory species that frequent the area and their usual times of arrival, as well as information for winter birdwatchers. Membership is open to all.
In the winter
Though the Gaspé Peninsula has been recognized in the pages of National Geographic magazine as one of the top winter destinations in North America, Percé in particular is very much a seasonal town that largely shuts down after the end of October. If you're in town during the cold-weather months, the website Holiday Destination Percé has a comprehensive list of the handful of attractions, lodgings and services that do remain open in the offseason.
- Aux Jardins de l'Anse[dooie skakel] (website in French only) is a charming gîte (bed and breakfast) that operates dog-sledding excursions between January and March. Call 1 418-782-2294 for details.
- As well, the Mont Sainte-Anne and Mont Blanc hiking trails (sien hierbo) are open to snowshoers in the winter.
Koop
There's something about Percé that inflames the creative spirit — actually, it's not hard to figure out why; the magnificent landscapes and the allure of the sea are full of infectious enchantment. At any rate, the work of local artists and artisans figures heavily into the stock of Percé's many souvenir stores. Handmade jewelry is another frequent find, often made with semiprecious stones found on local beaches, such as agate, jasper, onyx, and (if you're lucky) gaspeite, a rare greenish mineral unique to the Gaspé Peninsula.
Town centre and around
- 1 Agate et Caillou, 67, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2098. Daagliks 09: 00-18: 00. Jewellery and decorative baubles designed and produced in-house using a variety of gems and stones of local origin: agate, jasper, onyx, labradorite, gaspeite, petrified wood, and more. Or even if you're just wondering what the weird-looking stone is that you found on the beach, the folks at Agate et Caillou will identify it for you.
- 2 Au Bon Secours, 150, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2011. The oldest continually operating souvenir shop in Percé, open since 1930 in a former drugstore a stone's throw from the harbour, sells a mixed bag of merchandise including clothes, touristy souvenirs, and decorative tchotchkes including carved stone figurines of seabirds by local artist Suzanne Tétreault-Massé.
- 3 Boutique de la Mer, 5, rue de l'Église, ☏ 1 418-782-2011. This extravagantly decorated little shop just off the main drag in downtown Percé sells fashionable ladies' clothes, a bevy of brightly coloured lawn and garden decorations, and other gifts and souvenirs of all kinds.
- 4 Boutique Nature, La Neigère, rue du Quai, ☏ 1 418-782-2240. Daily 9AM-5PM, May 30-Sep 23; till 9PM Jun 27-Aug 26. Run by Sépaq as the official gift shop of Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park, Boutique Nature is in a converted waterfront warehouse that dates to the 19th century. On sale is a treasure trove of literature and visitor information on all aspects of the national park, as well as works by local artists and artisans and souvenirs of varying descriptions.
- 5 Donald Cahill Art Gallery (Galerie d'art Donald-Cahill), 424, route 132, ☏ 1 581-353-1003. Displays the seaside landscapes and other maritime-themed paintings of Donald Cahill, a native Percéen who moonlights as the captain of a whale-watching boat. Other artists working in a variety of media are also represented. Prints are sold. Website in French only. Open during off-season.
- 6 La Marée Basse, 153, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2823. The handcrafted work of local artisans is the order of the day at this gift shop in the heart of Percé's town centre: everything from paintings and decorative baubles to stylish, one-of-a-kind clothes and jewellery fashioned from local agate.
- 7 La Marinière, 162, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-5480. True to its name, the stuff that's on offer at La Marinière tends to have a maritime theme: the clothes boast more than their fair share of loud horizontal stripes and anchor motifs, and Marie-Josée Tommi's carved gannet figurines are a hot seller as well. Handbags, artisan jewellery, and homey souvenirs complete the picture.
- 8 Mylène Henry Studio and Gallery (Atelier-Galerie Mylène-Henry), 224, route 132, ☏ 1 514-793-3443. M-F 9AM-5PM. A native Gaspésienne, Mylène Henry's local landscape scenes are realized in a brightly coloured, cartoonlike, somewhat surreal aesthetic that is shared with her work as an illustrator of children's books — the other half of her artistic career. In addition to her original paintings, Mylène's gallery at the south end of Percé town centre sells copies of those books, as well as postcards, greeting cards, and calendars adorned with her work. Website in French only.
- 9 Wazo, 6, rue de l'Église, ☏ 1 418-782-5700. M-F 10AM-6PM, May; daily 8:30AM-9PM, Jun through mid-Sep; daily 10AM-6PM, mid-Sep through mid-Oct, by appointment the rest of the year. Though Martin Boucher Arsenault now runs about a half-dozen Wazo boutiques all over the Gaspé Peninsula and elsewhere in Quebec, the Percé location, located in the heart of downtown, is the original. Art jewellery is the name of the game here: the artist draws on his mixed Amerindian/Acadian heritage as well as forms found in the natural world to create earrings, pendants, bracelets, and other pieces in bold, unique designs that are respectful of the diversity of source materials he uses (gold and silver, semiprecious stones native to the area, even coral and starfish found on local beaches). You can choose from a range of preexisting designs in stock — the "Peace & Love" medallion, commissioned by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté, is undoubtedly the best-known of these — or Martin will work with you to custom-design a piece of your very own. Website in French only.
L'Anse-à-Beaufils
- 10 [dooie skakel]La Fabrique d'Antan, 676, route 132, ☏ 1 418-645-5315. This is where renowned artisan Pascal Riopel offers unique, high-quality cabinets and other rustic furniture, handmade onsite using only traditional designs and methods — hence the name of his store, which in English translates to something like "the workshop of yesteryear". You can also pick up charming folk art, handmade pottery, and vintage tchotchkes in an appropriately rustic setting about midway between L'Anse-à-Beaufils and Percé town centre. Website in French only.
- 11 Le Sablier Collection Studio and Boutique (Atelier-Boutique Collection le Sablier), 14, rue à Bonfils, ☏ 1 418-782-2964. At his workshop and boutique in L'Anse-à-Beaufils, Serge Bourget sells unique gifts that make a distinctive statement: handmade sand-casted and stone-casted items such as picture frames, carvings, and decorative baubles produced with materials he finds on local beaches.
Barachois
- 12 Margot Mérette Studio (Atelier Margot-Mérette), 1247, route 132, ☏ 1 418-360-3774. Open year-round by appointment. A graphic designer by trade, Margot Mérette's passion for painting and sculpture ignited during her college days at UQAM and has now come to full fruition in her second career. At her studio in Barachois, she'll show you some selections from her collection of acrylic paintings — dreamlike fantasy scenes that shine in vibrant, radiant colours and celebrate the harmonious cooperation of man and nature — and you'll take a walk through an outdoor sculpture garden, a "lost paradise" (in the words of her website) of carved driftwood and whimsical works in ceramic. Website in French only.
Eet
Eating in Percé is all about separating the wheat from the chaff. Sure, by and large the restaurants here serve the kind of overpriced, lackluster fare typical of tourist towns. But a little bit of searching — especially outside the town centre — will turn up some really nice dining experiences. When in doubt, ask a local.
Also, if you're a fan of seafood, you're in luck: that's all anyone seems to eat here, and it's an experience not to be missed. The cod, salmon, scallops, lobster, and other fruits de mer served up in Percé's restaurants are almost unanimously locally sourced, fresh and delicious.
Town centre and around
- 1 La Maison Mathilde, 85, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2349. Open Jun-Sep. Owned by the same folks that run the motel next door, the Auberge les Trois Soeurs, La Maison Mathilde is a cozy little place that's far enough from the centre of town to afford diners a bit of quietude, yet not so far as to be inconvenient. Deliciously prepared and exquisitely presented seafood dishes are the name of the game here, with scallops a particular specialty; if you're not a fan of seafood, there's also a range of meat entrées and pasta dishes that, unfortunately, tend not to be quite as good. Local beer is available on tap. Points off for the service, which is hit-or-miss, and the prices, which are a bit high for the somewhat skimpy portion sizes. $35-65.
- 2 La Maison du Pêcheur, 155, place du Quai, ☏ 1 418-782-5331. Daily 11AM-2:30PM (lunch) and 5PM-10PM (dinner), Jun-Sep. La Maison du Pêcheur is easily the most upscale fine-dining restaurant in Percé, but you'd never know it from the unassuming exterior: like most of the buildings next to the wharf, this place used to be a fish warehouse; then it spent a period as a youth hostel (check out the 1960s-era FLQ graffiti that remains on the ceiling rafters!) Locally sourced seafood is the crux of the menu here — salmon, halibut, scallops, lobsters, and other delights come in multi-course prix fixe meals or can be ordered à la carte, and are crafted into some of the most unique, creative selections you'll find anywhere in the Gaspé (cod tongue with sea urchin sauce, for example). Matching the topnotch food is one of the best waterfront views in town, looking out onto Percé Rock en Bonaventure Island. The attentive yet unobtrusive service befits the level of luxury, and the extensive wine list emphasizes European vintages. $35-80.
- 3 Les Sacs à Vin, 50, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-1414. There's nothing pretentious to be found at this combination bar, bistro and campground (!) at the north end of Percé town centre — just some of the hugest portions of home-cooked seafood goodies the Gaspé Peninsula has to offer, served up with friendly, folksy verve by a staff headed by a French expat named François. Most visitors to Les Sacs à Vin seem to gravitate toward the lobster, which is some of the cheapest and most delicious around, but there's also a bevy of other local specialties on offer: scallops, smoked salmon (served over fettuccine), maple syrup pie for dessert, and a small slate of Québécois wines. Die hele jaar oop. $15-40.
- Biard, 99 132 Rte W, ☏ 1 418-782-2873. Fresh seafood and fish. Lobster dinner $30-38, crab, shrimps, etc. Non-seafood items. View of the Percé Rock.
- 4 Restaurant des Margaulx, Mauger House, Bonaventure Island. Daily 9AM-5PM, mid-Jun through late Sep; daily 9AM-4PM, late Sep through early Oct. If you've set out for a day of hiking on Bonaventure Island and forgot to pack a lunch, des Margaulx is your answer. Located just at the foot of the dock at L'Anse à Butler, this beautifully restored building served as a fish storehouse back in the days when a small, hardy community of fishermen lived on the island, and the restaurant stays true to its heritage with a hearty yet healthy menu of local seafood specialties, served cafeteria-style. You can get lobster, crab and shrimp sandwiches here as well as heartier entrées, but the specialty of the house that's not to be missed is authentic, old-style Gaspesian fish chowder flavoured with a delectable hint of saffron.
L'Anse-à-Beaufils
- 5 Resto de l'Anse, 892, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-5054. Daily 11AM-9PM in season. More popular with locals than the tourist crowd, the bread and butter at this roadside snack bar in L'Anse-à-Beaufils is deep-fried goodies like breaded cod filets, fish and chips, and scallops, as well as poutine, Montreal smoked meat sandwiches, and other Quebec specialties. However, Resto de l'Anse is probably most famous around these parts for their seafood pizza, which they deliver to any location from downtown Percé to Sainte-Thérèse starting at 11AM every morning. Service is friendly and folksy, seating is either indoors or outside on picnic tables, and prices are hard to beat.
- Café-Bistro de la Vieille Usine, 55, rue à Bonfils, ☏ 1 418-782-2277. Open May-Sep. Far from the madding crowds of central Percé is found this old fish factory that now wears many hats: art gallery, concert hall, community gathering place, and pleasant terraced bistro serving up some of the finest food the area has to offer. La Vieille Usine is all about Gaspesian cuisine made with Gaspesian ingredients: the menu makes great use of produce and meat from area farms as well as other local artisanal goods (including microbrews on tap from L'Anse-à-Beaufils' own Pit Caribou) to whip up mouth-watering local specialties such as salt cod patties and lobster club sandwiches. Appetizers and other light fare look down-to-earth at first glance but are deceptively sophisticated — there's a cheeseburger on the menu, all right, but it's made with ground lamb from a farm on Chaleur Bay and topped with warm chèvre. The main courses, for their part, begin with creative concoctions incorporating local seafood, but don't end there — there's also a full range of gourmet pizzas, pasta dishes, and salads. The pleasant, airy ambience makes the ever-present crowds bearable, and you can frequently catch live music or other performances. $20-40.
Barachois
- 6 Café des Couleurs, 1004, route 132, ☏ 1 418-645-2745. Daily 9AM-5PM, Jun-Sep. This hidden gem is in off-the-beaten-path Barachois, a good distance away from downtown Percé, but it's well worth the trip. Breakfast is the main attraction at Le Café des Couleurs: you can get hot cereal, yoghurt, and standard eggs-and-bacon fare, but the specialty is a range of Belgian waffles that come topped with everything from standard favourites like maple syrup and fruit compote to oddballs like smoked salmon, scallops, and ceviche. Upscale coffee concoctions are abundant. At lunchtime, there's a range of light fare including daily soup and salad specials. The ambience is quiet and pleasant, with walls adorned with the work of local artists. $15-30.
Drink
Percé doesn't have a bar scene to speak of. If you're looking to kick back with a tall cold one after a long day of sightseeing and you don't want to do so at a restaurant or your hotel's lounge, you're limited to a pair of options located in the town centre.
Luckily for craft beer fans, though, one of those options is the official outlet for Pit Caribou (website in French only), a microbrewery headquartered in L'Anse-à-Beaufils that turns out about two or three dozen beers sold throughout Quebec and beyond — including the award-winning "Étoile du Brasseur" American brown ale.
- 1 Bar Café Terrasse, 155, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-5342.
- 2 Pub Pit Caribou, 182, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-1443. Daily 11AM-midnight in season. Website in French only.
Slaap
Accommodation is definitely something that Percé is not lacking. There's a huge variety of hotels, motels, campgrounds, and vacation homes to choose from, but for a true Gaspesian experience, it's best to stay at one of the town's charming gîtes (sien onder).
Hotelle en motelle
Percé's hotels are clustered mostly on the northern and southern outskirts of the town centre, and with the exception of the Riôtel and a few others, they tend toward the small and the quaint. Most properties offer rooms with a view ofPercé Rock, but it pays to request one in advance as, understandably, those tend to sell out the fastest. On the other hand, for budget travellers it's handy to know that rooms sonder ocean views often come at a discount.
- 1 Auberge les Trois Soeurs, 77, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2183, tolvry: 1-800-463-9700. Inboek: 15:00, uitteken: 11:00. Open mid-May through late October. Three-star waterfront property boasts a fine-dining restaurant (La Maison Mathilde) as well as a private terrace and beach with an outdoor lobster-baking pit and views over Percé Rock and the harbour (ocean views are also available from some, but not all, guest rooms). Standard rooms come with one king or two double beds and boast a coffeemaker, workstation, and private bath; rooms with mini-fridge, air conditioning, hair dryer, and iron and ironing board are available by request. Suites are also available (with kitchenette in some cases), as well as a few detached apartments and cottages. High-speed wireless Internet available throughout the property. Guest laundry and babysitting services are also available. Troeteldiere word aanvaar. $129-$189/nt in high season.
- 2 Hôtel Fleur de Lys, 248, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-5380, tolvry: 1-800-399-5380. Inboek: 16:00, uitteken: 11:00. Open all year; Jan-Apr by prior reservation only. A centrally located 34-room hotel that blends modern amenities with traditional decor. All rooms contain coffeemaker, hair dryer, fridge and air conditioning; rooms with kitchenettes available on request. Air-conditioned dining room features a continental breakfast buffet daily 7AM-10AM; lunch and dinner are served at freestanding restaurant across the street (La Morutière). Coin laundry, free WiFi, business centre. Access to pool at neighbouring Riôtel available to guests free of charge. Troeteldiere word aanvaar.
- 3 Le Mirage, 288, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-5151, tolvry: 1-800-463-9011. Inboek: 16:00, uitteken: middag. Open Jun-Oct. A large hotel south of the town centre, all of whose 67 rooms are decorated in a country theme and boast private balconies with ocean views. Outdoor pool and tennis court open seasonally. Front desk is staffed 24 hours a day and will arrange boat tours to the national park on request. Property is handicapped accessible. No pets allowed.
- 4 La Normandie, 221, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2112, tolvry: 1-800-463-0820. Open mid-May through mid-October. Percé's only four-star lodging, the red-roofed "Charming Hotel by the Sea" boasts a postcard-perfect waterfront setting facing Bonaventure Island and the majestic Percé Rock, as well as 45 rooms with a contemporary yet cozy decor and, in most cases, private balconies with ocean views. All rooms feature private baths, flat-screen LCD TVs with cable, complimentary WiFi Internet, mini-fridges, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards; most also have a DVD player and a coffee maker. A buffet breakfast is served daily in the dining room. Small pets (under 14 kg/30 pounds) are accepted, subject to an additional $30 cleaning fee. Disabled guests should know that the hotel has no elevators (ask for a room on the 2nd floor, the only ones you can get to without taking stairs) and none of the rooms are wheelchair-accessible. $99-$399/nt in high season.
- 5 Le Panorama, 382, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2208, tolvry: 1-800-399-5380. Inboek: 16:00, uitteken: 11:00. Open May-Oct. We'll start with the bad: Le Panorama suffers from its somewhat inconvenient location south of the town centre, and its name is a bit of a misnomer: the views of Percé Rock are quite disappointing. That said, the 23 rooms at this reasonably priced roadside motel are all renovated and include coffeemakers, fridges, air conditioning and kitchenettes. There are also four new detached chalets on the property available for guests staying 3 or more nights; these include additional amenities such as flat-screen TVs and full-size kitchens. Heated outdoor pool is open from mid-July to the end of August. Guest laundry is available. Free WiFi Internet. From $109/nt in high season.
- 6 Au Pic de l'Aurore, 1, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2151, tolvry: 1-866-882-2151. Inboek: 16:00, uitteken: 11:00. Open May-Oct. A huge complex just north of the town centre comprised of a motel with standard rooms as well as detached chalets, studios and apartments with more amenities. Standard rooms contain a fridge and coffeemaker, and all of them have balconies with ocean views. Detached units have air-conditioning, private baths, and kitchenettes or full-sized kitchens. Free continental breakfast is available during the shoulder seasons (mid-May through late June and late August through mid-October) for guests in units without kitchens or kitchenettes. Gratis WiFi. Troeteldiere toegelaat. $135-$235/nt in high season.
- 7 Riôtel Percé, 261, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2166, tolvry: 1-800-463-4212. Inboek: 16:00, uitteken: 11:00. Open mid-May through mid-October. If you're looking for a standard chain-hotel experience without anything cutesy, the Riôtel is your best bet. The largest hotel in Percé is one of a small regional chain with five locations throughout the Gaspé Peninsula. All rooms have a hair dryer, fridge, coffeemaker, and iron and ironing board; some also have air conditioning, flat-screen TV, pull-out couch, kitchenette, and ocean view. Suites are also available. The Riôtel boasts a lovely outdoor terrace looking out onto the water — complete with an outdoor pool, spa and firepit — as well as a fitness room, fax and photocopy service, and a free shuttle available on request to and from the VIA Rail station. Handicapped accessible.
Gîtes
The concept of the gîte du passant, of eenvoudig gîte, roughly equates to what is known in the Anglosphere as a bed & breakfast. Die gîte seems to be proportionally a more common form of accommodation in Quebec, and nowhere is that truer than in Percé, where they outnumber standard-style hotels by a wide margin. If you're looking for a truly distinctive lodging experience — charmingly decorated rooms with antique furniture and a peaceful ambience, hearty meals each morning, and attentive hosts that take pride in helping their guests make the most of their stay — a gîte may be the option for you. However, if you're a solo traveller or just looking for a place to lay your head for the night, you may feel out of place: gîtes tend to be geared toward romantic couples' getaways or occasionally families with children, and guests may be subject to a minimum length of stay. It pays to call ahead.
- 8 À la Revasse, 16, rue St-Michel, ☏ 1 418-782-2102, tolvry: 1-866-782-2102. Inboek: before 4PM except by prior arrangement. Die hele jaar oop. Located in a residential section of Percé town centre, convenient to all the action but secluded enough for guests to enjoy some peace and quiet, À la Revasse is a sturdy old house with five comfy guest rooms, all of which boast private baths and are decorated in a maritime theme. Here, the Tourist Wharf and all the shops and attractions are just a short walk away — ask the knowledgeable owners for tips; they've lived in Percé their whole lives and know the town inside and out — but you can also just relax on the porch or, if it gets nippy, inside by the fireplace. Breakfast in the morning features homemade local favourites, such as blueberry pancakes and old-fashioned chopped pork creton. There's free WiFi, and free parking in the driveway — or, if you've arrived on the Route Verte, there's a shed out back to store your bike. $73-$103/nt in high season.
- 9 Gîte du Cap-Blanc, 442, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2555, tolvry: 1-888-782-2555. Inboek: between 4PM and 6PM, uitteken: 10:00. Situated a short drive (or a relatively easy 25-minute walk) from Percé town centre in the shadow of Cap-Blanc Lighthouse, this charming gîte is the property of Paulette and Carol and their friendly cat Timinne: the most gracious hosts you could want. Here you have your choice of three rooms with a queen bed and a private bath, or two rooms with a full-size bed and shared bath. Breakfast takes place in an airy dining room with huge picture windows looking onto the sea. Nightly rate $80 for one person, $90 for two people, $20 for each additional person.
- 10 Gîte du Capitaine, 10, chemin du Belvédère, ☏ 1 418-782-5559, tolvry: 1-877-512-5559. Open seasonally. Run by Daria and Urs, a Swiss couple who summer in Percé, the Gîte du Capitaine is located on a gravel side road off Route 132 at Cap-Blanc, outside of downtown. Here you get your choice of three rooms in the main house, two of which have private baths and all of which come with ocean view, clock radio, hair dryer, luggage rack, robes and slippers, and even a personal iPad computer on request. There's also a detached cottage out back with a private balcony and additional amenities, namely a microwave and tea kettle. Every morning between 8AM and 9AM, Daria cooks up a changing menu of homemade breakfast entrees served with breakfast Bellinis and homemade jellies; high tea is also served in the afternoon. $118/nt.
- 11 Au Fil des Saisons, 232, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2666. Inboek: 16:00, uitteken: middag. Open May-Oct. Au Fil des Saisons falls somewhere between a gîte and a small hotel — unlike most gîtes, breakfast is not served, but these six rooms have far more downhome charm than your average hotel. What you have here is a Victorian-style country inn whose guest rooms are all newly renovated, uniquely decorated in period style, and come with private bath, double bed (plus an additional queen-size bed in two of the six), and WiFi internet — not to mention great views of Percé Rock from its prime location just outside the town centre. From $75/nt.
- 12 Aux Jardins de l'Anse, 931, 2e Rang, ☏ 1 418-782-2294. Die hele jaar oop. Aux Jardins de l'Anse is situated in a rather strange location — an out-of-the-way, almost isolated part of inland L'Anse-à-Beaufils — but it's perfect for those visiting Percé during the winter, a time when, unlike most area hoteliers, owners Odette and Jean-Guy are as busy as any other season. In fact, taking good care of offseason visitors at a time when most services are closed seems to be a major point of pride here, with a long slate of winter activities on offer including dogsledding excursions (q.v.), sleigh rides, and snowmobiling. But Aux Jardins de l'Anse is perfect for the other three seasons too, with lobster fishing excursions in the spring, brilliant colours covering the mountains in the fall, and the gardens that give the place its name providing a summertime floral feast for the eyes and nose. The main house boasts four rooms, all with lovely views either over the gardens or out to the sea in the distance; the "Petite Suite" boasts a queen size bed, private bath and lounge and Internet access while the other three have double beds, shared baths and peaceful sitting areas. There's also a detached chalet with a private terrace, a full-size private bath, and additional amenities such as a refrigerator and barbecue grill. Breakfast comes either as a gourmet five-course meal in the midmorning or as an abbreviated continental breakfast beginning at 6AM: perfect for early-rising hikers hitting the River Trail a short walk away. Website in French only. $65-$95/nt.
- 13 [dooie skakel]La Maison Réhel, 42, rue de l'Église, ☏ 1 418-782-2910. Inboek: 16:00, uitteken: 11:00. Open Jun-Sep. Located in a calm setting off the main drag yet boasting easy access to all of Percé's attractions, La Maison Réhel is a spacious old Victorian house dating to 1910 (built by local country lawyer Alphonse Garneau) whose relaxing porch gives you a front-row view of towering Mont Sainte-Anne and the majestic St. Michael's Catholic Church. Inside there are five rooms, all of which are decorated handsomely in period style with hardwood floors and antique furniture, and all but one of which boast ample queen-size beds ("L'Aubergine" makes up for only having a double bed with the inclusion of a small dresser and sink). Bathrooms are shared. Elsie and Augustine serve a full breakfast every morning from 7:30AM-9AM featuring locally sourced ingredients, and are on hand constantly to share information on what there is to do around town. High season rates: $80-$85/nt for up to 2 people; $25/nt each additional person.
- 14 [dooie skakel]Le Presbytère, 47, rue de l'Église, ☏ 1 418-782-5557, tolvry: 1-866-782-5557. Open May-Oct. The imposing St. Michael's Catholic Church which towers next door informs the entire identity of this gîte: the house was constructed a century ago as the home of its priest, and the two common living rooms are decorated with artifacts from the church's history and furnished liberally with period antiques. Le Presbytère is conveniently located to all attractions, yet it's a breath of fresh air for those looking to get away from the hubbub: the pleasant front veranda affords a view of Percé Rock sans crowds of gawking tourists, and there are also a few computers there for those who want to stay connected. The five guest rooms here include "La Familiale", a suite with a panoramic ocean view that sleeps 3 to 5 (perfect for families, hence the name), and "La Chambre du Curé", decorated in warm pink tones and boasting a luxurious queen size bed. Most of the rooms feature shared baths. Michel, the owner, speaks French, English and Spanish and is well-known for going above and beyond in assuring the comfort of his guests — and he cooks up a hearty yet elegant breakfast in the morning, with eggs prepared a different way each day and meats sometimes including wild game sourced from area forests. $82-$139/nt for up to two people, $15-$20/nt each additional person.
- 15 Hôtel-Motel du Rocher Percé, 111, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2230, tolvry: 1-888-467-3723. Inboek: 15:00, uitteken: 11:30. Open May-Oct. The Hôtel-Motel du Rocher Percé is another one of those places that falls in the gray area between a gîte and a small hotel. It has 16 rooms, far larger than most gîtes, but the decor boasts far more character than your average hotel, and a hearty country breakfast is served daily. All of the guest rooms here contain a comfy double bed, a chest of drawers, wireless Internet access, and private baths (full bathrooms in most cases; the four second-floor rooms boast private half-baths and one shared full bath for showering). Most rooms also have ocean views and TVs with a remote control. Kitchenette suites and private cottages are available for those staying longer periods (3 or more nights and 6 or more nights, respectively; minimum stay requirements are sometimes waived during the shoulder season). On the ground floor is an art gallery that features solo and group exhibitions by artists from around the Gaspé region; there you can also buy crafts produced by local artisans, such as handmade pottery and fine silkware. $62-$102/nt for one person, $74-$118/nt for two people, $15/nt each additional person.
Youth hostels
- 16 La Maison Rouge, 125, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-2227. Open all year, with lower prices in effect during the offseason. A charming youth hostel centrally located in a historic farmhouse dating back to 1872, with seven private rooms in the main house as well as four shared dormitories (men's, women's and two mixed) in the barn out back. Three of the private rooms have their own bathroom while the other four split two between them; all are decorated in period style. Those staying in the dormitory can bring their own sleeping bag or rent bedding for $5/nt. Guests have access to a communal living room, sunroom, terrace and kitchen. Internet access is available. High season rates: $25/nt for dorm bed, $85/nt for up to 2 people in private room with shared bath ($115 for 3 people), $98/nt for up to 2 people in private room with private bath.
Campgrounds
- 17 Camping du Cap Rouge, 2009, route 132, ☏ 1 418-645-3804. Open mid-May through late Sep. Located in the district of Saint-Georges-de-Malbaie, an easy (and lovely) 25-minute drive from Percé town centre, Camping du Cap Rouge is an 85-unit campsite that has it all: a common room and kitchen area with a stove, refrigerator and dishes, a combination bathroom/shower/coin laundry facility, a convenience store out front that sells beer and wine, basketball and volleyball courts, lawn bowling, trout fishing in the stream on the east side of the property, and a full slate of organized activities too. As for the campsites, there are spaces for tents and trailers either oceanside or inland in the woods, and the majority of sites are hooked up to electricity, water and sewer. Even if you don't have your own tent or trailer, du Cap Rouge has you covered: you can rent them (see website for rates)! $23-$33/nt, $600/month, $900 for whole season.
- 18 Camping Côte Surprise, 335, route 132, ☏ 1 418-782-5443, tolvry: 1-866-799-5443. Open mid-May through late Oct. This campsite takes full advantage of its prime location a short distance from Percé town centre, boasting a magnificent unobstructed view of Percé Rock from its 125 campsites along the shoreline near White Head. A variety of experiences are to be had at Côte Surprise: about two-thirds of its sites are serviced with modern amenities like electricity and water (along with publicly accessible hookups), but there are also 45 "wilderness camping" sites in a wooded milieu for those who are looking for a more backwoods-style experience — sadly, a relative term at this fairly crowded venue. There are sites for trailers as well, and laundry facilities are available. Cash only. $28-$42/nt.
- 19 Camping Tête d'Indien, 1669, route 132, ☏ 1 418-645-2333. Inboek: 14:00, uitteken: 13:00. Open Jun-Sep. This little campground is located north of the town centre, behind the majestic Indian Head Rock(Tête d'Indien) — hence its name — and offers a full slate of activities that takes advantage of its off-the-beaten-path location in the wide open spaces: a volleyball court, a horseshoe pit, a private beach, snorkeling, kayaking, and plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting. As for the campsites themselves, they accommodate both trailers and tents (41 sites between them). "Primitive" tent sites are available for those in search of a more rustic experience, with fire rings, ecosan toilets, and access to common showering and laundry facilities; all the others boast fire rings, electrical and water hookups, and in some cases, private fireplaces and sewer and cable TV hookups. A choice of mountain or ocean views are available, the latter looking onto lovely Plate Island(Île Plate). Tête d'Indien's friendly staff are always on hand to help with any questions you may have about the campground itself or things to do in the area. $24-$30/nt.
Verbind
Percé, along with the rest of the Gaspé Peninsula, is served by area codes 418 and 581. Ten-digit dialing is mandatory for local calls, so to reach a number within Percé or the immediate vicinity, it's still necessary to dial the area code first. To call long-distance within Canada or to the United States, dial 1, then the area code, then the number. For international calls, dial 011, then the country code, then the city code (if applicable), then the number.
Die 5 Percé Post Office is located in the town centre at 147, route 132, in a large, modernist-style office building that also contains the courthouse and city hall. There are also post offices in Barachois, Cap-d'Espoir, Saint-Georges-de-Malbaie, and Val-d'Espoir.
Hanteer
Le Pharillon is a free weekly newspaper covering local news, culture, sports, and events in Percé and the neighbouring cities and towns of Gaspé, Chandler, en Grande-Vallée.
Gaan volgende
- If you're heading up Route 132 from the direction of Chaleur Bay, the next town you'll come to is Gaspé. Where Percé is the tourist capital of the Gaspé Peninsula, Gaspé is its commercial capital, and at first blush the town seems to be all business. Look a little closer, though, and you'll find some nice off-the-beaten-path tourist destinations like the Gaspé Regional Museum(Musée de la Gaspésie), a perfect place to go when your outdoor plans are rained out: you can learn everything you want to know about the region's history, culture, and people. There's also a wonderful sandy beach at Haldimand, and Canada's tallest lighthouse at Cap-des-Rosiers. However, Gaspé is probably best known to tourists as the gateway to...
- Forillon National Park(Parc national du Canada Forillon), a wild and wonderful expanse of tree-clad mountains and rocky shore centred on Cap-Gaspé, the furthest-east tip of the Appalachian Mountains on the American continent. Hike through dense boreal forests, past placid pebble beaches lined with historic fishing shacks, and admire wide ocean vistas on your way to the lighthouse at land's end. Sea kayaking, whale-watching, snorkelling, and cross-country skiing are just a few of the activities awaiting you at Forillon.
- If you're heading south and west from Gaspé, Chandler is the next town you'll pass through. This large industrial town was founded on the pulp and paper milling industry and is the birthplace of Mary Travers, better known as "La Bolduc", a pioneering chansonnière (singer of traditional Québécois folk songs). It's also the Gaspé Peninsula's port of call for the M/V CTMA Vacancier, a cruise ship that plies the St. Lawrence river and estuary from Montreal; as such, it's a major gateway to the far-flung Îles de la Madeleine, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
- Further down Route 132 past Chandler is Bonaventure, where the longstanding Acadian presence in the Chaleur Bay region is represented by the Quebec Acadian Museum(Musée acadien du Québec), a sprawling complex that tells the story of the Acadians through artifacts and exhibits in the main museum as well as historically accurate artisans' shops and other buildings elsewhere. Bonaventure is also home of the Gaspé Biopark(Bioparc de la Gaspésie), a small zoo that features a few dozen animals indigenous to the region.
| Routes through Percé |
| Rimouski ← Chandler ← | W  E | → Gaspé → EINDE |
| Rimouski ← Gaspé ← | W  E | → Chandler → Rimouski |