2024-2025 Official Tourist Guide of the Îles de la Madeleine

Profile of the Region – Havre aux Maisons Island

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Havre-aux-Maisons 4 km from the Information Tourist Centre in Cap-aux-Meules, via the 199 North.

glance over to your left to get a good view of Les Sillons, furrows created by the unceasing movement of the dune under the influence of wind and wave. There you can find the Parc des Sillons, preserved since 2013. Interpretive signs are located along the trail and give information to visitors about this one-of-a-kind natural environment. The roadside rest area at Dune-du-Sud gives access to a beautiful beach with picnic tables and toilets. Red cliffs sculpted by the sea shelter one side of the beach. Don’t hesitate to explore the holes and caves at low tide (p. 108). This is the perfect beach for family outings, as the water is calm here. On the other side is the long Dune du Sud, also named La Cormorandière, where you can walk for hours. Art Galleries and Exhibition Halls ����������������p. 84 Artisanal Cheese Makers and Smokehouse ��������������������������������������������������p. 118 Artisans and Creative Art Trades ������������������p. 78 Coffee Roasters and Cafés �������������������������������p. 117 Farm Tours ��������������������������������������������������������������p. 122 Fish Markets �����������������������������������������������������������p. 120 Handcrafted Beverages and Microbrewery ������������������������������������������������p. 112 Honey Producer and Mariculture ����������������p. 119 Mini-Golf �������������������������������������������������������������������p. 130 Museums, Interpretation Centres and ECONOMUSÉES ����������������������������������������������������p. 86 Recreational Equipment Rentals �����������������p. 98 Restaurants �������������������������������������������������������������p. 151 Sea Excursions (Boat/Zodiac) ������������������������p. 56 Sea Fishing Excursions ���������������������������������������p. 54 Stand Up Paddle ����������������������������������������������������p. 62

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This district is composed of several townships, which are La Pointe, La Petite-Baie, Cap-Rouge, Pointe-Basse and Dune-du-Sud. Near the bridge joining Havre aux Maisons Island to Cap aux Meules Island is La Pointe. With its marina, wharves, and fishing infrastructure, it has always been a business and meeting point for the fishing trade. Just behind, across a narrow channel, we find Paquet Island, home to many species of birds like terns, gulls and herons. For a view of the beautiful La Pointe site reflected in the calm waters of La Petite-Baie with Cap aux Meules Island in the background, take a tour by Chez Mounette hill, along the scenic Chemin de la Petite-Baie and Chemin des Cyr. It is a wonderful place to enjoy unforgettable sunsets while Great Blue Herons quietly fish for their dinner. Keep going and you will come to an old convent. Built in 1915, it is the only fieldstone building in the Îles de la Madeleine. Conti nuing along Route 199 you can visit La grande école, located in the old St. Joseph school, a heritage building dating from 1906. Walk, drive or cycle along the Chemin de la Pointe-Basse. You will get a good picture of how Madelinots traditionally divided the land. You will see some lovely examples of traditional homes. The small fishing harbour at Pointe-Basse used to be an important location for smoking herring. The Fumoir d’Antan brings to life an activity that was, in the past, very important to the Islands’ economy. Continue along to the end of Chemin de la Pointe-Basse, where you will come to the Chemin des Échoueries. Stop by the Alright Cape lighthouse where you will have a specta cular view over grey cliffs, all of Plaisance Bay and the outline of Entry Island. Along Chemin des Montants, on the other side of the Butte Ronde hill, you will find a peaceful little valley with a few houses. This is one of the most beautiful sites in Havre-aux-Maisons. Farther on, before going down towards Dune du Sud,

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