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

Profile of the Region – Grosse Île and Grande Entrée Islands

Classified in Order of Location.

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Grosse-Île

Grande-Entrée

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40 km from the Information Tourist Centre in Cap-aux-Meules, via the 199 North. Grosse-Île is populated by Anglophones of Scottish descent who work as fishermen for the most part. This island is gorgeous with its wooded slopes reaching the sea and its typical isolated areas, like East Cape and Old-Harry. The Pointe de l'Est National Wildlife Area is part of Grosse Île, and it links this island to Grande Entrée. The salt mine, located at the entrance of Grosse-Île, is unique in North America. There, huge salt domes that are part of the geolo gical base of the Islands are mined. In 1983, Mines Seleine began excavating the salt at Rocher au Dauphin on the dune linking the islands of Grosse Île and Pointe aux Loups. Salt is mined at a 300-metre depth in tunnels that extend over a diameter of 1.6 km under the dune and the sea. An interpretation centre open to visitors is located nearby. The charming little church in the village of Grosse-Île is well worth the visit, as it is adorned with a splendid modern stained-glass window representing the work of fishermen. A little farther on, Grande Échouerie Beach makes up the coastline of the Pointe de l'Est National Wildlife Area. The entrance of the beach is located in Old-Harry. Grande Échouerie Beach offers services for the whole family: parking ($), showers, toilets, picnic tables and a children’s playground. Be very careful if you swim, especially if the wind is strong. Waves can be pretty big and sea currents are extremely dangerous. Artisans and Creative Art Trades ������������������p. 79 Creation Workshops �������������������������������������������p. 80 Industrial Tours ������������������������������������������������������p. 131 Museums, Interpretation Centres and ECONOMUSÉES ® �����������������������������������������p. 87 Restaurants ������������������������������������������������������������p. 152 Wildlife Reserves �������������������������������������������������p. 102

55 km from the Information Tourist Centre in Cap-aux-Meules, via the 199 North. Grande Entrée was the last island to be permanently inhabited, its colonization occurring approximately in 1870. Since then, its fishing port became essential to the Islands. Designated as Québec’s Lobster Capital in 1994, Grande-Entrée’s fishing port has over 100 lobster-fishing boats that bring in more than half of the Islands’ total annual catch. Route 199 ends at this wharf, which is called Pointe de la Grande-Entrée (Grande-Entrée Point). Here, you have a charming fishing port packed with brightly coloured boats. Blue mussels are farmed in the bay of Grande Entrée, as well as in the lagoon of Havre-aux Maisons. Chemin Pealey leads to the western end of Grande Entrée and illustrates the traditional division of land. Take a walk to Boudreau Island, one of the most beautiful landscapes you will see in the Magdalen Islands. With an area of 20 hectares, this island overlooks the Bassin aux Huîtres and lets you discover a remote location with hidden beaches and footpaths. Owned by the Société de conservation des Îles-de-la- Madeleine since 2004, this site can be accessed via Chemin du Bassin Ouest. Adventure Tours �����������������������������������������������������p. 97 Events ��������������������������������������������������������������������������p. 66 Kayaking ��������������������������������������������������������������������p. 57 Museums, Interpretation Centres and ECONOMUSÉES ® ������������������������������������������p. 87 Nature Interpretation �����������������������������������������p. 98 Recreational Equipment Rentals ������������������p. 99 Relaxation and Therapeutic Care ���������������p. 129 Restaurants ������������������������������������������������������������p. 152 Souvenirs Shops �����������������������������������������������������p. 82 Stand Up Paddle ����������������������������������������������������p. 62 Yoga �����������������������������������������������������������������������������p. 131

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