Saint-Joachim is a parish municipality of Quebec near Quebec City in the regional county municipality of La Côte-de-Beaupré , in the administrative region of the Capitale-Nationale.

Understand

Geography

This municipality is mainly characterized by:

• the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Reserve: this wildlife reserve is made up of marshes, plains, forests and hills/mountains along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Every two years, thousands of visitors come to admire the snow geese in their migratory stopover in the Cap Tourmente national wildlife reserve;
• the Côte de La Miche: the municipal territory is crossed from southwest to northeast by Route 138 which runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Heading east, after crossing the Saint-Anne River bridge, Route 138 gradually rises to 2.9 km (1.8 mi), then climbs rapidly to 5.7 km (3.5 mi) to reach an altitude of 384 m at the junction of chemin Cauchon. The ascent of this coast of the Miche constitutes the right of entry into the Canadian shield, leaving the plain of the St. Lawrence;
• the flats of Pointe aux Prêtres: these flats stretch for 6.7 km (4.2 mi) between Cap Tourmente and Pointe aux Prêtres (and advance into the river up to 1.6 km (0.99 mi) at low tide) which is south of the village of Saint-Joachim. From there, the narrower flats continue westward to the Périgny sector of the hamlet of Sainte-Anne-Ouest. These flats are revealed at low tide;
• the Rivière Sainte-Anne which includes (from the mouth): small islands near the mouth, a series of rapids in the lower part, the Sainte-Anne waterfall (in a steep arwa) and Sept-Chutes (in a steep-sided area) on the border of Saint-Joachim, Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges and Saint-Tite-des-Caps;
• its small agricultural part in the riparian zone with a maximum width of 3.0 km (1.9 mi), which begins at the foot of Cap Tourmente and stretches west to the river Saint Anne. From the beginning of colonization by the French, this site was used for agriculture essential to the development of New France. There are still important traces of the past today: farm buildings that belonged to the Séminaire de Québec, archaeological remains of the fires made by English General James Wolfe to take the city of Québec and a heritage church dating from the French regime;
• the panorama of the northeast end of Île d'Orléans: the Île d'Orléans channel has a width of 2.6 km (1.6 mi) at the height of the village of Saint-Joachim;
• the picturesque village of Saint-Joachim: this small inverted L-shaped village is part of the plain and is near the shore of the St. Lawrence River. In the village, the panorama is splendid on (counter-clockwise): Cap Tourmente, Côte de la Miche, Mont Ferréol, Mont Saint-Anne and the other nearby peaks of the Laurentian Shield.

History

Saint-Joachim has four centuries of history. From 1623, the inhabitants harvested fodder there. Its historic buildings and infrastructure straddle the French regime in Canada until 1759; then the English regime since 1759. During the English conquest of 1759, many farms and houses were destroyed; these buildings were rebuilt in subsequent years.

Get in

By car

• From Tadoussac (176 km, time: 2 hr 35 min), take Route 138 (eastbound) to the village of Beaupré; turn right at rute Prévost; turn left at avenue Royale, to the village of Saint-Joachim.
• From Quebec (52 km, time: 39 min), take the Tadoussac-Baie Sainte-Catherine ferry; take Route 138 (westbound) to Côte de la Miche in Saint-Joachim; turn left at rue des Carrières, to the village of Saint-Joachim.

By bus

• 1 Intercar (bus), Dépanneur Couche-Tard, 9687 Boulevard Sainte-Anne, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré (9.7 km from the centre of the village of Saint-Joachim), ☏ +1 418-827-5169 (convenience store), toll-free: +1-800-806-2167. Intercar offers a bus service from Quebec City (Gare du Palais, 320, rue Abraham-Martin) to Baie-Comeau via route 138, with a stop at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and at Saint-Tite-des-Caps. (updated Feb 2022)

See

• 1 Canyon Sainte-Anne, 206, route 138 (from Route 138 (in Saint-Joachim), take Chemin des Chutes Ste-Anne), ☏ +1 418-827-4057. The Sainte-Anne canyon is on the border of Saint-Joachim and Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges. It all started 1.2 billion years ago (Precambrian era) with the formation of the rock of the walls and the bottom of the canyon which are part of the Canadian Shield. It was during the melting of an ice cap 75,000 years ago that the current Quebec hydrographic network was formed (St. Lawrence River, Île d'Orléans, Îles de la Madeleine and the rivers known today) as well as the Canyon as we can see it today.
  This extraordinary natural site has been accessible to the general public since 1973, but Indigenous peoples used to frequent the site. The waterfall was painted by the famous Cornelius Kreighoff and described by the American ecologist and philosopher H.D. Thoreau.
  Easy-to-access family footpaths allow you to enter the spectacular canyon carved out by the imposing 74 metres (243 ft) fall which constantly rumbles between the rocky walls of the gorges. Visitors cross 3 suspension bridges… including one 60 metres (200 ft) high! One of the largest giant's pot in Quebec (15 metres (49 ft) in diameter) is visible as well as several waterfalls when you are at the bottom of the Canyon.
  The exceptional beauty of the site has often been recognized, both in Quebec (recipient of 3 Grands Prix du tourisme) and in Canada (national winner Attractions Canada). When John Travolta came to shoot his film Battlefield Earth in Montreal, several scenes were shot in Charlevoix and at Canyon Sainte-Anne.
  "Roc-ambolesque" family games allow young people and their parents to have fun by decoding riddles and legends in a section of the park different from that which allows the visit of the site.
  For adventurers and thrill-seekers, it is possible to do vias ferrata, abseiling and zip-lining in the gorges of the Canyon. In fact, the Via des Marmites was the first via installed in Quebec. The concept is imported from Europe by well-known Quebec adventurer François-Guy Thivièrge.
  For people who have difficulty walking, it is possible to take advantage of a shuttle service that runs along the entire North Rim of the Canyon and provides access to 2 of the 3 suspension bridges.
  On site, the main building offers a snack service and a pleasant terrace. There are also 2 wooded picnic areas, one of which is directly by the river. (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Reserve (Réserve nationale de faune de Cap Tourmente), 570 chemin du Cap-Tourmente, ☏ +1 418-827-3776, cap.tourmente@ec.gc.ca. The Cap Tourmente NWA is a wildlife reserve in Saint-Joachim and Sault-au-Cochon. The international fame of this protected area is particularly derived from the awe-inspiring displays of tens of thousands of greater snow geese during their biannual migratory gatherings. In spectacle in the reserve, they fly away in clouds or form large webs of white dots floating on the waters of the river. Located near Quebec City, this reserve offers visitors a special cachet of observation of fauna, flora and nature in every season. (updated Feb 2022)
• 3 Church of St. Joachim, Presbytère: 165, rue de l'Église, ☏ +1 418-827-4020. Place of worship of Catholic denomination. (updated Feb 2022)

Tourist circuits

• Circuit Archéo-Vision de Saint-Joachim (Archéo-Vision circuit of Saint-Joachim), ☏ +1 418-827-4608, info@lagrandeferme.qc.ca. This 10-km Archéo-Vision circuit allows visitors to explore the arteries of the municipality of Saint-Joachim to discover snippets of the great history of Saint-Joachim and the Cap-Tourmente region. Interpretation panels throughout the village reveal to visitors the local archaeological richness over more than 350 years of history. Archaeologists have unearthed artifacts that provide insight into the lifestyles of our ancestors. The starting point for this circuit is at the central sign, rue de l'Eglise. This hike can be done on foot, by bike or by car, from the end of April to the end of October. (updated Feb 2022)
• Circuit des créateurs de la Côte-de-Beaupré (Circuit of the creators of the Côte-de-Beaupré), info@circuitdescreateurs-cdb.com. As part of the Regroupement des Intervenants culturel de la CBD, local artists offer a tourist circuit comprising 28 stations, between Boischatel and Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, linked to various forms of art, meeting the creators in their respective workshops. and to visit exhibition sites and interpretation sites. This circuit concerns as much professional artists in current, traditional arts or crafts; it also includes a visit to an economuseum, a museum, a library, interpretation centres, art galleries or distribution partners. The creators' circuit website displays the map of La Côte-de-Beaupré and the 28 recommended resorts. (updated Feb 2022)
• Route de la Nouvelle-France (New France Road). Heritage, cultural and nature trail. Departing from Quebec, this route takes place on the Côte-de-Beaupré. In Boischatel, visitors can stop to see the Vézina, Jacob and Pageau ancestral homes, as well as the Manoir de Charleville. Opposite, the river offers a panorama full of life: passing boats, pleasure craft, fog, and clouds. (updated Feb 2022)
• BaladoDécouverte Vivre la Côte-de-Beaupré - Excursion patrimoniale (BaladoDiscovery Live the Côte-de-Beaupré - Heritage excursion), toll-free: +1-877-611-6145, info@cotedebeaupre.com. Visitors can independently experience the cultural and touristic experiences of La Côte-de-Beaupré through a podcast (French and English). This guided tour of 80 km is made up of 16 places, and includes two stops per municipality. At each place visited, participants listen to relevant themes related to the municipality and the territory. Participants must download the podcast before starting the circuit to discover the Côte-de-Beaupré. (updated Feb 2022)

Events

• Festival de l'Oie des Neiges de Saint-Joachim (Saint-Joachim Snow Goose Festival), ☏ +1 418-827-4608. Mid-October. Annual festival during the snow geese stopover period in Saint-Joachim. (updated Feb 2022)
• Tour du Cap-Tourmante Simard (Tour of Cap-Tourmante Simard), ☏ +1 418-951-5194. Mid-June. (updated Feb 2022)

Do

• 1 Écuries Du Cap Tourmente, 970, chemin du Cap Tourmente, ☏ +1 418-827-5328. Riding stable. (updated Feb 2022)

Buy

• 1 La Ferme du Bon Temps, 884, route 138, ☏ +1 418-827-3672, info@fermedubontemps.com. Food company. Local produce shop: potatoes, asparagus... (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Le berceau du meuble québécois, 514, avenue Royale, ☏ +1 418-827-2260. Woodworker. (updated Feb 2022)

Eat

• 1 Casse-croûte Marc-André, 175, route de la Miche (near Route 138), ☏ +1 418-827-5126. Swimming at the beach of Lac Saint-Tite (461 m long) near the large cliff of Cap-Brûlé. (updated Feb 2022)

Sleep

Gîtes

• 1 Auberge à l'Abri de la Tourmente, 200, chemin du Cap Tourmente. Accommodation. (updated Jan 2021)
• 2 Les Chalets sur le cap, 201, route 138, ☏ +1 418-931-8939. Accommodation in a cabin. (updated Jan 2021)
• 3 Club ChassOie, 969, chemin du Cap Tourmente, ☏ +1 418-. Accommodation. (updated Jan 2021)

Go next

Routes through Saint-Joachim

Quebec City ← Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré ←

W  E

→ La Malbaie → Sept-Îles

• 1 Sault-au-Cochon Sault-au-Cochon is a strip approximately 18 km long and 4.1 km wide (at the edge of the Massif de Charlevoix) on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, between the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Reserve (Réserve nationale de faune du Cap Tourmente) and the Massif de Charlevoix. This territory is exploited for silviculture, recreational tourism activities and the passage of the Charlevoix train at the foot of the cliff. The Sentier des caps de Charlevoix and its sub-trails are entirely developed in Sault-au-Cochon.
• 2 Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Reserve This reserve is made up of marshes, plains and forests. Its mission is to protect an American bulrush marsh which is the main habitat of the greater snow goose during its migration. It has several hiking trails allowing the ascent via Cap Tourmente. This reserve is home to more than 180 species of birds, 30 species of mammals, 22 types of forest stands and 700 species of plants. Many tourists come here for educational visits on the flora and fauna.
• 3 Beaupré Located along the St. Lawrence River, facing Île d'Orléans, the town of Beaupré is overlooked by the legendary Mont Sainte-Anne and its famous ski resort. The city two 18-hole golf courses, and a shopping centre. It has a wide choice of restaurants, pubs and dining rooms of various types: family to fine dining.
• 4 Saint-Tite-des-Caps Saint-Tite-des-Caps is a vacation and resort destination, thanks to its natural attractions near Quebec City. This rural and forest environment presents majestic landscapes on the Laurentians and the St. Lawrence River. The famous Sentiers des Caps attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.
• 5 Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges Tourist resort in a mountainous area whose village overlooks the canyon of the Sainte-Anne River. This municipality is endowed with natural attractions (Jean-Larose waterfall, Mont Ferréo), Lac du Faubourg), leisure facilities (Mont-Sainte-Anne cross-country ski centre, d'Auto-Neige Le Sapin d'Or, Le St-Ferréol golf course, multipurpose trail, Mestachibo trail, Mont Sainte-Anne mountain bike trails and Jean-Larose bike path, Villéa nature & Nordique Spa, the frescoes of the Church of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges) and recreational tourism activities (hiking, canyoning). Tourists find local products there, as well as the works of artists and craftsmen.
• 6 Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a tourist destination due to its reception capacity (lodging, camping, restaurants), its recreational and tourist activities (hiking trails, bicycles, spa, snowmobiles, mountain biking), its businesses and its historical attractions (basilica, museums). Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a regional shopping and service centre.