Discover Bonaventure: Coast, Culture and Nature

When planning a hotel stay in Bonaventure, it helps to start by asking which themes you want to shape your stay: coastal views, Acadian history, theatre, water activities or wildlife watching. The places differ in their focus—from a permanent exhibition to beaches and opportunities for birdwatching.

Coast and activities in Bonaventure

Bonaventure’s seaside promenade offers views of the coastal landscape. You can canoe on the Bonaventure River in Bonaventure. These two experiences offer different perspectives: from the promenade, the focus is on the coastal views, while canoeing puts you in motion on the river. Bonaventure’s tourist attractions also include the Fauvel golf course. This means you can find a range of named leisure activities here, from coastal views to golf.

History and regional culture

The Musée acadien du Québec in Bonaventure presents the history of the Acadians in Quebec through a permanent exhibition and educational activities. Several shops and workshops on the museum grounds showcase the work of regional artists and craftspeople. The history of the Acadians and the work of local artists and craftspeople are therefore distinct yet complementary themes.

In Paspébiac, visitors can sample traditional dishes at the Site historique national de Paspébiac. The Banc-de-Pêche-de-Paspébiac historic site was designated a heritage site by the Minister of Cultural Affairs on July 17, 1981. Paspébiac therefore offers both a culinary and a cultural-historical connection: the dishes bring traditional cuisine into focus, while the designation highlights cultural heritage.

The Cascapedia River Museum is located in the heart of Cascapedia-St-Jules and presents the river’s history through exhibits, artifacts, photographs and personal accounts. These different materials offer a range of ways to explore the subject of the river: in addition to objects and images, there are personal accounts. At Espace René-Lévesque in New Carlisle, a statue of René Lévesque and a permanent exhibition covering key moments in his life and work are among the main features. The focus here is on one person, while the Cascapedia River Museum explores the history of a river.

Theatre for young audiences

Théâtre de la Petite Marée is a theatre organization for young audiences. It develops, produces and performs plays primarily in the summer. It also stages a family play in the theatre studio at Centre Bonne Aventure in Bonaventure. If you want to include performances in your travel plans, the seasonal focus is useful to know: the theatre’s work is primarily concentrated in the summer.

Beaches and nature

The Grotte de Saint-Elzéar is more than 200,000 years old and contains numerous bones and concretions. Its age and these finds make it a geological highlight among the natural attractions mentioned here. In Saint-Siméon, the site of Île leads to a sandy beach; you can also observe numerous bird species there. This site thus combines a beach with birdwatching.

Caplan has public beaches. At Plage de la Rivière, the sea meets the Caplan River. Plage Beaubassin in Bonaventure offers a different focus: you can fish from the wharf, and shellfish gathering is also possible there. The beaches described therefore differ both in their setting at the meeting of sea and river and in the specific activities mentioned.

Discover more destinations: Bonaventure, Caplan, Paspébiac, New Richmond, La Côte-De-Beaupré, Matane, Pontiac, Témiscamingue.

For the broader travel overview: Quebec.