On the banks of the St. Lawrence River in L'Islet-sur-Mer, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Church stands along the former Chemin du Roy. It offers a striking introduction to L'islet's cultural and maritime heritage. Alongside heritage-designated religious buildings, the area's attractions include an extensive museum collection, snow activities and the Quai de L'Islet, offering different starting points for planning your trip.
Churches, architecture and a local legend
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Church is designated as a heritage building. Its monumental umbrella-style façade is defined by two side towers and a distinctive bell tower. The Chapelle des Marins is also a designated heritage building. It was built as a processional chapel and also serves as a votive chapel—two functions that mark its place in the area's religious heritage.
The Rocher Panet is associated with a local legend: on a moonless evening, Father Panet is said to have freed the soul of a woman who had sold her immortal soul and eternal bliss to the devil. This tale shifts the focus from church architecture to a story associated with a named place in L'Islet.
Maritime collections and museum ships
The Musée maritime du Québec offers three permanent exhibitions and cultural and educational programs for people of all ages. A boatbuilding workshop displays wooden boats typical of this stretch of the St. Lawrence River. The collection includes more than 15,000 artifacts, maps, books and historical documents. Visitors can tailor their visit to their interests in boats, exhibitions or historical collections.
Within the broader L'islet destination, the museum is located in L’Islet-sur-Mer and welcomes visitors year-round. From May to October, two of the three museum ships are open to visitors: the icebreaker Ernest Lapointe and the hydrofoil Bras d’Or. For seasonal visits to the ships, it's a good idea to check visiting options before your trip.
Snow activities and the riverfront
Club sportif Appalaches offers cross-country skiing, a ski school, snowshoeing and biathlon. Its trails include routes suited to families as well as more challenging options. There is also a lighted training loop and day-use shelters. A range of activities and difficulty levels is available; the best fit for your travel plans depends on whether you want to focus on cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or biathlon.
At the Quai de L'Islet, a boat ramp leads to the St. Lawrence River, and a sandy harbour provides access to the shore. The quay is suitable for kayaks, windsurfing boards and other light watercraft, though caution is advised. It is also a migratory bird sanctuary protected by Environment Canada. Around 2,000 snow geese and several species of dabbling ducks gather there each year. Water sports and birdwatching are two different reasons to explore the riverfront.
More places in the broader L'islet destination
Saint-Jean-Port-Joli also offers its own cultural highlights within the broader L'islet destination. The Musée de la mémoire vivante presents collective memory through stories, photographs and everyday objects. The Musée de la sculpture showcases traditional and contemporary wood carving as part of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli's cultural heritage. These experiences complement the churches and maritime collection in L'Islet with other ways to engage with culture.
In Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies, Club de plein air des Aulnaies offers guided or self-guided kayak trips along the Rivière ferrée through a green landscape. In Saint-Marcel, hiking trails wind through forests, follow streams and lead to viewpoints; one of the trails is 5 km long. These regional options are independent activities at their respective locations and can be considered separately from the attractions in L'Islet.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Saint-Roch-Des-Aulnaies.
Return to the broader travel guide: L'islet.
