Amid woodlands and rural landscapes, pilgrims and hikers come across, in turn, a hamlet and a rest stop offering a sweeping view of the forests known as the “Séminaire.” You’ll catch a glimpse of Rosanna Farm (Le temps d’une paix) before beginning a long descent punctuated by brief ascents down to the Gouffre River valley and Saint-Urbain.
130 Rang Sainte-Philomène, La Malbaie, Quebec G5A 2B6
View on Google Maps
900 Saint-Édouard Street, Saint-Urbain, Quebec G0A 4K0
View on Google Maps
Distance
22.5 KM
Route duration
DAY 1
Difficulty level
STEADY DESCENT EXCEPT FOR A FEW CLIMBS
Elevation gain
210 M
Plan for today's drive
Planning for the Road Ahead
Another practical tip for today
As early as themid-17th century , a few families settled in this area, but it wasn’t until 1827 that a parish was established there under the name Saint-Urbain de Beaupré—named after the seigneury on which it was located—and in 1835 the municipality was formed. From 1843 to 1850, a road was built leading to Grande-Baie on the Saguenay River.
While red pine was harvested, an ilmenite mine was opened twice but never achieved successful production. Agriculture led to the construction of two successive flour mills.
The most significant events were the earthquakes, some of which were major (1870, 1925, 1988). A landslide in 1973, a fire that devastated one-third of the village in 1952, and finally two floods caused by the Du Gouffre River, each of which claimed the lives of one or two residents. In addition to the damaged homes, the parish church had to be rebuilt four times. Two epidemics claimed the lives of many residents: the Spanish flu (1918), followed by typhoid fever.
Saint-Urbain was home to Quebec’s first animal breeding facility, which raised silver foxes (1912). Today, it is home to an emu center.
The film industry found it to be an attractive location for filming: the series *Le temps d’une paix* and the films *La guerre des tuques* and *Le sens de l’humour*.
Photo: Daniel Olaleye on Unsplash.