Mountain resort on the sea | The rejuvenation of Mont-Saint-Pierre

Mont-Saint-Pierre has long been recognized as the mecca of free flight in eastern Canada. Far from denying its enviable status, the small Gaspé village has decided to make it the center of attraction for an ambitious recreational tourism project worth 6.5 million which will start in the summer.

“Mont-Saint-Pierre is a small village of 170 inhabitants which has long been recognized for free flight, but the movement is running out of steam and people have become aware that the village is emptying, that the population was aging and the economy was in decline, Julie Coulombe, general director of the Mont-Saint-Pierre Solidarity Cooperative, tells us. We therefore called on a consultant in 2019 to see what could be done. »

The result is called Mountain Resort on the Sea and is articulated in three ways, in the village, on the beach and at the top of the mountain. We first completely revitalized the village square, with the former Auberge des Waves at its heart, a building built in the 1940s which had long been abandoned. The place has thus become the Discovery Space, which houses not only the ticket office, but also an imposing model which shows the exceptional relief of this municipality which is the gateway to the highest peaks of Gaspésie, Mont Jacques-Cartier in the lead. “There will also be a community space with a small bistro, as well as kiosks where local artisans can set up,” explains M.^me Coulombe.

Nearby, the pretty church was converted to host the show As the crow flies, a creation of Montreal studios TKNL, the same ones that produced the projections on the facades of the Ottawa Parliament and the Parliament Building in Quebec, as well as immersive exhibitions at the Pointe-à-Callière museum, at the Center des sciences in Montreal or Val-Jalbert. “There will be an immersive experience in the Bell Tower Room in which people will really be able to feel the experience of a flight,” explains Julie Coulombe. There is also a part that covers the whole history of free flight. There are projections on the walls and ceilings, with an original soundtrack. There is also a lot of emphasis on the importance of winds. »

The old church is located precisely at the foot of the impressive cliff of Mont Saint-Pierre, from which paragliding and hang-gliding enthusiasts soar. And it is also at the summit that the brand new observatory is located, “the jewel of Mont-Saint-Pierre”, according to the general director of the Solidarity Cooperative.

“We have a breathtaking view of the river and the glacial valley to the south,” explains Julie Coulombe. But there is also a multimedia show in the observatory, which allows you to learn more about several geomorphological phenomena particular to the region, such as the U-shaped valleys or the famous flying rocks. » Indeed, in Mont-Saint-Pierre, the wind propels the rocks of the mountain towards its summit! Visitors are then invited to go to the platform, built cantilevered into the side of the cliff.

Access to the observatory and its platform is via the new Delta trail, a three-kilometer route that has been stretched to soften the ascent. For the more enduring, the Lynx trail has also been redeveloped, promising a loop hike of nearly 14 kilometers which allows you to have a look at Mount Saint-Pierre itself, on the opposite side of the bay. .

Finally, for those who are more tempted by relaxation, it is good to know that the Mont-Saint-Pierre beach has also been completely revitalized: “Here again, we listened to the population, who wanted make a gathering place, Julie Coulombe tells us. In particular, shade sails and a mat were installed to make access to the beach possible for people with reduced mobility or parents with strollers. Last year, there were a few shows on the beach, it’s definitely something we would like to do again. »

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