Posted at 1:15am. Updated at 11:30am.
Cité Mémoire Charlevoix: a luminous poem in Charlevoix
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The images of the Cité Mémoire Charlevoix are projected onto a cliff that acts as a screen.
Every evening at dusk, when the river disappears and gives way to the stars, Charlevoix immerses itself in 1000 years of its history with all the beauty and poetry that inhabits it. With five luminous paintings projected around La Malbaie, the Cité Mémoire Charlevoix composes an ode to its landscape of mountains and sea and to all the pioneers who marked its memory.
The public is invited to La Malbaie on a fascinating journey through time and space, on a new route that goes from Pointe-au-Pic to the Casino de Charlevoix. Through various digital installations, some contemplative, others interactive, viewers will be lulled with stories and images inspired by the region’s history.
Politicians, sailors, maids, lumberjacks, millionaires or beggars: around fifty characters parade in this outdoor work on a 50-minute journey.
Created by Montréal en histoire, the show is added to various itineraries that allow you to discover 70 sites of interest in Charlevoix through the Cité Mémoire application.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
Michel Lemieux and Michel Marc Bouchard
Once again, the designer Michel Lemieux has teamed up with the playwright Michel Marc Bouchard to offer us this unique multimedia show, whose concept is similar to that of the Cité Mémoire Montréal, but in a completely different, rawer and more authentic setting.
Telling the story by creating emotions
“We spent two years dreaming up this itinerary and spending two years trying to identify the historic anchorages that are most interesting to showcase this heritage,” says historian and executive producer Martin Landry. The result is convincing. A cliff on the river bank was chosen as the screen for projecting images – in particular, giant faces that are placed transparently on the rock face as if they had been painted on the elements. Continuing down the log journey, visitors can watch the fish and logs pass under their feet, like the old wood drivers, at an interactive table where you can participate on the fly.
“Our goal is to arouse curiosity and arouse wonder, because this opens a door for the viewer through which we can convey the content and poetry of the texts,” says Michel Lemieux.
The show sits at the intersection of theatre, cinema and animated murals. People stay 30 seconds or do the whole course, they download the app or not. The pictures should speak for themselves. We have no control over the audience and that’s the wonderful thing.
Michel Lemieux, designer of the Cité Mémoire Charlevoix
The team is no longer in control of the weather and made final adjustments in the rain the day before the premiere, June 28. The technical manager Yvan Klein only slept for an hour, but has been working on the construction site for two months. “In Montreal, we generally project from existing buildings. Here it was a question of building masts and arches, integrating the equipment into the environment and making sure that it withstands the salty air and wind. “Everything had to be reconsidered,” he notes.
The artisans of the Cité Mémoire Charlevoix approached this exhibition with the modesty imposed by nature and the splendor of the area, notes Michel Marc Bouchard, quoting Laure Conan, the country’s first French-speaking writer and daughter of La Malbaie: “In great works there are no small workers.” »
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
Laure Conan, a pioneer of Quebec literature and daughter of Charlevoix, forms the muses of Charlevoix with Laure Gaudreault and Thérèse Casgrain.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The “Having some muts” projection was made on a huge rock face on the banks of the river near the Café de la Gare in La Malbaie.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
On the log trip we see the fish and logs pass under our feet like the old raftsmen.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
Marie-Ève Beaulieu lends her facial features to Laure Conan, whose real name is Marie-Louise Félicité Angers.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The painting Ti-Louis the Blind among the Forgotten is particularly touching.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
If you have courage, you can delve deep into the history of the region, right back to its origins.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
“Being a Don” is projected onto the Casino de Charlevoix in La Malbaie and pays homage in particular to the First Nations. When European settlers arrived, the Montagnais, Etchemins and Algonquins occupied the region.
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A journey into the heart of the night
Cité Mémoire Charlevoix presents a cast of well-known actors and others from Charlevoix. Guylaine Tremblay delivers the narration in her warm and endearing voice, recognizable by all, “a Charlevoix voice”, she says proudly, underscoring the beauty of the lyrics.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
Actors Vincent Leclerc and Guylaine Tremblay
I am a Massif daughter, a pure Charlevoix product. It moves me to see this strong nature and to reconnect with this flow that we call the sea here.
Guylaine Tremblay
Cité Mémoire Charlevoix provides glamor and emotion. We will be touched by the painting of Ti-Louis, the blind man at Forget’s, which relives an evening when the richest man in the region (Rodolphe Forget, played by Jean Harvey) invited the poorest, an itinerant storyteller named Louis Simard (Vincent Leclerc), to entertain his guests. Based on a true and documented story, the scene explores resort society, poverty and the tradition of the servants in Charlevoix.
Les Muses de Charlevoix is another particularly tasty tableau, bringing together three extraordinary women from La Malbaie: trade unionist Laure Gaudreault (Marie-Chantal Perron), feminist and politician Thérèse Casgrain (Marie-Thérèse Fortin) and Laure Conan (Marie-Ève Beaulieu). Although they are from different eras, Michel Marc Bouchard had fun bringing them together over a meal. “I wanted to pay tribute to them. These first feminist outbursts touch me particularly, the author states. We pretend to believe that after this effect, people will want to know more about these characters. »
One thing is for sure: we will take a different look at the landscape and the region after this journey, which takes shape this summer but will span four seasons over the next five years. To live the full experience, first download the “Montréal en Histoires” application (free, in French and in English).
The Cité Mémoire Charlevoix is presented free of charge every day from nightfall until 11pm.
The ready-to-camp between sea and mountains
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The outdoor space in La Malbaie
Glamping: enjoy nature comfortably, without equipment and without hassle. Two new experiences are available to visitors to Charlevoix this summer.
DACO: Sleeping under the stars
Seduced by the chirping of birds and the smell of moss mingling with the scents of conifers, the mind calms down in an instant in the outdoor area (DACO). The site has six pretty houses with large skylights that allow you to watch the sky from your mooring. This concept is complemented by pitches for mobile homes and five pitches equipped with platforms and hammocks where you can pitch your tent.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DACO
DACO founders Mona-Lee Pinkos and Tiger Perry
The atmosphere of the place is halfway between van life and youth hostel.
Mona-Lee Pinkos, co-founder of Open Sky Domain (DACO)
“We like it and there are very few in the area,” says Mona-Lee Pinkos, one of the two founders of DACO, as she leads us to our cabin. We will live there in a luxury version of a “wild” campsite, which we will not dislike.
Glamping in the van lifestyle
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The Constellation cabin is the star of the property with its wood-fired hot tub and an additional mezzanine bedroom.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
View of the blue sky… and the stars after dark
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The houses are small but functional.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
A telescope for observing the stars
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
There is also a spa!
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The Astral 2 welcomes us with no need to bring anything other than bedding and food. Since no car traffic is possible on the site, we can easily transport the luggage to our home on level ground with a trolley.
Our home is warm with its wood paneling and pops of color set off by a few pretty accessories. Despite the persistent rain that eludes us of the stars, we watch the clouds drift by while dreaming in a large bed (queen size) or large hammock. The room is small but flooded with light. From the kitchen to the bathroom, where there is only a dry toilet, everything is there in a reduced format.
A miniature wood-burning stove heats the room on cool weather, which is the opposite of what we need on a summer night when the temperature is close to that of a sauna. Luckily the owners thought about remedying this by adding fans. There is no shower in these houses, which might convince us that the soap attracts mosquitoes, but we want to cool down after seeing the toilet block, which is particularly cozy with its walk-in showers.
I glamp, you glamp, we glamp
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
There are common rooms on the site where people can meet.
The site has interesting common areas while preserving the privacy of its visitors through well-distributed plots where the neighbors are invisible. A large fire area offers space for gatherings and is a meeting place for film screenings in the open air. The owners also plan to welcome music groups there for one-off evening shows, the first of which is scheduled for August 26th. Dog lovers don’t miss out either, with a dog park with a pool and games.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The 123DACO
“It’s really that community spirit that we’re trying to convey here. People have a choice to stay “at home,” but we encourage meetings,” says Mona-Lee Pinkos. A fun garage, the 123DACO, features all the classic board games. The site is open to campers, but also to visitors – on Fridays, at the weekend or by reservation during the week. You can nibble on site or bring your lunch with you. Most notably, while stirring the cubes, cool down with a natural wine or local beer (available on site).
Glamping in Viking times
PHOTO PROVIDED BY VIKING HÓP VILLAGE
The simple Viking tent
PHOTO PROVIDED BY VIKING HÓP VILLAGE
The Viking BBQ
PHOTO PROVIDED BY VIKING HÓP VILLAGE
ax throw alley
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In Saint-Siméon, Village Viking Hóp offers exceptional glamping accommodation. The unusual immersion allows you to travel back 1000 years and learn about the habits and customs of a fascinating people. The campsite has recently opened to the public and offers 12 rustic tents. Each houses beds, tables, stools and kitchen accessories and can accommodate 2 to 4 people (single tent) and up to 8 people in the double tent.
All visitors have access to the communal kitchen under a tent, where meals are prepared over a wood fire on a large Viking grill. We will not fail to stimulate his warrior fiber with an ax throw on the lanes provided for this purpose.
The location in the forest will be expanded in the coming years. The construction of a village started this summer. It will eventually house permanent or seasonal residents, a forge, a market, and all the amenities offered in the past—without electricity or running water. Finally, we plan to offer a Viking festival to tell the story of these seafaring people and their arrival in North America.
The novelties of the season
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The new hydrogen train connecting Quebec-Charlevoix
This summer, the region is particularly busy with several new additions to its already bountiful offering
Shows: the world’s first mountain carousel
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The flight of the mechanical bird in the Massif de Charlevoix
The flight of the mechanical bird is one of the two new features, along with Cité Mémoire, that make Charlevoix glow at night. The sound and light show will allow you to fly under the stars over the landscapes of the massif aboard the resort’s chairlifts. On a multi-sensory route of almost 6 km, alternating between aerial and lantern walks, spectators are transported into a dreamlike luminous universe accompanied by enchanting music and sound effects.
You can choose to start the course from the top of the mountain or from the base where Club Med de Charlevoix is located. The establishment also offers the possibility of using the facilities of the holiday village for a day or an evening without staying there overnight. You can also combine the experience with a three-course meal at Camp Boule, the restaurant at the top of the mountain.
Dizziness and aerobatics in the casino
PHOTO PROVIDED OF THE 7 FINGERS OF THE HAND
Élcats is presented under the marquee of the Hôtel-Casino de Charlevoix.
Éclats is the new show not to be missed between August 10th and October 2nd in La Malbaie. Created by the collective Les 7 Doigts de la main, this acrobatic cabaret with a fairground atmosphere is inspired by the stories and heritage of the region, which it revisits in a kaleidoscopic journey in 12 scenes. This exciting journey through time takes place under the marquee of the Hôtel-Casino de Charlevoix. Éclats is presented as part of the Fééries de Charlevoix, which offers other activities for the whole family until September 4th.
Transport: a contemplative walk in green mode
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
Train driver Gilles Tremblay received training in Germany to drive this “more modern, more stable, more powerful and quieter” train.
North America’s first hydrogen passenger train made its maiden voyage on June 17 in Baie-Saint-Paul. The quiet and emission-free Coradia iLint has been added to the Charlevoix diesel train fleet and is only on trial until September 30th. All summer it runs between Montmorency Falls and the Hôtel Germain in Baie-Saint-Paul, from where you can walk to the village centre.
This pilot project is an opportunity to test the development stages of this European technology in practice and to test the American market. There are currently 27 similar trains in circulation in Europe. “The energy world is watching us. “It gives us excellent visibility,” says Frédéric Audet, Sales Manager at Train de Charlevoix. We really hope that he stays and that one day we can offer green mobility in the region up to the Hautes-Gorges and inland. »
As the Charlevoix railway winds its way along the meandering river bank, speed is limited to 50 km/h. It takes about two and a half hours to reach your destination and admire a landscape of great beauty, visible only by train. The trip includes a tasting of Charlevoix products. Various packages including accommodation are also available.
Local Flavors: Pleasure Tourism
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESS ARCHIVE
The region’s diverse vineyards will delight wine-loving tourists.
For $50, travel the region’s and Quebec’s gourmet routes in search of the flavors of the country and its producers with the new Bon Appetit gourmet pass. The offer, valid for one year, includes tastings, exclusive offers and discounts throughout the province, but Charlevoix is particularly well represented with 17 producers, including vegetable and livestock farms, cheese dairies, various vineyards, microbreweries and cider companies.
The Microbrewery Tour
There are several microbreweries in the Charlevoix region that you should definitely stop at to quench your thirst and grab a hearty meal. One of them makes its debut at L’Isle-aux-Coudres at the end of the summer. The microbrasserie l’Étale was founded by Cidrerie et Vergers Pedneault, who planted their first orchards in 1918 and started making cider in 1999. It will feature a 150-seat dining area offering bistro-style dining for four seasons.
Culture: Zoom in on the heritage
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The Riopelle exhibition at the Charlevoix Museum in La Malbaie.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the famous Quebec painter.
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The region has been an inspiration for several artists including Jean Paul Riopelle. Charlevoix honors him at the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul and the Musée de Charlevoix in La Malbaie, where many of his works are exhibited. The MC also has a permanent collection that highlights the region’s historical and artistic heritage.
Naval history lovers should make a detour to the Charlevoix Maritime Museum in Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, which presents three new exhibitions. Finally, to learn more about the meteorite that gave Charlevoix its silhouette and which is featured in the Cité Mémoire and Éclats exhibitions, first visit the Astroblème observatory in La Malbaie. Book your guided tour and at the same time a place to observe the sky from the Astronomical Observatory in the neighboring building.