Saguenay
Country: Canada · Region: Canada and New England
Saguenay is a city of 145,000 in Quebec's Saguenay, Lac-Saint-Jean region, created in 2002 from the merger of four cities. It serves as a cruise port with access to the scenic Saguenay River fjord and nearby attractions including Lac-Saint-Jean.
Top sights
La Pulperie de Chicoutimi, Musée du Fjord, Pyramide des Ha! Ha!, Pont d'aluminium d'Arvida, Croisières du Fjord, La fabuleuse histoire d'un royaume
Things to do
- La Pulperie de Chicoutimi
- Regional museum and cultural centre housed in an old mill surrounded by a large park in the heart of the city.
- Musée du Fjord
- Museum and aquarium in La Baie located in one of the areas hardest-hit by the 1996 flood.
- Pyramide des Ha! Ha!
- A 21-metre-tall aluminium pyramid covered in 3000 reflective yield signs, memorializing the 1996 flood with observation deck and seasonal performances.
- Pont d'aluminium d'Arvida
- The first all-aluminium arch bridge in North America, built in 1950 and listed on the provincial historic register.
Where to eat
- Papy Resto Pub
- Steakhouse offering steaks, seafood and pub fare on Racine Est in Chicoutimi.
- Restaurant La Cuisine
- French restaurant on rue Racine est in Chicoutimi serving traditional French cuisine.
Bars and nightlife
- La Tour à Bières
- Microbrewery on rue Racine Est with eight local beers, a sampling tower option, and live music on summer weekends.
Getting around
Use local city buses (Transport STS, $3.35-$3.75), taxis, or Uber from downtown Chicoutimi or Jonquière.
What to eat
The region is known for tourtière (French-Canadian meat pie) and local blueberries; try Papy Resto Pub for steaks and seafood or Restaurant La Cuisine for French cuisine.
Tips
The region is strongly francophone with limited English; learning basic French phrases or carrying a translation aid is recommended.
Best for
Fjord cruises, industrial history, regional culture
More ports in Canada and New England
Bar Harbor · Charlottetown · Corner Brook · Halifax · Portland · Quebec City · Saint John · Sydney