The St. Lawrence River in the Heart of the Boreal Winter

Famous for its gentle way of life, Montreal, Canada’s second-largest city, is a warm and cosmopolitan metropolis. Situated on the eponymous river island, it is home to a multitude of districts, each as unique as the other. Set off to discover Old Montreal, most of which is declared a historic area, Little Italy, where you’ll be able to stroll around the largest open-air market in North America, or the Golden Square Mile, the luxurious district located on one of the hills of Mount Royal and which has sumptuous Victorian-style residences. Simultaneously marked by the influences of the Old Continent and North-American gigantism, Montreal will never cease to amaze you.

At the confluence of the Saint Charles River and the Saint Lawrence estuary, in the South-East of Canada, the capital of the Beautiful Province puts on its best finery in the winter season. During its long winter months, the historic streets of the city - whose name means “where the river narrows” in the Mi'kmaq language - are decked out in a cloak of snow. Let yourself be swept away by the unique atmosphere of the old town, including in the Petit Champlain district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the aromas of spices and hot chocolate emanating from the surrounding cafés will warm up hearts and souls alike. An oasis in the heart of urban life, the Plains of Abraham will provide you with the opportunity to try out the most popular winter activities, like cross-country skiing or ice skating, while making the most of sumptuous panoramas over the city that hosts the world’s largest winter carnival every year.

During the long winter months, in the majestic Saguenay Valley, the borough of La Baie is cloaked in an aura of mystery. Here, the striking  contrasts of its pristine lands, where nature displays its full splendour, invite you to experience a unique moment alongside the Saguenayens, a people amongst the most welcoming and hospitable in the world. During a snowshoe walk or a dog sled outing, as a passenger or a musher, take the time to observe immaculate nature bordered by a thick ice floe, where Le Commandant Charcot will remain for several days, and you will be able to disembark. Each winter, hundreds of colourful huts set up on these frozen waters to practice traditional ice fishing. You will be initiated into these ancestral techniques and have the pleasure of tasting freshly caught rockfish.

In the glacial darkness of the Canadian winter, Gaspé stands proud like a preserved and authentic jewel at the edge of the dark waters of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Nature seems to be holding its breath. The captivating Mount Jacques-Cartier, the highest point of the Chic-Choc Mountains range and the South, is dressed with an immaculate coat of snow, while the frozen rivers slowly wind their way, fixing time in their icy embrace. During a snowshoe walk, fall in love with the captivating landscapes of the L’Anse-au-Griffon Valley, right in the heart of the Forillon National Park. Then, in Percé, opposite the famous eponymous Rock, dive into the natural beauty of the “magic forest”, where thousands of conifers decked out in an immaculate white cloak are like silent guardians watching over this isolated piece of land. You may also fall in love with this charming town, where the exciting history and the conviviality of the locals come together in a delightful blend.

In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the waters are still partially frozen but the ice break-up has begun. The broken-up ice makes for a fascinating spectacle, forming shapes that seem to be dancing across the waves. You will sail in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, following in the footsteps of Jacques Cartier, who reached it during his first voyage in 1534. From the bridge, if luck is on your side, you will contemplate the seals and belugas that populate the region during this season. In the distance, the boreal forests, their peaks whitened by the last snow, offer you the idealised image of this piece of Canada. A moment of indescribable magic.

Off the Canadian coast, discover Saint Pierre Island, one of the two main islands of the Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago, the only French territory in North America. Endowed with a natural harbour, the island, whose name is a reference to the patron saint of fishermen, developed around the fishing industry and still has many traces of its past today. Whale hunting, cod fishing, alcohol smuggling during the Prohibition: all of these memories are still very much alive in the capital, Saint-Pierre.

In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the waters are still partially frozen but the ice break-up has begun. The broken-up ice makes for a fascinating spectacle, forming shapes that seem to be dancing across the waves. You will sail in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, following in the footsteps of Jacques Cartier, who reached it during his first voyage in 1534. From the bridge, if luck is on your side, you will contemplate the seals and belugas that populate the region during this season. In the distance, the boreal forests, their peaks whitened by the last snow, offer you the idealised image of this piece of Canada. A moment of indescribable magic.

At the mouth of the Humber River, on the Bay of Islands, you will discover the port of Corner Brook, surrounded by mountains. On the legendary island of Newfoundland, visit the territory by going snowshoeing or on a ski or snowboard trip at the renowned Marble Mountain Ski Resort. Or you could just decide to wander the streets of this authentic Newfoundlander town and discover its history. 

Sailing the Strait of Belle Isle will guarantee a moment of intense emotion. Your ship will enter this waterway, which separates Newfoundland from the North American continent, while the ice break-up is only just beginning its cycle. From the bridge, if the ice is still present, you will perhaps observe the Greenland seals which populate these waters dotted with fragments of ice floe, aiming to breed there. Time stands still, a magical spell is cast.

In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the waters are still partially frozen but the ice break-up has begun. The broken-up ice makes for a fascinating spectacle, forming shapes that seem to be dancing across the waves. You will sail in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, following in the footsteps of Jacques Cartier, who reached it during his first voyage in 1534. From the bridge, if luck is on your side, you will contemplate the seals and belugas that populate the region during this season. In the distance, the boreal forests, their peaks whitened by the last snow, offer you the idealised image of this piece of Canada. A moment of indescribable magic.

On the edge of the Canadian landscape, between the icy waters of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Sept-Îles invites you on a unique journey. Surrounded by a captivating sea of ice and an immaculate boreal forest, the seven islands, eternal guardians of the coastline, seem to murmur timeless stories. In particular, you will have the privilege of meeting the Innu people, the indigenous civilisation of the Côte-Nord, during a unique moment when you will learn more about their ancestral customs and traditions. The area is famous for its winter festivities; like its emblematic Hivernants (hunters and trappers who would spend the winter), fall under the charm of its unique environment. During Nordic hikes on skis or snowshoes, you will be enchanted by its captivated landscapes.

Linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes region inland, the Saint Lawrence Seaway was inaugurated in 1959, more than 250 years after the initial construction aiming to avoid the rapids obstructing navigation in these parts. This large engineering project, which required four years of huge work, offers a unique sailing experience.

Famous for its gentle way of life, Montreal, Canada’s second-largest city, is a warm and cosmopolitan metropolis. Situated on the eponymous river island, it is home to a multitude of districts, each as unique as the other. Set off to discover Old Montreal, most of which is declared a historic area, Little Italy, where you’ll be able to stroll around the largest open-air market in North America, or the Golden Square Mile, the luxurious district located on one of the hills of Mount Royal and which has sumptuous Victorian-style residences. Simultaneously marked by the influences of the Old Continent and North-American gigantism, Montreal will never cease to amaze you.