Amqui

Amqui is a small city in the Matapédia Valley on Southeastern Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula.

Understand
Amqui (pronounced « amkoui ») is located in the Matapedia Valley in the southwest portion of the Gaspé Peninsula. With almost 7000 inhabitants, it is the largest municipality in the valley and the county seat of La Matapédia regional county municipality, located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent administrative region where it is an important administrative and economic centre for the region. The place name "Amqui" comes from the Mi'kmaq language and means "where we have fun".

Amqui is a "village-relais": a municipality whose merchants provide all services normally expected from a service area located along a highway. Amqui, as service centre for the immediate area, has several institutions: a hospital, secondary and collegiate schools, a police station, a courthouse and various government offices.

Read

 * Amqui, lieu de rencontre (Madeleine Gagnon): Art book, featuring photography by Michel Dompierre. Recounts the history of the region.

Neighbouring villages
Travel information for these villages is included in this page:
 * Lac-au-Saumon: Located east of Amqui on Highway 132. Known for its namesake lake on the Matapédia River and for Saint Joseph's Oratory.
 * Saint-Alexandre-des-Lacs: Small village located northeast of Amqui.
 * Sainte-Irène: Small village located south of Amqui. Known for Val-d'Irène regional park, a ski centre.
 * Saint-Léon-le-Grand: Located south of Amqui.
 * Saint-Tharcisius: Small village located north of Amqui.
 * Saint-Vianney: Village located north of Amqui and west of Saint-Tharcisius.
 * Saint-Zenon-du-Lac-Humqui: Located south of Saint-Léon-le-Grand, known as "Lac-Humqui" (and named for the lake).
 * Val-Brillant: Located on Highway 132 west of Amqui. The marina of Val-Brillant gives access to Lake Matapédia and includes an Irish pub, a campground and walking trails. There are two fuel stations on Highway 132. A producer of raspberry wine, called "Vallée de la Framboise", sells its products directly; it is located on Lauzier Road near Highway 132 (south). Val-Brillant is also known for its Gothic church with two bell towers.

By air
The closest regional airport is in Mont-Joli, about 70km west by road.

By bus

 * Operates daily a route between Gaspé and Rimouski including stops in Percé, Chandler, Bonaventure, Pointe-à-la-Croix (2 km from Campbellton), Amqui, and Mont-Joli.

By train

 * Train operator:
 * Operates The Ocean route between Halifax and Montreal, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City). Operates three trips per direction per week. A shuttle between train stations in Sainte-Foy and in Quebec City is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance.

By car
From Montréal, Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski, take Highway 20 east to its end, then continue east on Route 132. A-20 briefly reappears as a bypass around Rimouski; exit the bypass road at Mont-Joli, then simply follow Highway 132 towards Amqui. Otherwise, on Route 132, you will reach a T-intersection in Sainte-Flavie, which indicates "Route 132 East" in both directions; turn to follow "Route 132 to Amqui". From Quebec City, it is a journey of 4 hours 30 minutes by car.

From Matane, take Route 195 south to Amqui. This takes an hour by car.

From the southern Gaspé or northeast New Brunswick, take Route 132 west to Amqui. From Bathurst (on New Brunswick Route 11), it is a journey of 2 hours 30 minutes by car.

Get around
There is no public transit in Amqui. Walking, cycling and driving are the best ways to visit the city.

There is one taxi company:
 * Taxi Rapido 2004, 85 College Street, +1 418-629-4011

See

 * Amqui's heritage railway station (209, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest) is still in active service. A wooden building built in 1904, with imposing and picturesque architecture that gives the impression of travel a century ago. A former passenger car "the Lynnewood", the oldest working Pullman car in North America, is located in the courtyard of the station and guided tours are organized during the summer season.

Buy
The vast majority of shops and stores in Amqui are located along Saint-Benoît Boulevard (Route 132). There is also a small shopping centre with a few shops and a supermarket.



Restaurants

 * Auberge Beauséjour operates a 40-seat restaurant (see Sleep section), daily menu, open 11AM-2PM and 5-9PM weekdays; 8AM-1PM and 5:30-9:30PM summer weekends; 5-9PM winter weekends.
 * Microbrasserie La Captive, microbrewery also serving food such as hamburgers and sandwiches (see Drink section).
 * Hôtel Gagnon operate a pub called La Terrasse (see Drink section) (+1 418-629-3434), seats 74. Wi-Fi. M-W 10:30AM-2PM and 4-9PM, Th-Sa 10:30AM-1AM, Su 4-9PM.
 * Restaurant L'Ambassadeur, in Auberge L'Ambassadeur (see Sleep section) (+1 418-629-8087), seats 43. Wi-Fi. M-F 6AM-2PM and 4:30PM-10PM, Sa Su 7AM-2PM and 4:30PM-10PM.
 * Restaurant Pastali, in Sélectôtel (see Sleep section) (+1 418-629-4471), Chinese, Italian and Canadian cuisine. Wi-Fi. M-Th 6AM-10PM, F 6AM-11PM, Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 7AM-10PM.

Drink

 * Bar Le Billard, in Sélectôtel (see Sleep section). Billards.
 * Bar Le Billard, in Sélectôtel (see Sleep section). Billards.
 * Bar Le Billard, in Sélectôtel (see Sleep section). Billards.

Connect
Most restaurants in Amqui offer wireless Internet access. The local library also provides wireless Internet and public-access computers.

Stay safe
For life-threatening emergencies or crime in progress, dial 9-1-1. (Provincial police may be reached at 310-4141)

Lac-Matapédia
Lac-Matapédia is 10-15 km from Amqui.

Sainte-Irène
Sainte-Irène is 20 km from Amqui.

Saint-Vianney
Saint-Vianney is 20 km from Amqui.

Val-Brillant
Val-Brillant is 15 km from Amqui.

Go next

 * Campbellton, New Brunswick is accessible by bridge from Point-à-la-Croix on Quebec Highway 132. From there, New Brunswick Highway 11 continues east along the Acadian Coast.