Sacré-Coeur (Quebec)

Sacré-Coeur (locally designated "Sacré-Coeur-sur-le-Fjord-du-Saguenay") is a municipality endowed with magnificent natural attractions, and located in the regional county municipality of La Haute-Côte-Nord, in the administrative region of Côte-Nord region of Quebec. This locality is part of the tourist region of Manicouagan, on the Route des Baleines and the Route Nature aux mille délices (gourmet route).

In the summer season, many boaters travel the Saguenay River and many visitors come to visit the locality for its recreational and tourism activities (vacation, accommodation, camping, nautical activities, hunting, fishing, etc.). Sacré-Coeur is a favorite spot for distinctive vacations, as well as a paradise for observing nature, flora and fauna.

The main resort areas are L'Anse-au-Sable and L'Anse-à-Pierrot. The main hamlets are Rivière-Sainte-Marguerite and L'Anse-de-Roche.

Geography
The municipality of Sacré-Coeur comprises the township of Albert which covers the forest territory along the north shore of the Saguenay River. The village of Sacré-Coeur sits in a valley between the mountains.

The municipality is crossed by route 172 which joins to the southeast route 138 in the territory of Tadoussac. More or less parallel to the course of the Saguenay River, the southern part of Route 172 runs through the upper valley of the Moulin à Baude river which drains the village of Sacré-Coeur and empties onto the sandstone on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River. From the village of Sacré-Coeur, Route 172 heads north-west, first crossing an agricultural and forest plain, surrounded by mountains. Then, this road takes the lower valley of the Sainte-Marguerite Northeast river, then the valley of the Sainte-Marguerite river; then this road branches off towards Sainte-Rose-du-Nord and Saint-Fulgence, in the direction of the Chicoutimi Nord sector. The route of Route 172 offers bucolic panoramas of high mountains and valleys shaped by glaciers.

Route 138 crosses the eastern part of the municipality. This road runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.

From the limit of the municipality of Tadoussac, the north shore of the Saguenay River has high, very steep cliffs and high mountains. This mountain panorama attracts many boaters who go up the course of the river by boat. Others admire this very rugged relief from the air. The main bays on the north coast of the Saguenay River in the Sacré-Coeur territory are: cove à la Barque, cove à Richard, cove à la Boule, cove à la Passe-Pierre, cove Creuse, cove à la Grosse Roche, cove in Pierrot, cove aux Mouches, Baie Sainte-Marguerite (where the Sainte-Marguerite river flows), Îlets Rouge cove, Gagnon cove (opposite Île St-Barthélemy). Each cove or bay has its history or its meaning. The main secondary access roads to the north coast are that of the Sainte-Marguerite river valley and that leading to Anse-à-Pierrot; this last road leads via the top of the cliff to Anse Creuse and to the top of a promontory facing Anse à la Passe-Pierre. Another secondary road leads to Cap de la Boule which delimits the western part of Anse à la Boule.

The Ronde mountain (summit at 183 m) and the Montagne Blanche (summit at 208 m) are the highest peaks in the municipal territory.

Economy
The main economic activities of the Sacré-Coeur territory are forestry and recreational tourism (vacation, boating, hunting, fishing, observation of flora, fauna and nature). Agriculture is practised in a limited way on plateaus around the village of Sacré-Coeur.

Get in
The Sacré-Coeur territory is accessible by road, boat (via the Saguenay River), snowmobile and all-terrain vehicles.

By car
Quebec Route 138 crosses the Saguenay River from Baie Sainte-Catherine by ferry. This is the usual means of entry into the area from Quebec City and points westward. From Tadoussac, Route 138 passes through the south-east part of Sacré-Coeur and continues downriver beyond Sept-Iles.


 * From Saguenay City (, 1 hr 15 min), take route 175 (northbound) and cross the bridge over the Saguenay River; take road 172 (eastbound) to the village of Sacré-Coeur.
 * From Baie-Comeau (, 2 hr 17 min), take route 138 (north shore) heading west, to Tadoussac; take road 172 (westbound) to the village of Sacré-Coeur.
 * From Quebec City (, 3 hr 14 min), take route 138 (north shore) eastbound, via the Tadoussac ferry; take road 172 (westbound) to the village of Sacré-Coeur.

By boat
Sacré-Coeur is near the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Saguenay rivers and accessible seasonally by boat.



Whales and wildlife
The area is well known for its whale watching opportunities on the St. Lawrence River; multiple companies offer excursions on small boats. One of the best sites south of the Arctic to see beluga whales; fin whales, minke whales and harbour porpoises are particularly common, with humpback whales and blue whales also sometimes visible. Most boat tours are seasonal, running from May to September.

Excursions up the Saguenay River provide the opportunity to see belugas, as well as at least three species of seal (grey seal, harbour seal, harp seal) which give birth on the rocky shores.



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