Saint-Irénée

Saint-Irénée is a municipality of the regional county municipality (MRC) of Charlevoix-Est, in the administrative region of Capitale-Nationale, on the north shore of the river Saint-Laurent, in Quebec, Canada.

The passage of the old road 362 along the beach of Saint-Irénée, the regional airport, the maritime quay and the train have historically generated a significant influx of tourists. The main attractions of Saint-Irénée are the magnificent village beach, the imposing cliff along the coast, the park straddling the fall of the village of Saint-Irénée on the Jean-Noël river, its restaurants, its diversified accommodation services for tourists, its local products... Saint-Irenée has a maritime jetty and a train station.

In terms of architecture, in Saint-Irénée, well-restored houses and modern buildings combine favorably. Several opulent villas were built by French-Canadian vacationers who were attracted by the attractions of the locality.

As part of its offer of recreational tourism activities, the locality of Saint-Irénée offers a wide range of cultural, artistic and outdoor activities. The Domaine Forget International Music Festival has acquired international renown; about thirty concerts are presented each summer in the concert hall. Several other types of musical performances are offered to the public.

Saint-Irénée is a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec.

History
The parish of Saint-Irénée was canonically constituted in 1840, by detachment from the territory of Saint-Agnès (La Malbaie). The church was completed in 1844. The municipality of Saint-Irénée was founded in 1855.

The municipality's website displays a list of the main personalities who have stayed or lived in Saint-Irénée, in particular: Joseph Lavergne, judge and colleague of Wilfrid Laurier; Adolphe-Basile Routier, judge and poet, author of the words of Ô Canada; Rodolphe Forget, Member of Parliament for Charlevoix in the Commons, instigator of the railway linking Quebec and La Malbaie.

The railway connecting Quebec to La Malbaie was inaugurated in 1919. The Domaine Forget, internationally recognized for its Academy of Music and Dance, was born in 1977.

Geography
The territory is generally hilly and covered with forest; the agricultural part is mainly located in rang St-Antoine, rang St-Pierre, rang St-Nicolas and around chemin St-Louis. The main hamlets (or locality) are Saint-Irénée-les-Bains (at the top of the moraine), L'Anse-au-Sac (along the river) and Rochette (near the airport).

The land relief of Saint-Irénée is part of the Charlevoix astrobleme, the result of the impact of a meteorite (possibly up to 2 km in diameter) that fell on earth nearly 400,000 million people ago. years. This impact created a crater 54 km in diameter; it is the eleventh largest impact site identified on earth. The impact zone would be located along the St. Lawrence River; 60% of the astroblème covers the north shore of the river and 40% is located under the water of the river. The astrobleme begins on the southwest side a few kilometers west of Baie-Saint-Paul, up to Cap-à-l'Aigle, located on the east bank of the Malbaie River, in La Malbaie. The center of the astrobleme would be Mont des Éboulements (summit at 768 m), formed by the effect of the raising of the crater bottom following the impact. Since this impact, the crater has undergone significant metamorphosis under the effect of various erosion agents, making it more difficult to recognize its outline, particularly the part submerged in the St. Lawrence River. Consequently, experts define this ancient impact structure as the astrobleme. Inaugurated in 2014, an interpretation centre dedicated to the Charlevoix astrobleme is open to the public; this interpretation center is housed in the former Club House of the Manoir Richelieu.

Economy
According to statistics from the municipality, 30% of the residences in Saint-Irénée are second homes. Agriculture in Saint-Irénée covers 707 hectares of land and represents 26% of farms throughout the MRC. Commercial activities are mainly focused on tourism: arts and crafts shops, restaurants, accommodation (hotels, lodges, inns) and other providers of recreational tourism activities.

By car

 * From Tadoussac (, 1 hr 36 min), return the Tadoussac-Baie Sainte-Catherine ferry; take route 138 (westbound) to the village of La Malbaie; after the bridge spanning the Malbaie river, take route 362 to the village of Saint-Irénée.
 * From Quebec City (, 1 hr 30 min), take route 138 eastbound to the village of Baie-Saint-Paul; take route 362 along the Saint-Laurent river to the village of Saint-Irénée.

By train

 * Route:
 * Operates a daily train between Quebec City and La Malbaie with stops in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Baie-Saint-Paul, Les Éboulements, and Saint-Irénée. The trains departs in the morning from Quebec City and in the afternoon from La Malbaie. This tourist train runs 125 km with views of the Saint Lawrence River and mountains.
 * Operates a daily train between Quebec City and La Malbaie with stops in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Baie-Saint-Paul, Les Éboulements, and Saint-Irénée. The trains departs in the morning from Quebec City and in the afternoon from La Malbaie. This tourist train runs 125 km with views of the Saint Lawrence River and mountains.

By boat
Saint-Irénée is accessible in season by pleasure boat using the municipal beach. The old wharf had been repaired several decades ago and rocked in order to solidify it to ensure its sustainability. Thus, the old wharf has become a jetty as a result of the rip-rap, which is able to withstand the large waves of the river. Since the rip-rap, pleasure craft can no longer land there. Today the Capelin Pier is a public place for various local events.



By plane
Saint-Irénée is accessible by the airport managed by the MRC de Charlevoix-Est.



See
Saint-Irénée has many well-restored houses and modern buildings. Several opulent villas were built by French-Canadian vacationers who were attracted by the attractions of the locality.



Do
Saint-Irénée offers a wide range of cultural, artistic and outdoor activities. The Domaine Forget International Music Festival has acquired international fame; Around thirty concerts are presented each summer in the concert hall. Several other types of musical performances are offered to the public