Baie-Des-Sables

Baie-Des-Sables brings together coastal scenery, local history and artisanal discoveries, offering a variety of vacation themes. At the estuary of the St. Lawrence River, the Sentier des Rosiers leads to the Halte du Meunier; elsewhere, a heritage trail, a former mill and local specialties tell the story of the community.

Along the Estuary on the Sentier des Rosiers

The Sentier des Rosiers is a 5.6 km out-and-back route. It runs along the estuary of the St. Lawrence River from the eastern edge of the community to the Halte du Meunier. The stated distance therefore covers the round trip. The trail provides access to the shoreline at several points; picnic tables and benches are located along the way. Both the route and designated places to take a break are practical landmarks for your outing. There are also public access points to the shoreline in Baie-des-Sables. If the shoreline is important to your trip, you can keep it in mind when choosing a location and looking for a vacation rental.

Traces of the Community’s History

The Parcours patrimonial de Baie-des-Sables takes visitors to sites in and around the community that reflect its past. It focuses on fishing and agriculture, which were the economic mainstays of the community. The trail offers a way to explore local history through the activities that shaped its economic life. Another historic stop is La Meunerie, a former grain mill that now houses an antique shop. Here, the mill’s former use and its current use as a shop come together. If you don’t want to plan your stay solely around the shoreline trail, you can also explore the area’s history and present-day character.

Cheese and Seasonal Produce

Fromagerie du Littoral offers artisanal and farmstead cheeses made from pasteurized cow’s milk. Its selection includes fresh or aged Cheddar, fresh spreadable cheese, a Camembert-style soft cheese, “Le Bris des Vagues” and a Halloumi-style grilling cheese. “Rayon d’Or” is a semi-firm cheese with probiotics, considered unique in Canada. Poutine made with the Fromagerie’s own cheese curds is also available on site. The local specialties let you sample a range of cheeses as well as a specific regional dish. During the relevant season, visitors can sample cherry tomatoes and “Trust” tomatoes from the Santerre family at Serres René Santerre. This seasonal note is especially useful if you also want to plan your trip around local produce.

Craftsmanship and Creative Insights

At Atelier Bertrand, creations are made from driftwood deposited by waves along the shore of the St. Lawrence River. The atelier-boutique’s works include lamps, vases and candleholders. The material itself connects the pieces to the shoreline, rather than making them simply souvenirs bearing the place’s name: it is crafted into a variety of objects. “Baie-des-Sables se raconte” offers another glimpse of the community’s creative work. The video clips feature talented people from Baie-des-Sables who pursue creative activities and work with their hands. These films and crafted objects complement the nature and history themes of a stay.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Stay

When looking for a vacation rental, consider Baie-Des-Sables if the shoreline, local history or regional specialties match your travel interests. The 5.6 km out-and-back Sentier des Rosiers offers a clearly defined route for an outing, while the Parcours patrimonial offers a different focus on history. The selection of cheeses, seasonal tomatoes and creative works provide other themes to explore, according to your interests. The community has set up a self-service RV parking area beside the Centre communautaire Gabriel-Raymond. This is a local point of reference for RV travellers and is not a statement about the features of a vacation rental.

More community pages to help plan your trip: Matane, Sainte-Félicité, Sainte-Paule, Saint-Ulric, Les Méchins.

Return to the main travel overview: Matane.