Montmagny – Birdwatching, culture and islands

Montmagny combines birdwatching and culture with outings where getting there is part of the experience. La route des plumes leads to birding sites and places of ecological interest; special conditions apply to the ferry service to L'Isle-aux-Grues. There is also an annual accordion festival.

Birdwatching on La route des plumes

The tourist route La route des plumes is dedicated to birdwatching and includes 15 sites in the MRC de Montmagny. These 15 birding sites are complemented by seven more places of ecological interest with high biodiversity. The route thus links designated viewing sites with other natural areas. The number of stops is a useful guide when planning your trip: you can focus on birdwatching as a theme in its own right or combine it with other interests in Montmagny.

Culture and events

The Carrefour mondial de l'accordéon is an annual three-day festival in Montmagny. The program includes more than 20 concerts, as well as exhibitions, musical performances in restaurants, talks and master classes. The variety of formats makes the festival a distinct cultural highlight of a stay; be sure to check the dates for your travel year separately.

Historic sites also shape the area’s cultural character. The Maison sir Étienne-Paschal-Taché was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1996. The Site patrimonial de Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud includes a rectory, a calvary, the Saint-François-de-Sales church, a former convent and a former rectory dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Whether you prioritize the festival or history, these interests can help shape your decision to stay in Montmagny.

Island visits and getting there

There are two ways to reach L'Isle-aux-Grues: the free Grues-des-Îles ferry or a plane. The ferry operates on a first-come, first-served basis, runs only at high tide and is suspended in winter. During that season, Air Montmagny is the only connection to the island. Check these conditions especially carefully if you are planning your stay around a visit to the island: the seasonal suspension significantly changes how you can get there.

The Réserve naturelle Jean-Paul-Riopelle nature reserve is located on L'Isle-aux-Grues. Its hiking trail is 3 km long, with an estimated walking time of 60 minutes and an easy difficulty level. The trail includes a staircase. The island is also promoted as a cycling destination. Hiking and cycling offer different ways to enjoy the island, while the ferry conditions should be considered when planning your trip regardless.

Getting to the Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site is also distinctive: it can be reached only by boat from the marina in Berthier-Sur-Mer or by plane from Montmagny Airport. If you plan to visit, take the specified departure points and modes of transportation into account.

Fruit growing and regional specialties

The La pomme de Cap-Saint-Ignace orchard route is 3 km long. You can explore the nearby orchards along Chemin de Bellevue on foot or by bicycle. This describes both the route and the choice of two ways to travel it, without requiring you to infer a specific walking time. There is also a cheese dairy on L'Isle-aux-Grues. These destinations complement the nature and culture offerings with a look at fruit growing and cheesemaking.

When choosing your accommodation, what matters most is which experiences you want to combine: the festival in Montmagny, birdwatching, the seasonal island crossing or the orchards in Cap-Saint-Ignace. If you are planning to visit the island, factor its transportation conditions into your decision early on. For more information about the region, see L'isle-Aux-Grues, St-Pierre-De-La-Riviere-Du-Sud, Saint-Paul-De-Montminy, Saint-Just-de-Bretenières and Cap-Saint-Ignace. To compare places within the same broader area, you can also look at Pontiac and Le Haut-Saint-Laurent.

For the broader travel overview: Quebec.