Spiritual and Religious Journey to Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

Discover the spiritual and religious sites of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region with this chapter taken from the Ulysses Guide to Spiritual and Religious Journeys in Québec.

The Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region is well known for its beautiful stretches of water and its wide-open landscapes. Majestic Lac Saint-Jean, in the west, irrigates the region’s farmland and gives rise to the Saguenay River, which crosses the area from west to east before flowing into the St. Lawrence. Spiritual experiences and heart-felt encounters abound along this route, which travels through the spectacular Saguenay Fjord region, past green mountains, across agricultural plains and along the sandy shores of Lac Saint-Jean. Starting at the Ermitage Saint-Antoine de Lac-Bouchette, you’ll circle around Lac Saint-Jean, with several stops along the way—in a First Nations reserve and a visit to the Trappist Fathers in Mistassini. Next, you’ll explore the spiritual heritage of Chicoutimi, which today is a borough of the City of Saguenay, and you’ll make a foray into the very heart of the Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay to explore the religious sites there. Finally, our tour will bring you all the way to Tadoussac, to the storied Chapelle de Tadoussac, or Chapelle des Indiens, the oldest wooden church in North America.

In full colour and lavishly illustrated with magnificent photos, this chapter includes detailed descriptions of each sacred site, as well as thematic sidebars for additional information. Practical details are provided for each site, including contact information, admission and opening hours. The chapter also features a precise map showing the itinerary and the location of each site and attraction.