Rivière-du-Loup

Rivière-du-Loup is a city of 19,400 people (2011) in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Southeastern Quebec.

Understand

• Bureau d'Information Touristique, 189, Boulevard de l'Hotel-de-Ville, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Early Oct to late June: M-F 08:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:30; late June to mid-July: daily 08:30 to 18:00; late July to Aug: daily 08:30-19:00; early Sep to late September: M-F 08:30-16:30 and Sa Su 11:00-16:00; late September to early Oct: M-F 08:30-13:00 and 13:00-18:30, Sa Su 11:00-16:00. Tourist information in English and French. (updated Apr 2019)

History

The city was named after the nearby river, whose name means "Wolf's River" in French. This name may have come from a native tribe known as "Les Loups" or from the many seals, known in French as loups-marin (sea wolves), once found at the river's mouth.

Rivière-du-Loup was established in 1673 as the seigneurie of Sieur Charles-Aubert de la Chesnaye. The community was incorporated as the village of Fraserville, in honour of early Scottish settler Alexandre Fraser, in 1850, and became a city in 1910. The city reverted to its original name, Rivière-du-Loup, in 1919.

Between 1850 and 1919, the city's anglophone population grew dramatically. Most of them left the region by the 1950s. 1% of the population still speaks English as its first language.

In autumn of 1950, Rivière-du-Loup was the site of a nuclear accident. A USAF B-50 was returning a nuclear bomb to the USA. The bomb was released due to engine troubles, and then was destroyed in a non-nuclear detonation before it hit the ground. The explosion scattered nearly 100 pounds (45 kg) of uranium (U-238).

Get in

Rivière-du-Loup is 200 km northeast of Quebec City (about two hours drive) at the junction of Autoroute 20 and Autoroute 85/Highway 185 and is the point where the Trans-Canada Highway turns south into the Atlantic Provinces.

It used to be a rail crossroads; later, Via Rail trains from Montréal continued through Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski to Matapédia before either entering New Brunswick ("Ocean") or continuing east to Gaspé ("Chaleur", service interrupted in 2013).

• Traverse Rivière-du-Loup Saint-Siméon, 199, rue Hayward, Rivière-du-Loup, ☎ [phone]. 100-car seasonal (Easter to New Year's) ferry to north shore of St. Lawrence River, with lunch counter. On-board restaurant in high season only. Crossing time 65 minutes, runs 2-4 times daily depending on season. $17.30/person + $43.70/vehicle. 

• Rivière-du-Loup Airport (YRI  ^IATA). Charter and private aircraft only. (updated Apr 2019)

Get around

See

Rue LaFontaine is an important commercial street in Rivière-du-Loup.

• Musee du Bas Saint-Laurent, 300 Rue Saint-Pierre, ☎ [phone]. Sep-Jun: Tu-Su 13:00-17:00; Jun-Aug: Daily 09:00-17:00. The museum has built one of the largest collections of old photographs in Canada: more than a dozen photographic collections, containing nearly 250,000 images. This major visual heritage mainly covers the first half of the 20th century. Topics such as transportation, daily life, events, architecture or public life are illustrated, as are the highlights experienced by the population of Eastern Quebec. The museum also has objects relating to the Euro-Quebec culture and some important collections of artifacts relating to the work of metal and wood. Adult $7, student $5, child under 12 free if accompanied, family $18 ,(plus applicable taxes). (updated Apr 2019)

Do

The city offers a number of outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking, cycling and whale watching.

• Parc des Chutes (Falls Park) (a few steps from Lafontaine Street). 33 m waterfall, 9 km of footpaths, a training circuit in the silence of the woods. In winter, a system of freezing rock walls is used for ice climbing activities. Two bridges provide access to both banks of the River. One is at the bottom of the waterfall, and the other at the top for a view of the fall. Parking is available at both entrances. (updated Apr 2019)
• Ile aux Lievres, 8 km off Rivière-du-Loup (board the passenger boat, Le Petit Lièvre, at the Rivière-du-Loup Marina), ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. June-September. The island has a vast and diverse network of hiking trails (45 km) ranging in difficulty from novice to expert. Accomodation: inn ($195-265 per person including 3 meals, $160 for additional nights), cottages for 2-6 people ($200-375 per night), camping ($40 for up to 4 people per night, 3rd night is free), taxes extra. Round-trip boat crossing: adult $48, child 0-12 $26, taxes not included. (updated Apr 2019)

Buy

The main shopping district is along rue La Fontaine between Laval and Ste. Anne.

• Centre commercial Rivière-du-Loup, 298 Boulevard Armand-Thériault. M-W 09:30 to 17:30, The 09:30-21:00, Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00. Shopping mall with about 64 shops and restaurants, including Giant Tiger discount store. (updated Apr 2019)
• Marché Public Lafontaine (Lafontaine public market), Carré Dubé, rue Lafontaine. Mid-June to mid-Oct: every Saturday 10:00-15:00. Local produce and prepared foods. Local meats, maple products, honey, wine. Parking area facing 508 to 520 Lafontaine. (updated Apr 2019)

Eat

• Resto-Cafe L'Innocent, 460, rue Lafontaine, ☎ [phone]. Tu 11:00 - 16:00, W-F 11:00 - 21:00, Sa 08:00 - 21:00, Su 08:00 - 16:00. Fusion, vegetarian friendly, vegan options, gluten-free options. (updated Apr 2019)
• Restaurant Le Saint-Patrice, 169, rue Fraser, ☎ [phone]. M-F 11:30-14:00, 17:00-21:00; Sa 17:00-21:30; Su 17:00-20:00. Regional gastronomic cuisine. Lunch mains $15-23, 3-course meal $39. (updated Apr 2019)
• L'estaminet Resto-pub, 299, Rue Lafontaine, ☎ [phone]. M-W 07:00-23:00, Th 07:00-00:00, F 07:00-01:00, Sa 08:00-01:00, Su 08:00-23:00. Breakfast (waffles, pancakes, Benedictines, morning pizza), lunch and dinner (pizzas, steaks, burgers, salads). Mains $15-30, 3-course meal $19-22. (updated Apr 2019)

Drink

• Pub O'farfadet, 298 boul. Armand Theriault. M Tu 07:00-21:00, W 07:00-23:00, Th-Sa 07:00-01:00, Su 08:00-21:00. Irish pub. (updated Apr 2019)

Sleep

• Auberge Internationale de Rivière-du-Loup, 46, rue Hôtel-de-ville, ☎ [phone]. Hostel affiliated with Hostelling International. Will arrange trips to some local parks. Internet access, laundry and meal service. $30 (dorm), $66 (double room, shared bath), $88 (family room, private bath); HI members receive $4 discount. (updated Apr 2019)
• Motel Au Vieux Piloteux, 185 Rue Fraser, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Free Wi-Fi and parking, pool, non-smoking hotel, pets allowed (fee), wheelchair access, air conditioning, refrigerator in room. From $78. (updated Apr 2019)
• Hotel Levesque, 171 Fraser St, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Free Wi-Fi and parking, pool, fitness centre, bar/lounge, spa, restaurant, air conditioning, refrigerator in room, family rooms. From $120. (updated Apr 2019)

Pot a l'Eau-de-Vie lighthouse

• Phare du Pot a l'Eau-de-Vie (Brandy Pot Island Lighthouse), 200 rue Hayward, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Mid-June through September. The three small islands of the archipelago support thousands of sea birds. Built on a rocky outcrop in 1861-1862, the lighthouse has been restored and turned into a cozy inn. Hiking is available trails once the birds have completed nesting in early July. No pets. Only three rooms, so booking is essential. Double $170-265 per person, single $210-285, includes boat trip, tour, dinner and brunch, access to the lighthouse. (updated Apr 2019)

Connect

Go next

• Tadoussac and Saint-Siméon on the north shore are reachable by ferry.
• The Atlantic Ocean is within reach via New Brunswick or from Québec's Gaspé Peninsula

Routes through Rivière-du-Loup

Lévis ← Montmagny ←	W  E	→ Trois-Pistoles → Rimouski
Quebec City ← Montmagny ← Merges with ←	W  E	→ Merges with → Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! → Edmundston
Quebec City ← Montmagny ←	W  E	→ Trois-Pistoles → → Rimouski
ENDS ←	N  S	→ becomes → Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! → Edmundston