Tadoussac, Quebec

Tadoussac was France's first trading post on the mainland of New France (now in Quebec, Canada). It was established in 1599 by Francis Grave (a merchant) and Pierre Chauvin (a captain) when they acquired a fur trade monopoly from Henry IV. Their attempt to establish this first French colony at the mouth of the was a direct result of their desire to profit from it. They built an "habitation" but only five out of 16 men with him survived the first winter. Tadoussac remained the only seaport of the Saint Lawrence River for 30 years.

The Bay of Tadoussac was a center of whalehunting. Tourists discovered the village in the 19th century. The large hotelbuilding Tadoussac dates from 1864.

The modern village of Tadoussac lies not very far from the original settlement, at the mouth of the Saguenay River. It is known as a tourist destination, mostly because of its facilities for whale watching and because of the rugged beauty of the Saguenay fjord.

The entire area is either rural or still in a wilderness state, with several federal and provincial natural parks and preserves competing for prestigious spots. The nearest urban agglomeration is Saguenay about 100 km (63 miles) west.

Museums

• Old church
• trading post of Pierre Chauvin
• CIMM (Centre d'interprétation des mammifères marins)

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