With its mansard-roofed residences, rue Saint-Joseph was where Baie-Saint-Paul’s very first merchants set up shop. This pretty street hugs Rivière du Gouffre for almost its entire length. That’s certainly why it has long been referred to as le chemin de l’Anse ‒ or Inlet Road. A stroll down this picturesque Baie-Saint-Paul street is well worth the detour.

119 rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste is an address that has seen a lot. The home was built in 1870 by Hercule Fortin and then turned it into a shop. Later it was a general store, then an art gallery and a cabinet-making workshop. Further down the street, 170 is where Monseigneur Léonce Boivin was born. It proudly displays a double-pitched roof with dormers, as well as lovely six-paned windows so typical of the late 1800s.

Then off we go to admire Moulin Gariépy, a splendid stone mill that dates back to 1756. The tour also covers rue Sainte-Anne to rue Saint-Adolphe – you’ll love it – and then down elegant rue Ambroise-Fafard. The latter is dotted with all types of residences, from American colonial and Victorian to quadrangular rural, Regency cottage, neo-classical farmstead. Others are inspired by Norman and English architecture.

The tour’s 11 downtown addresses and 6 others in close vicinity have interpretation panels providing interesting information about the architecture and owners of these fabulous homes. Ah! Such beauties, these heritage homes! Don’t miss a beat ‒ get your Heritage Tour map at the Tourist Information Centre.