The oldest (permanent) English settlement in what is today the United States is Jamestown in Virginia. It was founded in 1607 and is famous for the legendary stories of John Smith and Pocahontas. But it was not the first European settlement along the Eastern Seaboard of North America – the Spanish had founded St. Augustine in 1565and the French had founded Tadoussac in today’s Canada in 1599.
Today, the small town of Tadoussac is the oldest European settlement in Canada. Tadoussac is a tourist destination with people coming to enjoy the natural beauty of the Saguenay fjord as well as to go whale watching (Tadoussac also has a whaling past).
View Of Tadoussac Village
The Origin Story Of Canada’s Oldest European Settlement: Tadoussac History
The area around Tadoussac had been inhabited by Native Americans for many thousands of years, long before the arrival of the Europeans to the area in 1535. The name is from the native Innu language and means ‘bosom’ in a possible reference to the two round and sandy hills to the west of the village, vaguely in the shapes of breasts. There are other suggestions that it may derive from other Innu words.
Europeans first visited the area in 1535 when it was visited by the famous explorer Jacques Cartier on his second voyage. When he arrived there, he found the Innu using the place to hunt seals. The first trading post in what is now Canada was established there in 1599. It was founded by Francois Grave Du Pont and Pierre de Chavin de Tonnetuit (a merchant and ship captain, respectively).
They built their settlement at the confluence of the Saguenay River and St. Lawrence after being granted a fur trade monopoly. Like other early settlements of this era, the beginnings were extremely tough, and only 5 of the original 16 settlers even made it through the first winter.
For 30 years, Tadoussac was the only seaport of the St. Lawrence River, and by the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the settlement was at the heart of the French fur trade with the native peoples of the land.
Minke whale photography at Tadoussac Quebec
As time passed, rivalries intensified between the British and the French in North America. Old and important French forts like the Fortress of Louisbourg in today’s Nova Scotia were overrun by the British (now rebuilt as a tourist destination). Much of the French colonies, like Acadia, were taken over by the British, and their inhabitants were expelled. Eventually, the British took over all the French possessions in the north. Tadoussac and the rest of Quebec were spared the expulsions of the Great Upheaval, and Tadoussac is today part of the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec.
Tadoussac Has Been A Vacation Destination Since The 19th Century: What To Do & See Here
During the late 19th century, Tadoussac became a popular tourist destination and has offered lots of things to do and see ever since. Other parts of the region were industrializing, but the rural village of Tadoussac offered a getaway. A number of Québécois built their vacation villas there.
Today, Tadoussac is a small village of around 800 residents, and the village is close to the original settlement site at the mouth of the Saguenay River. The bay is considered one of the most beautiful in Canada. There are also several federal and provincial parks nearby where people enjoy the unspoiled wilderness of the region. It also has the first Canadian marine national park.
Fort Louisbourg – Nova Scotia
One of the main attractions in Tadoussac village itself is the oldest wooden chapel in North America, built in 1747 (nicknamed the Little Indian Chapel). The area is also one of the best places to go whale watching.
When Is The Best Time To See Whales In Tadoussac?
Whale watching in Tadoussac typically starts in May, and the season ends around the end of October. The whales track their food in summer, which means sightings around this time can be quite varied. The most sightings in recent years tend to have occurred in September and October, although some visitors claim that Tadoussac whale watching is best in July and August. Ultimately, it seems that these months, coupled with September and October, are ideal times to visit Tadoussac for whale watching.
How To Get To Tadoussac & Where To Stay
Access to Tadoussac is via ferry from the south shore and by driving Route 172 or Route 138. The closest major city is Quebec City (which is worth exploring and is UNESCO World Heritage Listed for its colonial architecture). Discover more of French colonial Canada in the bustling city of old Montreal.
- Distance: 215 km or 134 miles from Quebec City
- Driving Time: Approx. 3 Hours From Quebec City
Where To Stay In Tadoussac
There is a range of accommodation options in Tadoussac to choose from (and these are listed on the town’s official website). Accommodation includes guest houses, hostels, hotels, and lodges. But perhaps the most remarkable accommodation option is the historic Hotel Tadoussac.
The original large Victorian hotel, Hotel Tadoussac, was built there in 1864. The original hotel was expanded in 1900 but was later knocked down in 1942, and the modern Hotel Tadoussac was constructed in its place. For 150 years, the hotel bearing that name has overlooked the bay.
- Cost: From CAD $143 ($105 USD) Per Night
Wooden facade of the Tadoussac Hotel
Hotel Tadoussac offers plenty of services and activities and has two restaurants to select from, as well as a heated outdoor pool, a wellness center, a bar, a tennis court, and more.
#Tiny #French #Canadian #Village #Oldest #Canada #Heres
