A leading figure in Quebec documentary filmmaking, Pierre Perrault was profoundly shaped by his time on Isle-aux-Coudres, the location where he shot his first films and a source of endless inspiration for the artist, who would draw upon it until the very end of his career. And what if, like him, you decided to enjoy a stay on the island to—allow us to borrow the words of Léopold Tremblay, a proud island resident often quoted by Perrault—“learn to live by living,” that is, to pause for a moment to take in the pulse of this island life right in the middle of the St. Lawrence River? Plan a full day to drive the route, ideally extending your visit with an overnight stay to fully enjoy the island’s rhythm.
Perrault’s works mentioning Isle-aux-Coudres
Radio and TV series:
Au pays de Neufve-France (1956-1960)
Films (direct cinema):
Pour la suite du monde (1963)
Le Beau plaisir (1968)
Pour la suite du monde; Le Règne du jour (1967)
Les Voitures d’eau (1968)
Essays:
De la parole aux actes (1967-1980)
Poetry:
Chouennes : poèmes 1961-1971 (1975)
Jusqu’à plus oultre... (1997)
Irréconciliabules (1998)
Le visage humain d’un fleuve sans estuaire (1998)
Stories:
Nous autres icitte à l’île (1999)
Partismes (2001—posthumous work)
Suggested itinerary
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Stop 1
Taking the time to stay on the island
Stop 1
Taking the time to stay on the island
It was when his wife first brought him to her beloved Charlevoix “homeland” that Pierre Perrault felt he had finally put his finger on what was missing from his Montreal life as a young lawyer and decided to settle on Isle-aux-Coudres in the summer of 1956, returning throughout the year many a time thereafter. To soak in the tidal flats and salt air, forget a quick tour of the island and opt instead for a longer stay at a campground or in a hostel, hotel or a inn. See all available accommodations on the island.
Stop 2
Visit the Moulins de l’Isle-aux-Coudres
Stop 2
Visit the Moulins de l’Isle-aux-Coudres
From the ferry dock, head to the Moulins de l’Isle-aux-Coudres, a museum dedicated to milling. This unique heritage site features a watermill built in 1826 and a windmill dating from 1836. On the upper floor of the visitor center, explore an exhibition hall paying tribute to Pierre Perrault. Interpretive panels and vintage photos will help you learn more about his story and his deep connection to the island and its residents. In this same room, named after the artist, you can watch one of the three films shot on Isle-aux-Coudres in the 1960s. Since 2024, a new visitor center with a gift shop has been showcasing and bringing to life many memories associated with Pierre Perrault.
Stop 3
Stroll through the Anse de la Roche à Caya park
Stop 3
Stroll through the Anse de la Roche à Caya park
Next, follow the boardwalks to Anse de la Roche à Caya to learn more about this legendary spot, where the famous porpoise hunt once took place. To preserve the memory of this tradition, Pierre Perrault and Michel Brault worked with the islanders to revive the practice for the filming of the renowned documentary *Pour la suite du monde*. Finally, enjoy the park’s tranquility as you observe the birdlife with more than 200 different species stop over on the island with the ebb and flow of the tides.
Stop 4
Meet the locals at La Fascine
Stop 4
Meet the locals at La Fascine
The word “Marsouins” is also an affectionate term for the residents of Isle-aux-Coudres. And because following in Pierre Perrault’s footsteps, even without a tape recorder in hand, means listening to what people have to say above all, why not embellish your “Coudrilois” evenings with music, conversation and anecdotes by mingling with the locals at the Auberge La Fascine, a cozy cultural bistro where happy hours and live entertainment are all excuses to get together and keep perhaps the most important of all traditions alive: that of the spoken word!