Summer vacation is almost over, and with a cosmic bang , August plunges us into a rather mystical reflection. The last long afternoons of summer are a little more romantic, a little deeper, and a little more mysterious. We feel like reading in the shade, going to see horror movies at the drive-in, and getting far, far away from the city’s scorching asphalt.
Fall will soon bring one of Quebec’s most beautiful seasons: the colors. It’s when the leaves on the trees turn yellow, red, and orange, and the region becomes a miracle straight out of a storybook.
Some of these stories will be local legends. And on Île-aux-Coudres, the legends are the most romantic in Quebec. For a long weekend—perhaps Thanksgiving or, before the end of summer, Labor Day—we’ll take a stroll on the mysterious island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.
Don’t forget your rain boots, your notebook or diary, your camera, and your capacity for romance.
L’ÎLE-AUX-COUDRES
Technically, “Isle-aux-Coudres” is the municipality located on Isle-aux-Coudres.
The island, which is 10 km long and 4 km wide, lies in the middle of the St. Lawrence River—between Baie Saint-Paul and Les Éboulements.It faces Charlevoix, which is also one of the most beautiful regions in Quebec.
You can get there by ferry or plane, but the easiest way is to board the ferry from Charlevoix and enjoy the view all the way to the island.
You can drive there, but we recommend bringing your bike; you can easily cycle around the island (about 23 km) to see everything. There’s the mill, the farms,and a two-day itinerary—click here. And, of course, there’s apit stop atthe mysterious Roche Pleureuse…
THE WEEPING ROCK
Near one of the island’s rocky shores, we pass by a large rock that mysteriously “weeps.”
Water flows from it constantly, all year round, and in addition to the geological oddity (which was quicklydebunked whena small hole from which the water flows was found) at this spot, there’s a local legend that explains the inexplicable…
“That summer, in 1805, Charles Desgagnés, at the head of his seamen, was about to set out earlier than usual on his voyage to the ‘old country’; he wanted to be back on Isle-aux-Coudres by the last beautiful days of September to get married. By the end of May, his three-masted ship, loaded with square timber, was ready to set sail. After an evening spent dancing, the crew members said their goodbyes…”
Charles’s fiancée, meanwhile, spent the summer preparing the house that had already been built on the tip of the island, since that was where they would live after their wedding. By the end of September, her trousseau was complete, and she was starting to find the wait tedious. Not a single afternoon went by without her going to sit on a rock by the sea. In the evening, she would walk slowly back to her father’s house, where he would remind her that some sailboats struggling against a windless sea took even longer to make the journey.
When the weather had turned cooler and the flocks of geese had finished flying over the island, Louise had to content herself with gazing out at the sea through the gable window.
It had been a long winter without entertainment, and as soon as the ice melted, she got into the habit of spending the whole day at the tip of the island, crying and whispering her sorrows to herself. One evening in May, Louise did not return home.
For several days, all the villagers set out to search for him. One morning, stepping over tall clumps of sea grass, his father stopped for a long time to look at a large rock surrounded by wildflowers, from beneath which a trickle of water was seeping out. After resting his head on the large boulder, he motioned for the men to return home.
“Louise, turned to stone, has been weeping ever since, through all the seasons, for her fiancé lost at sea.” – Municipality of Isle-aux-Coudres
OUR RECOMMENDED SPOTS ON ÎLE-AUX-COUDRES
THE MILLS
The island, in addition to a historical past dating back to the early days of colonization, is also known for its mills. From mid-May to mid-October, you can even visit them.
These are grain mills (wheat, buckwheat, and rye flour), and you can take a workshop on freshly ground flour—or even take some home with you!
Where? 36 Chemin du Moulin, Île-aux-Coudres
When?Mid-May through mid-October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How much?
ADULTS: $13.92
CHILDREN (ages 5 and under):FREE
CHILD (ages 6–15, inclusive):$6.96
FAMILY PACKAGE I: $29.79
(2 adults and 1 child)
FAMILY PACKAGE II: $34.79
(2 adults + 2 or more children)
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: $7 (free for a companion)
PEDNEAULT CIDERY AND ORCHARDS
Apple season begins in late summer and is in full swing until the leaves fall. To pick apples on the island, we recommend visiting Pedneault Orchards, a family-run apple farm since 1918—one of the most beautiful places to pick them.
You can go pick your own fruit, taste ciders, and bring home rose salt—the most romantic salt you can imagine.
Where?75 Chemin de la Traversée, Isle-aux-Coudres
When?Pick-your-own season opens on August 30, 2025; open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
How much? Youpay based on what you pick—CASH ONLY
LA FABRIQUE DE L’ISLE
A coffee, breakfast, and a break in the lovely orchard of this café-restaurant-boutique-gallery—it’s the perfect stop. We’ll have some soup and a slice of cake, and sip on a matcha or a locally sourced coffee.
Where? Fabrique de l’Isle, at 3415 Chemin des Coudriers, L’Isle-aux-Coudres
When?
May through October
Open 7 days a week
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
