Amqui travel guide

Amqui is a small city in the Matapédia Valley on Southeastern Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula.

Understand

Centre-ville d'Amqui (Photo: Khayman, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Amqui (pronounced « amkoui ») is located in the Matapedia Valley in the southwest portion of the Gaspé Peninsula. With almost 7000 inhabitants, it is the largest municipality in the valley and the county seat of La Matapédia regional county municipality, located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent administrative region where it is an important administrative and economic centre for the region. The place name "Amqui" comes from the Mi'kmaq language and means "where we have fun".

Amqui is a "village-relais": a municipality whose merchants provide all services normally expected from a service area located along a highway. Amqui, as service centre for the immediate area, has several institutions: a hospital, secondary and collegiate schools, a police station, a courthouse and various government offices.

Read

• Amqui, lieu de rencontre (Madeleine Gagnon): Art book, featuring photography by Michel Dompierre. Recounts the history of the region.

Neighbouring villages

Travel information for these villages is included in this page:

Lac-au-Saumon
Located east of Amqui on Highway 132. Known for its namesake lake on the Matapédia River and for Saint Joseph's Oratory.
Saint-Alexandre-des-Lacs
Small village located northeast of Amqui.
Sainte-Irène
Small village located south of Amqui. Known for Val-d'Irène regional park, a ski centre.
Saint-Léon-le-Grand
Located south of Amqui.
Saint-Tharcisius
Small village located north of Amqui.
Saint-Vianney
Village located north of Amqui and west of Saint-Tharcisius.
Saint-Zenon-du-Lac-Humqui
Located south of Saint-Léon-le-Grand, known as "Lac-Humqui" (and named for the lake).
Val-Brillant
Located on Highway 132 west of Amqui. The marina of Val-Brillant gives access to Lake Matapédia and includes an Irish pub, a campground and walking trails. There are two fuel stations on Highway 132. A producer of raspberry wine, called "Vallée de la Framboise", sells its products directly; it is located on Lauzier Road near Highway 132 (south). Val-Brillant is also known for its Gothic church with two bell towers.

Get in

By air

The closest regional airport is in Mont-Joli, about 70km west by road.

By bus

• Orléans Express, 219-1, boulevard Saint-Benoît, ☏ +1-450-640-1477, toll-free: +1-833-449-6444. Operates bus routes within Quebec and to Ottawa. Operates daily a route between Gaspé and Rimouski including stops in Percé, Chandler, Bonaventure, Pointe-à-la-Croix (2 km from Campbellton), Amqui, and Mont-Joli.

By train

• Amqui station, 209, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest. Train tickets available at City Hall. Train operator:
  VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates train routes across Canada. Operates The Ocean route between Halifax and Montreal, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City). Operates three trips per direction per week. A shuttle between train stations in Sainte-Foy and in Quebec City is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance.

By car

From Montréal, Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski, take Highway 20 east to its end, then continue east on Route 132. A-20 briefly reappears as a bypass around Rimouski; exit the bypass road at Mont-Joli, then simply follow Highway 132 towards Amqui. Otherwise, on Route 132, you will reach a T-intersection in Sainte-Flavie, which indicates "Route 132 East" in both directions; turn to follow "Route 132 to Amqui". From Quebec City, it is a journey of 4 hours 30 minutes by car.

From Matane, take Route 195 south to Amqui. This takes an hour by car.

From the southern Gaspé or northeast New Brunswick, take Route 132 west to Amqui. From Bathurst (on New Brunswick Route 11), it is a journey of 2 hours 30 minutes by car.

Get around

There is no public transit in Amqui. Walking, cycling and driving are the best ways to visit the city.

There is one taxi company:

• Taxi Rapido 2004, 85 College Street, +1 418-629-4011

See

Amqui Station (Photo: Michel Robichaud, CC BY 3.0)

Anse-Saint-Jean covered bridge (Photo: Amqui, CC BY-SA 3.0)

• Amqui's heritage railway station (209, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest) is still in active service. A wooden building built in 1904, with imposing and picturesque architecture that gives the impression of travel a century ago. A former passenger car "the Lynnewood", the oldest working Pullman car in North America, is located in the courtyard of the station and guided tours are organized during the summer season.
• Église Saint-Benoît-Joseph-Labre, 88, rue Desbiens. Stone church rebuilt in 1986 within the walls of an old church (built 1917-1922) that burned down. Roman Catholic masses at 11:00 Sunday and 18:30 Wednesday.
• Anses-Saint-Jean Bridge (Pont des Anses-Saint-Jean), Chemin du Pont-Couvert. Covered bridge built in Anse-Saint-Jean in 1931 and still in use. It has only one traffic lane and no signals; stop before driving through and make sure there are no oncoming cars before entering the bridge.
• Beauséjour Bridge (Pont Beauséjour). Covered bridge crossing the river Amqui (located in Parc des Sœurs / Sisters' Park) built from 1930-1932. This was moved from Saint-Odile-de-Rimouski to its current location to carry pedestrians and cyclists.

Do

Summer

• Revermont Golf Club, 146, chemin du Golf, ☏ +1 418-629-2180. Two courses of nine holes each, differing in landscape and game strategy, exceptional view, divided by the Matapédia river.
• Club de quads de La Matapédia, 55, rue Chamberland. La Matapédia is recognized as the "Paradise of the ATV"; network of trails with many trail-side attractions.
• Camp Sable chaud, 530, rang St-Philippe, ☏ +1 418-629-3747, toll-free: +1-877-629-3747, fax: +1 418-629-1665. Non-profit summer camp for 6-15 year olds, located on Lake Matapedia.
• Route Verte. The Green route is a cycle path extending across the province through more than 4000 km. The section in Matapédia goes through downtown Amqui.
• Théâtre du Quidam, 20, promenade de l'Hôtel de ville. French-language summer theatre, August 1-18.

Winter

• Aréna d'Amqui, 55, rue du Carrefour Sportif, ☏ +1 418-629-4242 ext 438. Free public skating, call or see L'Avant-Poste newspaper for updates to posted schedule on website.
• Club de curling de la Vallée. Curling club at municipal arena.
• Club de motoneiges Vallée de la Matapédia. A network of snowmobile trails reaches neighbouring villages and covers the entire region.
• Club de ski de fond Harfang des neiges d'Amqui, 530, rang Saint-Philippe, ☏ +1 418-629-1665. Cross-country ski club, five groomed ski trails (16.9 km of classic ski (pas alternatif) trail and 10.8 km of skate-skiing (pas patin) trail), three groomed snowshoe trails (4.6, 2.7 and 1.1 km). It is also possible to walk on the trails.

Year-round

• Bibliothèque Madeleine-Gagnon, Promenade de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, ☏ +1 418-629-4242 ext 447. Public municipal library in free-standing building next to town hall, closed Sundays.
• Cinéma Figaro, 39, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest, ☏ +1 418-629-3336. $8.25, kids/seniors $6.25.
• Indoor municipal pool, Rue du Carrefour-Sportif, ☏ +1 418-629-4242. Open swim, call for schedule. $2.50.

Events

• Exposition agricole de La Matapédia (Matapédia Agricultural Fair), on municipal arena grounds. Early June. Annual agricultural fair with farm animals, rides, contests and exhibitors.

Buy

The vast majority of shops and stores in Amqui are located along Saint-Benoît Boulevard (Route 132). There is also a small shopping centre with a few shops and a supermarket.

• La Chocolaterie BelJade, 606 route 132 ouest, Saint-Benoit O, ☏ +1 418-629-6660. Artisan's boutique, this merchandise is available at the Maison d'Odilon art gallery at 154, boul. Saint-Benoit Ouest (seasonal, opens mid-June, +1 418-631-1621 in-season, or +1 418-629-7816)

Eat

Restaurants

• Auberge Beauséjour operates a 40-seat restaurant (see Sleep section), daily menu, open 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00 weekdays; 08:00-13:00 and 17:30-21:30 summer weekends; 17:00-21:00 winter weekends.
• Microbrasserie La Captive, microbrewery also serving food such as hamburgers and sandwiches (see Drink section).
• Hôtel Gagnon operate a pub called La Terrasse (see Drink section) (+1 418-629-3434), seats 74. Wi-Fi. M-W 10:30-14:00 and 16:00-21:00, Th-Sa 10:30-1:00, Su 16:00-21:00.
• Restaurant L'Ambassadeur, in Auberge L'Ambassadeur (see Sleep section) (+1 418-629-8087), seats 43. Wi-Fi. M-F 06:00-14:00 and 16:30-22:00, Sa Su 07:00-14:00 and 16:30-22:00.
• Restaurant Pastali, in Sélectôtel (see Sleep section) (+1 418-629-4471), Chinese, Italian and Canadian cuisine. Wi-Fi. M-Th 06:00-22:00, F 06:00-23:00, Sa 07:00-23:00, Su 07:00-2:00.

Fast food

• Dixie Lee, 6, avenue du Parc, ☏ +1 418-629-3369. daily 10:00-23:00. Fried chicken, seafood. Wi-fi.
• Restaurant JoJo, 219-1, boulevard Saint-Benoît Est, ☏ +1 418-629-5650. Mon-Wed 06:00-20:00, Thu 06:00-21:00, Fri-Sun 06:00-20:00. Québec cuisine.
• Resto Cantine Fortier, 320, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest, ☏ +1 418-629-3535. Mon-Wed 16:00-00:00, Thu 16:00-01:00, Fri Sat 16:00-02:00, Sun 17:00-00:00. Québec cuisine. Parking for trucks.

Markets

• Libellule Café gourmand, 64 Rue du Pont Local 4. Bakery.

Drink

• Microbrasserie La Captive, 140, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest, ☏ +1 418-631-1343. Restaurant and brew pub.
• Hôtel Gagnon/Pub La Terrasse, 232, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest, ☏ +1 418-629-3434. Nightclub, pub, restaurant and patio.
• Bar Le Billard, in Sélectôtel (see Sleep section). Billards.

Sleep

Hotels, motels and inns

• Auberge Beauséjour, 71, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest, ☏ +1 418-629-5531. 07:30-23:00. Non-smoking, kitchenette in some units, Wi-Fi, restaurant. Breakfast. 9 units. $82-150.
• Auberge L'Ambassadeur, 256, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest, ☏ +1 418-629-6464, toll-free: +1-888-588-6464. Open year-round, non-smoking, pet-friendly, fitness room, whirlpool tub, kitchenette in some units, Wi-Fi, ski or snowmobile packages, snowmobile access, garage for snowmobiles. $83-170.
• Sélectôtel Amqui, 340, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest, ☏ +1 418-629-2241, toll-free: +1-800-463-0831. Open year-round, non-smoking, restaurant, bar, billiards, indoor pool, spa, fitness room, laundry, Wi-Fi. 75 units. 3 stars. $95-135.

Camping

• Camping d'Amqui/La Maison du camping d'Amqui, 686, route 132 Ouest, ☏ +1 418-629-4242. Mid-June to Labour Day. Located on the Matapédia River, which joins Lake Matapedia. Forested park with 146 serviced campsites, heated outdoor pool, pedal boat rental, kayaks, canoes, rowboats and bicycles, badminton, croquet and volleyball, marina. The House of Camping rents ten rooms overlooking the river.

Connect

Most restaurants in Amqui offer wireless Internet access. The local library also provides wireless Internet and public-access computers.

Stay safe

For life-threatening emergencies or crime in progress, dial 9-1-1. (Provincial police may be reached at 310-4141)

• Centre hospitalier d'Amqui, 135, avenue Gaétan-Archambault, ☏ +1 418-629-2211. Small local hospital.
• Centre de la santé et des services sociaux (CLSC) de La Matapédia, 135, avenue Gaétan-Archambault, ☏ +1 418-629-2211 ext 12. Community clinic on 3rd floor of hospital.
• Poste de la MRC de La Matapédia de la Sûreté du Québec (SQ), 155, avenue Gaétan-Archambault, ☏ +1 418-629-4464. Police station.
• Service de protection contre les incendies, 30, avenue du Parc, ☏ +1 418-629-1343. Fire brigade.

Cope

Laundry

• Buanderie-nettoyeur de l'Est, 1-348, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest, ☏ +1 418-629-1529. Laundry.

Nearby

Val-Brillant's marina (Photo: Amqui, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Lac-Matapédia

Lac-Matapédia is 10-15 km from Amqui.

• La Pointe fine, Lac-Matapédia. Sandy public beach on Matapédia Lake, accessible by car, motorbike, boat or ATV.
• Seigneurie du Lac-Matapédia, Lac-Matapédia. Walking trails between lake and mountains, quad (ATV) and snowmobile trails, beaches.

Sainte-Irène

Sainte-Irène is 20 km from Amqui.

• Val-d'Irène Regional Park, 115, route Val-d'Irène, Sainte-Irène, toll-free: +1-877-629-3450. Alpine skiing, snowboarding, 27 tracks on two slopes, cross-country skiing, tubing, snowmobiling, equipment rentals, dining facilities including a restaurant at the summit (with reservations), accommodation in apartments or chalets (reservation required), reception room. Aqua-Neige in spring (mid-April) where skiers try to cross Picolo Lake.
• Randonnées S.B., 78, rang 4, Sainte-Irène, ☏ +1 418-629-6015, serge@randonneessb.com. Dogsledding for individuals or groups. Reservation required 2 to 4 days in advance.

Saint-Vianney

Saint-Vianney is 20 km from Amqui.

• Maxime Fournier Guide de plein air, 130, 1er rang Nord, Saint-Vianney, ☏ +1 418-629-6459. mid-December to mid-April. Dog sledding (reservation required).

Val-Brillant

Val-Brillant is 15 km from Amqui.

• Club de plongée les Pieds-Palmés, Val-Brillant marina, ☏ +1 418-629-6616. Diving club, equipment rental, tank refills. A fishing boat, the Shemogue, was sunk 200 ft (61 m) from the Val-Brillant marina in 40 ft (12 m) deep water.

Go next

• Campbellton, New Brunswick is accessible by bridge from Point-à-la-Croix on Quebec Highway 132. From there, New Brunswick Highway 11 continues east along the Acadian Coast.

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