A rich legacy
History, as much as geography, has left its mark on the Rivière-du-Loup Regional County Municipality (RCM or MRC, in French). All along the St. Lawrence River, there are traces of Amerindian settlements which are part of our archeological heritage. Today, the two Amerindian reserves within our territory (Cacouna and Whitworth) are however, uninhabited. Colonization goes back to the French epoch with the first seigneuries being the Chesnaye, Isle-Verte and others.
The land registry of the St. Lawrence’s riverside parishes and terraces, as well as the many buildings (homes, manors, mills), are reminders of that epoch, and add a special charm to the back roads and villages. Later on, when people settled the territory, the rang model (a concession road with parallel lots) was used in part on the terraces, but mainly on the Appalachian plateau.
The town of Rivière-du-Loup felt the rhythm of diplomatic activity before the arrival of the railroad, the development of institutions and the exploitation of hydroelectric potential for industrial use. In the last century, there were prestigious holiday or vacation settlements in Cacouna, Saint-Patrice, Anse-au-Persil, Rivière-du-Loup and Notre-Dame-du-Portage. This holiday trade is still felt today through the presence of many B & Bs, inns, hotels and cottages. Added to this rich historical heritage are multiple natural areas of interest, the major ones without doubt being, the St. Lawrence River islands and the Baie de L’Isle-Verte National Wildlife Area.
Site territorial de la MRC de Rivière-du-Loup