Grande Entrée Island

Fishing port of Grande-Entrée, Îles de la Madeleine

Grande-Entrée is Québec's lobster capital. It harbours more than 100 brightly coloured fishing boats. Go down to the pier and hang out for a while with the fishermen. You'll get a good feel for the importance of this traditional fishing.

Lobster Capital

Grande-Entrée has over 100 lobster-fishing boats

Designated as Québec's Lobster Capital in 1994, Grande-Entrée has over 100 lobster-fishing boats that bring in more than half of the Islands' total annual catch. Route 199 ends at the wharf: this is Pointe de la Grande-Entrée (Grande-Entrée Point). Here you have a charming fishing port packed with brightly coloured boats.

Grande Entrée Island was the last of the Islands to be settled. Its colonization dates back to the 1870's, and since then its fishing port has been a vital part of Island life.

Blue mussels are farmed in the bay at Grande-Entrée as well as in Havre-aux-Maisons. Chemin Pealy leads to the western extremity of Grande Entrée Island and illustrates the traditional division of land: widely-spaced houses centered on open fields. Take a walk to Boudreau Island, one of the most beautiful views you will see in the Magdalen Islands. Visit the Bassin aux Huîtres and explore its secret beaches and footpaths. You can reach it by following Chemin du Bassin Ouest.