History and Built Heritage in Percé

See Percé from another angle during your vacation in Gaspésie! Rain or shine, let yourself be captivated by the history and built heritage of Percé by visiting these 5 sites.

Located near the Percé wharf, this large red and white warehouse is one of the most typical buildings of the cod-fishing era. Originally built on wooden pilings with direct access to the shoreline, it was used to unload cod before the fish was prepared and laid out on a bed of salt. Today, the building houses a discovery centre for Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé and features an exhibition presenting the main themes of the park.

In the 1870s, the Charles Robin Company had nearly 40 buildings in Percé that were used for the cod-fishing trade. Together with the general store (now Pub Pit Caribou), La Saline, La Neigère and La Cantine are the main buildings still standing today. (All three are adjacent to Le Chafaud.) La Saline served as a warehouse for the salt used to cure the cod, La Neigère was used to store bait, while La Cantine was where seasonal workers ate.

A visit to this authentic general store is truly a journey back in time! Walk through the door and you will find yourself in 1928, an era where the store was one of the pillars of the village. Built by the Jersey company Robin, Jones and Whitman, this building was where fishermen and their families bought supplies, but it also served as an important gathering place for the community. Relive this era as you listen to colourful anecdotes told by entertainers in period costume.

Located on the wharf between the sea and the shore, the Vieille Usine is a unique site. A former cod-fishing plant, the building was saved from demolition by a team of about 40 local citizens in 1998. Converted into a bistro-style café, show venue and art gallery while maintaining the character of the original building, the Vieille Usine now provides a cultural hub for the area. Enjoy a drink on the terrace as you admire the view of the fishing boats and pleasure crafts docked at the marina, which create a picturesque maritime environment.

The town of Percé offers a historical tour that will introduce you to the rich history of this area through 35 sites of historical and heritage interest located in the heart of the village of Percé. This circuit is available free of charge in playlist format with numerous historical photos on the Tourisme Percé YouTube channel. A summary of the historical circuit is also available free of charge in printed format at the Percé Tourist Office as well as in PDF format on tourismeperce.ca.

Percé. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis

Be captivated by the history and built heritage of Percé!

See also: 

• 5 Historic Maritime Treasures
• 5 Lighthouses Worth Visiting in Gaspésie
• 5 Historical Walking Tours