Saguenay
Around Saguenay
Photo: 0x010C · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Quebec · 161k people
Saguenay
“La porte du fjord”
The heart of the fjord country
Deep Fjord BlueBoreal Green
Welcome to Saguenay, where the fjord meets the forest and the blueberry fields stretch to the horizon. Whether you're here for the outdoors or the local brews, you'll find a warm community ready to share its pride.
Clubs for Saguenay
No clubs for Saguenay yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Saguenay. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Saguenay. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Saguenay Fjord One of the world's longest fjords, carved by glaciers.
- Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay Hiking, kayaking, and dramatic cliffs.
- La Pulperie de Chicoutimi Museum in a former pulp mill, telling the region's industrial story.
- Monts-Valin National Park Mountain terrain, winter sports, and boreal forest.
- Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Protected waters where whales come to feed.
- Vieux-Chicoutimi Old town with heritage buildings and cafés.
- Outdoors Hiking the fjord trails
- Outdoors Kayaking in the fjord
- With kids Whale watching at the marine park
- With kids Family trails in the national park
- Evenings Microbrewery bars in Chicoutimi
- Evenings Live music at Festival du Fjord
- Locals love Blueberry farms
- Locals love Sugar shacks
Through the year
- Festival du Fjord summer Summer music festival in La Baie.
- Salon du livre de Saguenay spring Book fair in Chicoutimi.
- Marathon de Saguenay spring Road race through the city.
- Fête des Bleuets de Saint-Ambroise summer Blueberry festival with local treats.
Long, snowy winters with cold temperatures; short, pleasant summers. Best time to be out is summer for the fjord and winter for snow sports. Best: Summer for the fjord, winter for snow sports.
Talk like a local
- “Bleuet”
- A local resident (nickname for someone from Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean).
- “Le fjord”
- The Saguenay Fjord.
- “La Pulperie”
- The La Pulperie museum.
Getaways
- Alma 45 km – lake and dam views.
- Dolbeau-Mistassini 100 km – blueberry capital and river.
- Rivière-du-Loup 131 km – historic town and river.
- Québec City 179 km – old city and culture.
Local flavour
Teams
- Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL
Eat and drink
- Tourtière du Lac-Saint-Jean A meat pie with potatoes, a regional specialty.
- Bleuet (blueberry) pie Made with wild blueberries, a local staple.
- Fromage en grains (cheese curds) Essential for poutine, widely available in the region.
Where people go
- Saguenay Fjord A dramatic glacial fjord, the region's centrepiece.
- Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay A national park offering hiking and wildlife viewing.
- Bleuetière (blueberry farm) U-pick blueberry fields are a summer tradition.
- Historic pulp mill (La Pulperie)
Heritage and traditions
Saguenay is proud of its dramatic fjord, its strong French-Canadian identity, and its resilient industrial heritage, often calling itself 'le Royaume du Saguenay'.
This time of year in Saguenay
- Fall colours autumn The fjord's cliffs and forests put on a spectacular display of autumn colours.
Say it like a local: “jaser” — to chat
Festivals
- La Fabuleuse Histoire d'un Royaume summer A grand summer theatrical spectacle in La Baie that tells the region's history.
- Festival de la chanson de Saint-Ambroise May A songwriting competition in May that has launched many Quebec artists.
Landmarks with a story
- Cathédrale Saint-François-Xavier Historic Catholic cathedral in Chicoutimi, a landmark of the city.
- Monastère des Ursulines A convent founded in Chicoutimi in the late 19th century, reflecting the region's religious heritage.
Food traditions
- Cretons A spiced pork spread commonly served on toast for breakfast, a Quebec staple.
- Soupe aux pois Traditional pea soup, often enjoyed with bread, reflecting French-Canadian heritage.
- Blueberry syrup and wine Locals make syrup, jam, and wine from wild blueberries, a regional specialty.
Music and arts
- Chanson à texte A strong tradition of lyric-driven French songs, with local singer-songwriters.
- La Fabuleuse Histoire d'un Royaume A major theatrical production featuring local actors, music, and special effects.
- Festival de la chanson de Saint-Ambroise A key incubator for Quebec songwriting talent.
- Oral storytelling and legends Tales about the fjord and the mythical 'Royaume du Saguenay' are passed down.
A little history
- 1838 First permanent settlement at Grande-Baie
- 1849 Chicoutimi is founded as a mission
- 1896 The first pulp mill opens, launching the industrial era
- 1926 Aluminum production begins in Arvida (now part of Saguenay)
- 1996 The Saguenay flood causes major damage and leads to rebuilding
Rivalries
- Chicoutimi vs. Jonquière Friendly borough rivalry.
- Saguenéens vs. Baie-Comeau Drakkar Hockey rivalry in the QMJHL.
- Game day Hockey
- Game day Ice fishing
- Outdoors Boating on the fjord
- Outdoors Fishing for salmon
- With kids Attending a Chicoutimi Saguenéens hockey game
- With kids Visiting the Musée du Fjord
The Saguenay accent is a distinctive French Canadian dialect with a sing-song intonation and many local expressions. People often use 'ben' for 'bien', 'moé' for 'moi', and 'toé' for 'toi'. They also use 'astheure' for 'now' and 'jaser' for 'chat'.
Only here
- The Saguenay Fjord is one of the world's longest and most spectacular fjords, and the only one in North America.
- Beluga whales can be observed in the fjord, a rare sight.
- The region is known as 'le Royaume du Saguenay', a name rooted in the mythical kingdom sought by early explorers.
- The region has a strong tradition of 'contes' and 'légendes' about the fjord.
New here? A few tips
- Learn French; it's essential for daily life and integration.
- Prepare for cold winters; invest in good winter gear.
- Try the local food, especially the tourtière and blueberry pie.
- Explore the fjord; it's the region's crown jewel.
- Get involved in community events; locals are friendly and welcoming.
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Nearby
Every areaAlmaQuebecWhere the lake meets the blueberry fields.Lac-Saint-Jean-EstQuebecLà où le lac embrasse la forêtDolbeau-MistassiniQuebecWhere the lake meets the blueberry fieldsLe Domaine-du-RoyQuebecWhere the lake meets the forest, and blueberries grow wild.CharlevoixQuebecWhere the St. Lawrence kisses the mountains.Rivière-du-LoupQuebecThe river's peaceful shoreQuébec CityQuebecOld-world charm on the St. LawrenceRimouskiQuebecWhere the St. Lawrence shapes every day.
Saguenay. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.