# Clermont (Quebec)

Clermont is a small town in the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Charlevoix-Est, in the administrative region of the Capitale-Nationale, on the north shore of the Saint-Laurent, in Quebec, Canada.
Municipality landlocked between the mountains and bordering the city of La Malbaie and the unorganized territory of Mont-Élie, its territory is crossed by the Malbaie River and by Route 138 which runs along the north shore of the river. Saint Laurent. A city of shops and services for travelers on route 138, Clermont also offers a lively cultural life and several recreational and tourist attractions including the Malbaie River, its campgrounds, the zec du Lac au Sable, its arena, its fishing pits at salmon on the Malbaie River, its municipal parks and the "Montagne de la Croix" site.

## Understand
### History

The fall of a large meteorite significantly modified the relief of Charlevoix, creating a crater 54 km in diameter occurred nearly 400 million years ago; it is the eleventh largest identified impact site on earth. The impact zone would be located along the St. Lawrence River; 60% of the Astroblème de Charlevoix covers the north shore of the river and 40% is located under the water of the river. The astrobleme begins on the southwest side a few kilometers west of Baie-Saint-Paul, up to Cap-à-l'Aigle, located on the east bank of the Malbaie River, in La Malbaie . In the northern part, the rim of the crater is located north of the village of Saint-Urbain; coming from the borough of La Baie (Ville-de-Saguenay) by road 381, travellers enter the astrobleme when the road descends from the Parc national des Grands-Jardins to head towards the village of Saint-Urbain. The eastern rim of the crater extends from Cap-à-l'Aigle up north, on the east side of the Malbaie River.
The centre of the astrobleme would be the Mont des Éboulements (summit at 768 m), formed by the effect of the raising of the bottom of the crater following the impact. Since this impact, the crater has been strongly metamorphosed under the effect of various erosion agents, making it more difficult to recognize its outline, particularly the part immersed in the St. Lawrence River. Consequently, experts define this ancient impact structure as the astrobleme. Inaugurated in 2014, an interpretation centre dedicated to the Charlevoix astrobleme is open to the public; this interpretation centre is housed in the former Club House of the Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie.

### Geography

The centre of the village of Clermont (altitude of 50 m) is 6.4 km (direct line) from the La Malbaie bridge, which is located at the mouth of the Malbaie river. From the course of the Berges Alexis le Trotteur (downstream of the village), the Malbaie River meanders in five loops, to its mouth.

## Get in
### By car

* From Tadoussac (80 km (50 mi), 1 hr 24 min), take the Tadoussac-Baie Sainte-Catherine ferry; take route 138 (westbound) to the village of Clermont.
* From Quebec City (135 km (84 mi), 1 hr 34 min), take route 138 eastbound to the village of Clermont.

### By bus

* 47.69172-70.227171 Intercar, 137 boulevard Notre-Dame (Stops at Station service Shell), ☏ +1-418-547-2167, toll-free: +1-800-806-2167, serviceclient@intercar.ca. Operates a daily route between Baie-Comeau and Montreal including stops in Forestville, Tadoussac, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Siméon, La Malbaie, Clermont, Saint-Hilarion, Baie-Saint-Paul, Saint-Tite-des-Caps, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Boischatel, and Quebec City. Trips toward Baie-Comeau start from Quebec City and do not include a stop in Montreal. (updated Nov 2024)

## Get around

* 47.69172-70.227171 Station service Shell (Shell Service Station), 137 boulevard Notre-Dame, ☏ +1 418-665-3443. (updated Nov 2024)

## See

* 47.698491-70.242141 Montagne patrimonial de la Croix (Heritage Mountain of the Cross). Mountain (summit 239 m) located on the west bank of the Malbaie River, on the north side of downtown Clermont. A path provides access to the summit where an iron cross has been erected there. At the top, interpretation panels inform visitors about the heritage, culture, traditions of the inhabitants of this sector, forestry and history, in particular about the "Pays de Menaud" (Mgr Félix-Antoine Savard). Panorama observation lookouts, installed in the mountain, give a superb view of the city of Clermont, the valley of the Malbaie River, the mountains of Charlevoix and the St. Lawrence River, if the weather is clear. This mountain of the cross has been listed in the Quebec Cultural Heritage Register. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.69508-70.257522 Chemin de la Croix (Way of the cross), 51, chemin de la Croix (no. 53). Place of worship in forest area. (updated Jan 2022)

## Do

* 47.6994-70.229881 Club de Curling Nairn (Nairn Curling Club), 162, rue Lapointe (north of the village of Clermont, near the Malbaie River), ☏ +1 418-439-2931, club@curlingclermont.com. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.69302-70.238162 Domaine Comporte (Comporte Demain), 41, rue Beauregard, ☏ +1 418-439-1717, info@domainecomporte.com. The Domaine Comporté offers a fishing and hunting experience. The Domaine offers lodging in a cabin in the forest on the edge of the water; each cottage is fully equipped, with dock, boat and a private outdoor fireplace. The chalets have an accommodation capacity of 2 to 9 people. The Estate includes three native speckled trout lakes (brook trout), which are accessible by car. Hunting territory divided into three sectors; each sector is equipped with a watchtower and salt pans. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.74452-70.289433 Parc du Lac Claire (Lake Claire Park) (bordering Lac Claire), ☏ +1 418 439-3931. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.69193-70.2121364 Parcours des Berges Alexis le Trotteur (Riverside course Alexis the Trotter), rue de la Rivière, ☏ +1 418 439-3931. Park located along the Malbaie River (west shore), with bike paths, trails and nature and history interpretation panels. The statue of Alexis le Trotteur (1860-1924) pays tribute to this exceptional runner. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.71175-70.250835 Saumon Rivière Malbaie (Salmon Rivière Malbaie), 25 Chemin de Chutes, ☏ +1 418-439-0672, info@saumonrivieremalbaie.com. Sport fishing for Atlantic salmon is permitted on the Malbaie River. Pits 1 to 17 are located between the La Malbaie bridge (at the mouth of the river) and the railway bridge in Clermont. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.69302-70.238166 Zec du Lac-au-Sable, 105, chemin des Marais, zeclacausable@xplornet.ca. This controlled exploitation zone (zec), which is located in the unorganized territory of Mont-Élie, has an administrative office in Clermont. The zec offers the practice of hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, hiking in nature, picking wild fruits, observing nature, flora and fauna. In winter, the zec offers ice fishing. (updated Jan 2022)

## Buy

* 47.69101-70.224341 IGA Famille Lambert, 110, boulevard Notre-Dame (Located on Route 138), ☏ +1 418-439-3922. General grocery store. Online grocery store. Catering. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.68971-70.20842 Pêcheries Daniel Girard inc (Fisheries Daniel Girard Inc.), 21, rue des Étangs, ☏ +1 418-439-3386. Seafood market. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.69067-70.233843 Adrénaline Sports (Adrenaline Sports), 184, boulevard Notre-Dame, ☏ +1 418-439-4944. Snowmobile store (new and used), service and parts. (updated Jan 2022)

## Eat

Since March 2020, in the context of health measures resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, several restaurants or dining rooms in Charlevoix have transformed the mode of meals at the tables into take-out or by delivery service. In general, restaurateurs have shown great resilience by updating their website, integrating interactive and automated applications for remote orders, as well as displaying the menu, opening hours, their mode of operation (e.g .: by reservation, drive-through service), health measures required (e.g .: vaccination record, mask, distance), other services (e.g .: caterer, shops, accommodation, access for disabled, wi-fi, take-out, delivery), contact details and often the history of the restaurant or site. Considering the evolving context of the pandemic and government measures, it is recommended that customers obtain information from each establishment by consulting their respective website.
* 47.69254-70.222931 Casse-croute chez poucet (Snack at Pouchet), 46, rue Lapointe. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.69042-70.216272 Restaurant Jade (Jade Restaurant), 59, boulevard Notre-Dame, ☏ +1 418-439-4678. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.69144-70.22373 Pizzeria du Boulevard, 107, boulevard Notre-Dame, ☏ +1 418-439-5445. Restaurant with 27 years of experience, offering 14 kinds of pizzas and 125 dishes on the menu. Delivery service offered in the region. (updated Jan 2022)

## Sleep
### Inns, motels

* 47.68009-70.273231 Motel le Danube Charlevoix, 5, rue Gaudreault (anciennement au 41, route 138) (Located in the village), ☏ +1 418-439-1818. Motel of 10 units. (updated Jan 2022)

### Chalets, gîtes

* 47.70896-70.254272 Chalet de la Vallée Charlevoix (Charlevoix Valley Chalet), 30, chemin des Marais, ☏ +1 418-803-9551. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.80337-70.285713 Club Trois Castors (Three Beavers Club), toll-free: +1-800-561-8963, info@clubtroiscastors.com. Outfitter for hunting or fishing stays. Located at 2300 feet above sea level. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.73794-70.256894 Domaine du boisé (Wooded area), 41, chemin Snigole. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.69995-70.208985 Maison Belle Époque (Belle Epoque House), ☏ +1 418-665-6800. 5 bedroom chalet with green landscape and outdoor swimming pool. Capacity up to 10 people. (updated Jan 2022)

### Camping

* 47.71099-70.25026 Camping Le Saumonier (Le Saumonier Campground), 17 Chemin de Chutes, ☏ +1 418-439-0672. The campsite offers 31 pitches, with toilet block and children's play area. Offer of a ready-to-camp chalet - Coolbox. (updated Nov 2024)

## Connect

The federal government installed additional communications infrastructure in La Malbaie (and along highways 138, 170 and 362 between Charlevoix and Quebec City) for the G7 Summit in 2018. These facilities were left in place afterwards, so cell phone and wireless internet connections are better than they were before.

## Cope

* 47.69382-70.22082 Bibliothèque municipale "La Chute de mots" ("La Chute de mots" Library), 11, rue Jean-Talon, ☏ +1 418-439-2903, lachutedemots63@hotmail.com. Library affiliated with the library network of the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches. Free. (updated Jan 2022)
* 47.69382-70.22083 Aréna de Clermont Saison (Clermont Saison Arena), 131, rue Larouche, ☏ +1 418-439-3773. Main activities: free skating sessions, artistic sharing, adult hockey tournaments, Clermont Olympic hockey league, minor hockey, minor hockey tournaments, senior hockey league from lake to river. Free. (updated Jan 2022)

## Go next

* 47.854167-70.4297221 Parc national Hautes-Gorges-de-la-rivière-Malbaie This National Park exposes magnificent cliffs, a setting of high mountains and a strongly boxed valley which was shaped during the great glacial eras. This park is distinguished by its bucolic landscapes, the Malbaie River where visitors can paddle (by canoe, kayak or paddle serf), its riverboat excursions, its panoramic hiking trails of various calibers in the valley and in the mountains, its bike trails, its shop and a campsite surrounded by incomparable nature. The Acropole-des-Draveurs trail is one of the most majestic in the province, with a drop of 800 m. This park offers bicycle/kayak rentals, a gift shop and a restaurant serving local Charlevoix products.
* 47.86666-70.252 Zec du Lac-au-Sable Controlled harvesting zone (zec) located in the unorganized territory of Mont-Élie (Quebec); the reception desk is located near the junction of chemin du Friche and chemin Snigole in Clermont. This zec is a territory for hunting and fishing, camping, hiking in nature; the zec offers certain services including boat rental on several lakes, boat ramps and various accommodation services (cottage, yurt and camping).
* 47.6667-70.38393 Notre-Dame-des-Monts Village nestled between the mountains, offering magnificent panoramas. The summit of Gros Mont overlooks the region. The forest and mountainous nature offers many attractions including mountain biking and snowmobile rides.
* 47.683338-70.3000054 Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs A locality offering plenty of recreational and tourist activities (resorts, fishing, nautical activities, Trans-Canada hiking trails and local trails in the Grands Monts sector, observation of the nautre, flora and fauna). Several organizations offer many services: the zec des Martes, the Pic-bois outfitter and the Hautes-Gorges de la rivière Malbaie national park. Among the main events, there is the Charlevoix triathlon, the Charleboix rodeo (end of June).
* 47.57874-70.401995 Saint-Hilarion (Quebec) The village of Saint-Hilarion overlooks the surrounding valley. Annually, a carnival is organized. Locality offering many recreational and tourist activities: resort, bowling, skating rink, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sliding, mountain biking, and snowmobiling.
* 47.5923-70.15056 La Malbaie A super-tourist municipality on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, offering many recreational and tourist activities, a developed reception infrastructure (resorts, accommodation, restaurants, shops, Charlevoix casino, Richelieu manor, golf, hiking, museums) and many attractions around the bay and the La Malbaie River.
* 48.13333-69.733337 Saguenay–Saint-Laurent Marine Park A marine protected area of the St. Lawrence River and Saguenay rivers, covering 1,245 kilometres (773.61 mi). Its mission is to protect all species including the beluga and the blue whale. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, ROMM and GREMM teach boaters to navigate in whale habitat. Whale watching tours or cruises are offered to tourists. The southwestern limit of the marine park begins at Gros cap à l'Aigle located in the Cap-à-l'Aigle sector of La Malbaie.