St. Andre of Kamouraska

Saint-Andre of Kamouraska

Saint-Andre is a municipality located in the Kamouraska Regional County Municipality, in Lower St. Lawrence Region (Bas-Saint-Laurent). It has a population of about 700. The Saint-Andre of Kamouraska Parish was established in 1791.

In the village of Saint-André, you can admire ancestral buildings and go eel fishing with, as a background, the Pèlerins Islands, home for thousands of birds. In the western part of the village, climbing enthusiasts will be charmed by the cliffs, known as some of the best sites for that sport in Quebec.

The actual church was built between 1806 and 1811, upon plans prepared by architect Benoni Martin, but bell towers have been rebuilt in 1865 by Joseph Morin, carpenter from St. Andre. The church’s interior architecture and decoration is due to Louis-Xavier Leprohon. It was started in 1833 and completed in 1835. It is a work inspired by Thomas Baillairgé's aesthetics but many details show the influence of Louis-Amable Quévillon's art. The painting above the main altar, depicting St. Andrew, was executed by Louis-Hubert Triaud. The tabernacle on the main altar is a beautiful miniature architectural piece executed by François Baillairgé.

Those who like outdoor activities can visit the site of the Ecological society of Kamouraska (société des battures du Kamouraska) where they will discover all sorts of birds, marine and land animals as well as flora submerged when the tide is high.

Situated three kilometres from the St André-de-Kamouraska Village, the SEBKA riverside Park provides access to the St. Lawrence River and the salty marshes commonly called the “battures” (sandbanks). Several installations facilitate access to the exceptional panoramas of the islands of Kamouraska on the Northern Coastline and the Saint-André Bay. On the site, you will find a Reception and Information Pavilion, nine belvederes with a 360 degree view, three observation terraces and picnic and relaxation areas.

A dozen of ecological trails with panoramic viewpoints and an observation terrace wait for the visitors, as well as interpretation panels with information about the ecosystem of the sandbanks, that you can learn while relaxing. Picnic and camping areas and hot water showers are available. The six kilometres of the pedestrial trails on the site cross the Monadnock which is the rocky mass that overhangs the St Lawrence River. On these trails, sometimes wooded, sometimes open, you will discover the diversity of fauna and maritime flora.

The trails of the Amphitheatre give the hikers the chance to walk through a mixed forest to reach the two belvederes that offer an amazing landscape, a unique panorama, uniting sea and mountain. You can also enjoy the odors of the underwoods while admiring the plants of this fragile but very rich ecosystem.

Guests will even have the chance to go on guided sea kayak excursions around the archipelago of the Kamouraska islands, for periods of time from half a day or 2 to 4 days. It is possible to start at sunset. Departures and arrivals are according to the tides.

Dozens of semi-wild camping sites and a few cabins are designed so that one can fully enjoy the beauty of the sandbanks and the mixed forest that make up the exceptional environment of the SEBKA. Several of these sites are situated near the river. Sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire places and are easily accessible to showers and washrooms. This camping establishment meets quality standards and provides services and activities.

To access the parking, you must have a parking ticket issued by the SEBKA. The annual membership card and the daily ticket that give access to the trails of the Amphitheatre are on sale at the Reception Pavilion.

To get to St. Andre of Kamouraska from Montreal and Quebec take Autoroute 20 (Jean Lesage) to the 480 Exit, direction north. At St-André take the route 132 west.

From New Brunswick, take Autoroute 2 and Route 185, then Autoroute 20 west (direction of Quebec) and take Exit 480 direction north. At St-André, take Route 132 west.

To join Société d'écologie de la batture du Kamouraska:

273, Route 132 Ouest
G0L 2H0
Saint-André-de-Kamouraska

Phones: 418 493-9984 and 418 493-9985

Web Site: sebka.ca