Don’t worry, we’d never herd of it either until it popped up on our itinerary …

So … it was the second oldest (after Quebec) settlement in “New France”, on the St Lawrence River about half way between Montreal and Quebec, also formerly a major centre for Canadian manufacturing – hydro power, pulp and paper – that kind of thing.

So we were kinda expecting a dirty industrial town that had seen better days …

… but what a nice surprise …

We parked by the Park …

Got off and took a short walk (it only needed to be short!) through the little historic town.

Lots of pretty old houses and buildings of many shapes and purposes.

An old hospital …

And of course, a monsterous monastry …

…and a huge church (one of many) …

We ventured along the main street … more restaurants here that could possibly survive, I thought (particularly in the winter!)

As we pulled away from the riverside pier, there were lots of the hospitable and enthusiastic waving farewell …

And as we sailed past the one adjacent river (not three) that joins the St Lawrence here, a surprising sandy beach, with lots of Canadians enjoying the short summer sunshine …