Amqui

Amqui (pronounced « amkoui ») is located in the Matapedia Valley in the southwest portion of the Gaspé Peninsula. With almost 7000 inhabitants, it is the largest municipality in the valley and the county seat of La Matapédia regional county municipality, located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent administrative region where it is an important administrative and economic centre for the region. The place name "Amqui" comes from the Mi'kmaq language and means "where we have fun".
Amqui is a "village-relais": a municipality whose merchants provide all services normally expected from a service area located along a highway. Amqui, as service centre for the immediate area, has several institutions: a hospital, secondary and collegiate schools, a police station, a courthouse and various government offices.

Climate

Read

• Amqui, lieu de rencontre (Madeleine Gagnon): Art book, featuring photography by Michel Dompierre. Recounts the history of the region.

Neighbouring villages

Travel information for these villages is included in this page: ;Lac-au-Saumon: Located east of Amqui on Highway 132. Known for its namesake lake on the Matapédia River and for Saint Joseph's Oratory.
;Saint-Alexandre-des-Lacs: Small village located northeast of Amqui.
;Sainte-Irène: Small village located south of Amqui. Known for Val-d'Irène regional park, a ski centre.
;Saint-Léon-le-Grand: Located south of Amqui.
;Saint-Tharcisius: Small village located north of Amqui.
;Saint-Vianney: Village located north of Amqui and west of Saint-Tharcisius.
;Saint-Zenon-du-Lac-Humqui: Located south of Saint-Léon-le-Grand, known as "Lac-Humqui" (and named for the lake).
;Val-Brillant: Located on Highway 132 west of Amqui. The marina of Val-Brillant gives access to Lake Matapédia and includes an Irish pub, a campground and walking trails. There are two fuel stations on Highway 132. A producer of raspberry wine, called "Vallée de la Framboise", sells its products directly; it is located on Lauzier Road near Highway 132 (south). Val-Brillant is also known for its Gothic church with two bell towers.

By air

The closest regional airport is in Mont-Joli, about 70km west by road.

By bus

• Orléans Express

  phone: +1 418-629-6767
  address: 219-1, boulevard Saint-Benoît
  Intercity bus serving Amqui and other Québec cities.

By train

• Amqui station

  phone: +1 418-629-4242
  address: 209, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  VIA Rail passenger station. Rail tickets available at City Hall.

By car

From Montréal, Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski, take Highway 20 east to its end, then continue east on Route 132. A-20 briefly reappears as a bypass around Rimouski; exit the bypass road at Mont-Joli, then simply follow Highway 132 towards Amqui. Otherwise, on Route 132, you will reach a T-intersection in Sainte-Flavie, which indicates "Route 132 East" in both directions; turn to follow "Route 132 to Amqui". From Quebec City, it is a journey of 4 hours 30 minutes by car.
From Matane, take Route 195 south to Amqui. This takes an hour by car.
From the southern Gaspé or northeast New Brunswick, take Route 132 west to Amqui. From Bathurst (on New Brunswick Route 11), it is a journey of 2 hours 30 minutes by car.

There is no public transit in Amqui. Walking, cycling and driving are the best ways to visit the city.
There is one taxi company:

• Taxi Rapido 2004, 85 College Street, +1 418-629-4011

• Amqui's heritage railway station (209, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest) is still in active service. A wooden building built in 1904, with imposing and picturesque architecture that gives the impression of travel a century ago. A former passenger car "the Lynnewood", the oldest working Pullman car in North America, is located in the courtyard of the station and guided tours are organized during the summer season.

• Église Saint-Benoît-Joseph-Labre

  address: 88, rue Desbiens
  Stone church rebuilt in 1986 within the walls of an old church (built 1917-1922) that burned down. Roman Catholic masses at 11AM Sunday and 6:30PM Wednesday.

• Anses-Saint-Jean Bridge

  address: Chemin du Pont-Couvert
  Covered bridge built in Anse-Saint-Jean in 1931 and still in use. It has only one traffic lane and no signals; stop before driving through and make sure there are no oncoming cars before entering the bridge.

• Beauséjour BridgeCovered bridge crossing the river Amqui (located in Parc des Sœurs / Sisters' Park) built from 1930-1932. This was moved from Saint-Odile-de-Rimouski to its current location to carry pedestrians and cyclists.

Summer

• Revermont Golf Club

  phone: +1 418-629-2180
  address: 146, chemin du Golf
  Two courses of nine holes each, differing in landscape and game strategy, exceptional view, divided by the Matapédia river.

• Club de quads de La Matapédia

  address: 55, rue Chamberland
  La Matapédia is recognized as the "Paradise of the ATV"; network of trails with many trail-side attractions.

• Camp Sable chaud

  phone: +1 418-629-3747
  address: 530, rang St-Philippe
  Non-profit summer camp for 6-15 year olds, located on Lake Matapedia.

• Route VerteThe Green route is a cycle path extending across the province through more than 4000 km. The section in Matapédia goes through downtown Amqui.

• Théâtre du Quidam

  address: 20, promenade de l'Hôtel de ville
  French-language summer theatre, August 1-18.

Winter

• Aréna d'Amqui

  phone: +1 418-629-4242 ext 438
  address: 55, rue du Carrefour Sportif
  Free public skating, call or see L'Avant-Poste newspaper for updates to posted schedule on website.

• Club de curling de la ValléeCurling club at municipal arena.

• Club de motoneiges Vallée de la MatapédiaA network of snowmobile trails reaches neighbouring villages and covers the entire region.

• Club de ski de fond Harfang des neiges d'Amqui

  phone: +1 418-629-1665
  address: 530, rang Saint-Philippe
  Cross-country ski club, five groomed ski trails (16.9 km of classic ski (pas alternatif) trail and 10.8 km of skate-skiing (pas patin) trail), three groomed snowshoe trails (4.6, 2.7 and 1.1 km). It is also possible to walk on the trails.

Year-round

• Bibliothèque Madeleine-Gagnon

  phone: +1 418-629-4242 ext 447
  address: Promenade de l'Hôtel-de-Ville
  Public municipal library in free-standing building next to town hall, closed Sundays.

• Cinéma Figaro

  phone: +1 418-629-3336
  address: 39, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest

• Indoor municipal pool

  phone: +1 418-629-4242
  address: Rue du Carrefour-Sportif
  Open swim, call for schedule.

Events

• Exposition agricole de La Matapédia

  address: on municipal arena grounds
  Early June. Annual agricultural fair with farm animals, rides, contests and exhibitors.

The vast majority of shops and stores in Amqui are located along Saint-Benoît Boulevard (Route 132). There is also a small shopping centre with a few shops and a supermarket.

• La Cachette

  phone: +1 418-629-4879
  address: 209, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  Artisan's boutique, was located in historic train station. Effective summer 2015, this merchandise is available at the Maison d'Odilon art gallery at 154, boul. Saint-Benoit Ouest (seasonal, opens mid-June, +1 418-631-1621 in-season, or +1 418-629-7816)

Restaurants

• Auberge Beauséjour operates a 40-seat restaurant (see Sleep section), daily menu, open 11AM-2PM and 5-9PM weekdays; 8AM-1PM and 5:30-9:30PM summer weekends; 5-9PM winter weekends.
• Microbrasserie La Captive, microbrewery also serving food such as hamburgers and sandwiches (see Drink section).
• Hôtel Gagnon operate a pub called La Terrasse (see Drink section) (+1 418-629-3434), seats 74. Wi-Fi. M-W 10:30AM-2PM and 4-9PM, Th-Sa 10:30AM-1AM, Su 4-9PM.
• Restaurant L'Ambassadeur, in Auberge L'Ambassadeur (see Sleep section) (+1 418-629-8087), seats 43. Wi-Fi. M-F 6AM-2PM and 4:30PM-10PM, Sa Su 7AM-2PM and 4:30PM-10PM.
• Restaurant Pastali, in Sélectôtel (see Sleep section) (+1 418-629-4471), Chinese, Italian and Canadian cuisine. Wi-Fi. M-Th 6AM-10PM, F 6AM-11PM, Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 7AM-10PM.

Fast food

• Dixie Lee

  phone: +1 418-629-3369
  address: 6, avenue du Parc
  Fried chicken, seafood. Wi-fi.

• Restaurant JoJo

  phone: +1 418-629-5650
  address: 219-1, boulevard Saint-Benoît Est
  Quebec cuisine.

• Resto Cantine Fortier

  phone: +1 418-629-3535
  address: 320, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  Quebec cuisine. Parking for trucks.

Markets

• Boulangerie artisanale Grains de folie

  phone: +1 418-629-1343
  address: 140, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  Bakery.

• Microbrasserie La Captive

  phone: +1 418-631-1343
  address: 140, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  Restaurant and brew pub.

• Hôtel Gagnon/Pub La Terrasse

  phone: +1 418-629-3434
  address: 232, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  Nightclub, pub, restaurant and patio.
• Bar Le Billard, in Sélectôtel (see Sleep section). Billards.

Hotels, motels and inns

• Auberge Beauséjour

  phone: +1 418-629-5531
  address: 71, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  7:30AM-11PM. Non-smoking, kitchenette in some units, Wi-Fi, restaurant. Breakfast. 9 units.

• Auberge L'Ambassadeur

  phone: +1 418-629-6464
  address: 256, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  Open year-round, non-smoking, pet-friendly, fitness room, whirlpool tub, kitchenette in some units, Wi-Fi, ski or snowmobile packages, snowmobile access, garage for snowmobiles.

• Sélectôtel Amqui

  phone: +1 418-629-2241
  address: 340, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  Open year-round, non-smoking, restaurant, bar, billiards, indoor pool, spa, fitness room, laundry, Wi-Fi. 75 units. 3 stars.

Camping

• Camping d'Amqui/La Maison du camping d'Amqui

  phone: +1 418-629-4242
  address: 686, route 132 Ouest
  Mid-June to Labour Day. Located on the Matapédia River, which joins Lake Matapedia. Forested park with 146 serviced campsites, heated outdoor pool, pedal boat rental, kayaks, canoes, rowboats and bicycles, badminton, croquet and volleyball, marina. The House of Camping rents ten rooms overlooking the river.

Most restaurants in Amqui offer wireless Internet access. The local library also provides wireless Internet and public-access computers.

For life-threatening emergencies or crime in progress, dial 9-1-1. (Provincial police may be reached at 310-4141)

• Centre hospitalier d'Amqui

  phone: +1 418-629-2211
  address: 135, avenue Gaétan-Archambault
  Small local hospital.

• Centre de la santé et des services sociaux (CLSC) de La Matapédia

  phone: +1 418-629-2211 ext 12
  address: 135, avenue Gaétan-Archambault
  Community clinic on 3rd floor of hospital.

• Poste de la MRC de La Matapédia de la Sûreté du Québec (SQ)

  phone: +1 418-629-4464
  address: 155, avenue Gaétan-Archambault
  Police station.

• Service de protection contre les incendies

  phone: +1 418-629-1343
  address: 30, avenue du Parc
  Fire brigade.

Laundry

• Buanderie-nettoyeur de l'Est

  phone: +1 418-629-1529
  address: 1-348, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest
  Laundry.

Lac-Matapédia

Lac-Matapédia is 10-15 km from Amqui.

• La Pointe fine

  address: Lac-Matapédia
  Sandy public beach on Matapédia Lake, accessible by car, motorbike, boat or ATV.

• Seigneurie du Lac-Matapédia

  address: Lac-Matapédia
  Walking trails between lake and mountains, quad (ATV) and snowmobile trails, beaches.

Sainte-Irène

Sainte-Irène is 20 km from Amqui.

• Val-d'Irène Regional Park

  address: 115, route Val-d'Irène, Sainte-Irène
  Alpine skiing, snowboarding, 27 tracks on two slopes, cross-country skiing, tubing, snowmobiling, equipment rentals, dining facilities including a restaurant at the summit (with reservations), accommodation in apartments or chalets (reservation required), reception room. Aqua-Neige in spring (mid-April) where skiers try to cross Picolo Lake.

• Randonnées S.B.

  phone: +1 418-629-6015
  address: 78, rang 4, Sainte-Irène
  Dogsledding for individuals or groups. Reservation required 2 to 4 days in advance.

Saint-Vianney

Saint-Vianney is 20 km from Amqui.

• Maxime Fournier Guide de plein air

  phone: +1 418-629-6459
  address: 130, 1 er rang Nord, Saint-Vianney
  Dog sledding (reservation required).

Val-Brillant

Val-Brillant is 15 km from Amqui.

• Club de plongée les Pieds-Palmés

  phone: +1 418-629-6616
  address: Val-Brillant marina
  Diving club, equipment rental, tank refills. A fishing boat, the Shemogue, was sunk from the Val-Brillant marina in deep water.

• Campbellton, New Brunswick is accessible by bridge from Point-à-la-Croix on Quebec Highway 132. From there, New Brunswick Highway 11 continues east along the Acadian Coast.