Rocher Percé

Gaspé Peninsula


The town's landmark attraction, this 88m-high, 475m-long chunk of multihued limestone has inspired descriptive entries in travel journals dating back to Samuel de Champlain's captain's log of 1603. It is accessible from the mainland only by boat, but it's dangerous to try to go ashore on this fragile natural wonder. Île Bonaventure cruises include a journey around the rock with commentary on its history and folklore.

Signs warning of falling rocks should be taken seriously: each year, some 300,000 tons of rock debris detach from the big rock. There used to be two holes in it, but one arch collapsed in 1845; in 2003, 100,000kg of debris fell at once.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Gaspé Peninsula attractions

2. Île Bonaventure

2.53 MILES

Meeting the more than 100,000 gannets on green Île Bonaventure is a highlight of any Gaspé Peninsula experience. Boat operators sell tickets for trips to…

3. Forillon National Park

19.6 MILES

This stunningly beautiful park on the Gaspé Peninsula's northeasternmost tip is a place where the mountains plunge directly into an ocean dotted with…

4. Musée de la Gaspésie

25.04 MILES

This museum evokes the peninsula's maritime heritage through traditional exhibits and more contemporary multimedia activities. You might examine artifacts…

5. Site d'Interpretation Micmac de Gespeg

29.02 MILES

This center explains the culture and history of the local Mi'kmaq group through an exhibition, English- and French-language tours, a recreated village and…