Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse

Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse is a 33-meter-high concrete structure with eight buttresses supporting a central cylinder topped by a third-order Fresnel lens. The site also includes a maritime museum and visitor facilities that showcase related exhibits.

Built in 1909 as the third lighthouse at this location, it replaced an earlier navigational aid from 1859. The continuous presence of a beacon at this site demonstrates its importance to maritime history.

This lighthouse represents maritime navigation on the St. Lawrence River, where sailors have depended on its light for generations. The structure is woven into the region's identity and reflects the community's lasting connection to the water.

Visitors can enter the lighthouse and enjoy views from the top, while the surrounding area also offers a submarine to explore. The best time to visit is on dry days when climbing is safe and comfortable.

The lighthouse received distress signals during the sinking of the RMS Empress of Ireland, one of Canada's worst maritime disasters. This connection ties the site to a tragic chapter in navigation history.

Location: Rimouski

Inception: 1859

Architects: Henri de Miffonis, William P. Anderson

Made from material: concrete

Part of: Pointe-au-Père Lightstation

GPS coordinates: 48.51750,-68.46889

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:10