Located on a rocky point of land, Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon was originally known as Long Point. On a clear day, you can just make out the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland across the Strait of Belle Isle. Aboriginal Peoples first lived on this stretch of land thousands of years ago. During the 16th century, Basque and French fleets fished and hunted whales off this point. In the 1760s, fishermen from Newfoundland and the Channel Islands frequented Long Point every summer.

As early as the 1820s, the abundance seals and salmon drew settlers from Newfoundland, Quebec City, the south shore of the St. Lawrence, and the northeastern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula. In 1907, the village was renamed in honour of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes in France. Although neighbouring villagers gradually began speaking English, Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon has retained its French identity and language. Today, many residents speak both English and French.

• Monseigneur Scheffer Museum: Located in the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church, this museum commemorates the life and work of Bishop Lionel Scheffer in a new exhibit. Mgr Scheffer was largely responsible for building the local hospital and church during the mid-20th century. A collection of photos, videos and artifacts depicts the life of the missionary bishop, and through his eyes, the history of the region from 1946 to 1966.
  
  Call ahead for opening hours.
  Free admission. 
  
  Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Church
  Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, G0G 1W0
  Tel: (418) 461-2000

• Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes shrine: Located up the hill and visible from the village, this wooden statue of the Madonna, carved in France, was erected here in 1916. From there, you will be able to appreciate a wonderful panoramic view of the community and surrounding area.

• Greenly Island: In 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier landed on Greenly Island 3 kilometres (2 miles) south of Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon. Cartier called it Isle des Ouaiseaulx (Island of Birds) after the flocks of Atlantic puffins and razor-billed auks. Together, Greenly Island and nearby Perroquet Island make up the Brador Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary. In April 1928 Greenly Island made headlines when a German Junkers monoplane, the Bremen, made an emergency landing here. The crew was attempting the first trans-Atlantic flight from Europe to North America when they ran into violent weather. You can hire a local boat to see a granite monument commemorating the gallant feat. This island also houses the original lighthouse keepers’ residences.

• Model of the Bremen monoplane: At the airport, you will find a replica of the Bremen, a German Junkers monoplane. The Bremen did a crash-landing on Greenly island in 1928 during the world’s first east-to-west transatlantic flight.
• Archaeology exhibit: A small archaeology exhibit in the airport displays ancient artifacts and interprets the prehistory of the region.
• L’Anse aux Dunes Beach: From this large, sandy beach, you can get a great view of Perroquet Island – home to more than 20,000 puffins. 

Buffeted by sand dunes, it is a great place for building sand castles, enjoying a picnic, watching marine life, or taking a leisurely stroll.  Locals build bonfires on the beach in summer, particularly for Quebec’s national holiday, St-Jean-Baptiste, in late June. 

• Brador Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary: Home to over 20,000 birds, the Brador Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary boasts one of the largest Atlantic Puffin colonies in Quebec. The sanctuary covers two islands: Perroquet Island, which can be easily viewed from Perroquets Island Look-out, and Greenly Island, which is a few kilometres further east and visible from the coast of Blanc-Sablon.

IN SUMMER : Hiking and walking, bird and whale watching, iceberg viewing, boat tours, sea kayaking, berry-picking, salmon fishing, wilderness camping, ATV

• Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Walkway: A statue of the Madonna and shrine to Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes overlooks the village of Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon from the top of a hill. You can climb up to the shrine by taking wooden boardwalks that pass by various interpretation panels.  At the top of the walkway, you will be provided with an exceptional view of the community and nearby Perroquet Island.

IN WINTER : Snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, winter carnival, hockey tournaments

• Auberge Motel Quatre saisons
  2, Beaudoin
  Lourdes de Blanc Sablon (QC)
  G0G 1W0
  Tel : (418) 461-2024
          1 866 472-4766
  Fax : (418) 461-2007
  www.blancsablon.com
• Hôtel Motel Blanc Sablon
  1043 boul. Camille Marcoux
  Lourdes de Blanc Sablon (QC)
  G0G 1W0
  Tel : (418) 461-3222
         1 866 461-9458
  Fax : (418) 461-2908
  www.blancsablon.ca

• Pizza Delight
  Lourdes de Blanc Sablon (QC)
  G0G 1W0
  Tel : (418) 461-2999
  maritaetheridge@hotmail.com

• Boutique du Coin (at Dépanneur Roger Jones)
• Hotel/Motel Blanc-Sablon Gift Store

• Whaler tours
  Transports Anthony Dumas Inc.
  1043 boul. Camille Marcoux
  Lourdes de Blanc Sablon (QC)
  Tel: (418) 461-3222
  Fax: (418) 461-2908

• Taxi Blanc Sablon Inc.
  1186 boul. Camille Marcoux
  Lourdes de Blanc Sablon (QC)
  G0G 1W0
  Tel: (418) 461-2216
  Fax: (418) 461-2226
• Dépanneur Roger Jones Enr.
  Lourdes de Blanc Sablon (QC)
  G0G 1W0 – P.O. Box 268
  Tel: (418) 461-2010
  Fax : (418) 461-2362
  rogerjones@globetrotter.net
• Magasin J.L. Joncas Inc.
  Lourdes de Blanc Sablon (QC)
  G0G 1W0
  Tel: (418) 461-2709
• Poissonnerie Blanc Sablon Inc.
  1183 boul. Camille Marcoux
  Lourdes de Blanc Sablon (QC)
  G0G 1W0 
  Tel: (418) 461-3212
  Fax : (418) 461-2226
• Sports Max (Rent a car, snowmobile, ATV)
  1187 boul. Camille Marcoux
  Lourdes de Blanc Sablon (QC)
  G0G 1W0
  Tel: (418) 461-2777
  Fax: (418) 461-2686
  firecat2002@msn.com

Jacques Cartier Trail, Flavour Route and Best of the Quebec-Labrador Coast