Maison Gendreau

Maison Gendreau is a heritage house in the village of Percé, on the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, and it is one of the places that tie Percé’s present to the village to its long fishing and trading past. Percé sits on a bay facing the great limestone mass of Percé Rock, and for centuries its livelihood came from cod. Fishing stations were set up along the shore, and merchant firms, many of them from the Channel Islands, bought the catch, supplied the fishing families and ran the wharves and warehouses. Houses of the period, built of wood and set close to the road, give the village its character, and Maison Gendreau belongs to that group of older homes.

The house is best understood as one stop in the wider story of the village. Percé has laid out a self-paced Historical Walking Tour that covers about thirty-five sites of heritage interest, and it is a good way to see how the community developed. Visitors can follow it at their own speed along the main street and the shore, reading about homes, churches, stores and wharves, and imagining the work that went on in them. Audio-video capsules with old photographs are available on the Tourisme Percé YouTube channel, and a short version of the tour can be had in printed form or as a PDF, so the walk can be planned in advance or done on the spot.

Percé is a place for walking. Rue Principale, the village’s main street, is lined with craft shops, restaurants and small inns, and a stroll from end to end takes only an hour or so. The setting is spectacular, with the sea on one side and the red and grey cliffs of the headland on the other, and the huge bulk of Percé Rock hanging at the end of the beach. Many of the old houses have been turned into guest houses, galleries or cafes, so part of the heritage can be enjoyed from the inside as well.

The Gaspésie region has a strong cultural identity, and the old houses of Percé reflect it. French-speaking fishing families, Anglo-Norman and Channel Islands merchants, and later artists and summer visitors all left their mark on the village. Visitors who like local history will find that the walking route gives context for the buildings and the people who lived in them.

Access to the interior of the house depends on its current use, so it is best to ask the local Tourism Office for the latest information on visiting. The Office can advise on tours, events and opening arrangements. The village is easy to explore without a car, and the walk suits families, history lovers and anyone who enjoys coastal villages. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a jacket for the sea breeze and allow a couple of hours for the full walking route.