The town of Baie-Saint-Paul, in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, sparkles with creative inspiration. It’s something you feel even before you pull up to Auberge La Muse.
For a visit to this area, it is important to stay at an inn with an abundance of comfort, style, and imagination.
Inn Location and Highlights
Auberge La Muse fits the bill. Located on the main street, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, it is surrounded by independent shops and restaurants filled with locally made goods. Plus, there’s lots of inviting art galleries.
As you come up to the Auberge La Muse porch, you’ll see hand-carved sculptures of mermaids and marine creatures. They reflect what many people come to Charlevoix for – the St. Lawrence River’s beauty and whale watching.
More than a century old, the inn has 11 guest rooms and suites. Décor is modern and clean with pops of color.
Check-in is at a little counter you’ll see once you are through the front door.
Accommodations come in a variety of categories. All have private bathrooms, a mini fridge, a coffee maker, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, and black-out curtains.
A Regular Room comes with one queen bed, while the Regular Double Room comes with a queen bed and one double bed. The Economy Room is more compact, with one queen bed.
Some Superior Rooms include a sofa bed.
The Superior Foyer Room offers a fireplace to curl up in front of, a couch for lounging, and a therapeutic bathtub for relaxing soaks after a long day.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offer lots of light, if you want it.
Auberge La Muse‘s Outdoor Options
On the second floor, you’ll find a terrace with church steeple views and soft, roomy outdoor furniture.
At the back of the property, near the parking area, is a lush, park-like setting. Here you’ll find Adirondack chairs, a swing seat, trees, and a carpet of grass.
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It’s a great spot for sitting out with a glass of wine in the evening, or a cup of steaming coffee in the morning.
A Variety of Packages Available
There are plenty of promotional packages to choose from. I’d recommend one that includes breakfast. Served on the main floor in a bright, inviting room, it’s a continental-style buffet with fruit, toast, cheese, cured meats, croissants, and cereal.
Along with juice, there’s coffee and tea.
The other packages offered rotate throughout the year. These include the price of your room plus gondola rides, helicopter flights, and whale watching.
One interesting option is the Train Getaway. This includes round-trip train fare from Quebec City to Baie-Saint-Paul with incredible views of the St. Lawrence River along the way.
Creative and Delicious Activity Options Near Auberge La Muse
Baie-Saint-Paul is a year-round destination that brims with activities.
One thing you can do any time of year is explore the art galleries.
Many, such as Gallery Rouge or Art & Style Gallery sell original works that evoke the picturesque landscape. Others such as L’Harmattan Gallery feature pieces that are more abstract.
The area’s creative energy is said to come from an event that occurred 400 million years ago. A meteorite crashed into the Earth, resulting in a 35-mile crater that is known today as the Astroblème de Charlevoix.
Creativity comes in many forms. Restaurants here serve many artisanal Charlevoix products such as honey, wine, and cheese.
A fun spot to try is Buvette Gentile, a tiny eatery that is a quick walk from Auberge La Muse. This is where kitchen magic happens. Sit up at the counter and you’ll see small plates with items such as foraged mushrooms created in front of you.
Also off the main street and close to the hotel is Hydromel Charlevoix. Stop in to taste a variety of meads. You can also purchase other house-made honey products, even honey brandy.
Cheese is one of the main foodstuffs the region is famous for. Do not miss Laiterie Charlevoix where you can pick up cheeses from all the producers in the region.
Giants of the Sea
Whale watchers choose to visit the area between June and October when around 12 species of giant mammals make their way up the St. Lawrence to nosh on the krill and other tidbits that get trapped by the tides.
It’s a two-hour drive up to where the Saguenay River meets the St. Lawrence. This is some of the best whale watching in the world. You can even see them from the shore. Worth the drive.
No matter what time of year you go, or what you decide to do in Charlevoix, Auberge La Muse is a welcoming, warm place to rest up for your next adventure.
Rates are around $160 per night for an Economy Room while the Superior Foyer Room is around $220 per night. Packages are based on per person rates. You can also compare rates at Booking.com or Expedia and make your reservations there if you get a better deal.
Hotel feature by Toronto-based travel writer Maureen Littlejohn. Photos © Maureen Littlejohn. Charlevoix Tourism arranged for her stay as she researched a larger piece. As always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
