Travel back in time to 1760, a period in the Gaspé maritime history that was wilder than the wild west. That summer, an epic power struggle between France and Great Britain finally came to a head. On Gaspé’s south coast, travel deep into the Baie des Chaleurs (Chaleur Bay), where you’ll climb aboard the French warship Le Machault for France’s last stand: The Battle of the Restigouche. The outcome of the battle ultimately shaped the Canadian Maritimes into what they are today. It was a key moment in history, as the battle’s after-effects rippled from Québec to the Caribbean.
However, the story of the battle doesn’t end there. 200 years later, scuba divers in the Restigouche River happened upon one of the key ships lost in the battle. But extracting the wreckage wouldn’t be easy. In one of the most challenging archaeological excavations in modern history, Canadian teams battled strong currents, cold water, and poor visibility from thick, heavy mud as they attempted to bring pieces of the wreck to the surface. You’ll see what they recovered at the Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site.
And that’s not the end of your journey through the fascinating Gaspé maritime history. From the battle site, drive to the summit of nearby Mont Saint Joseph for breathtaking aerial views of Chaleur Bay and the south coast of the Gaspé Peninsula. Your adventure through history ends in the small fishing village of Paspébiac, Québec for a modern-day lesson in the importance of the fishing and seafood industry to the culture, economy, and ultimately the well-being of the entire Gaspé Peninsula.
Released 26 November, 2023