Baie-Saint-Paul, a city nestled on the northern shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, is a place where history, art, and nature converge. With a population of 7,332 as of 2011, this city is the seat of the Charlevoix Regional County Municipality and is situated at the mouth of the Gouffre River.
Baie-Saint-Paul gained prominence in the 1770s when Doctor Philippe-Louis-François Badelard named a disease he was researching the "Baie-Saint-Paul maladie". This illness was the subject of one of the first medical publications in Lower Canada.
In the early 1980s, Baie-Saint-Paul became the birthplace of the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil. The first show using the name Cirque du Soleil was held during "La Fete Foraine de Baie-Saint-Paul" in 1984.
Baie-Saint-Paul is known for its vibrant art scene, with numerous art galleries scattered throughout the city. The city's shops and restaurants also add to its charm, making it a must-visit destination for tourists.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Baie-Saint-Paul had a population of 7,371 living in 3,427 of its 3,782 total private dwellings. This was a 3.1% increase from its 2016 population of 7,146. With a land area of 545.85 km2, it had a population density of 13.5/km2 in 2021.
The majority of the population speaks French as their first language (98.7%), with English as the first language for 0.2% of the population.
Baie-Saint-Paul experiences a humid continental climate with vast seasonal differences. Summers are mild, moderated by its proximity to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. In winter, the climate is influenced by interior Canada, resulting in frequent cold waves.
