Gaspé, Quebec, a city nestled at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, is a must-visit destination for history buffs and nature lovers alike. Located in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of eastern Quebec, Canada, Gaspé is approximately 650 km northeast of Quebec City and 350 km east of Rimouski. As of the 2021 Canadian Census, Gaspé boasts a population of 15,063.
Gaspé is often referred to as the "Cradle of French America". This title is attributed to the historical event that took place on July 24, 1534, when Jacques Cartier claimed New France (now part of Canada) for François I of France. The name "Gaspé" is believed to originate from the Miꞌkmaq word Gespeg, meaning "Land's end". However, other theories suggest it could be a mutation of the Basque word geizpe or kerizpe, meaning "shelter" or "place of refuge". Another theory proposes it was named after Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real.
Gaspé's history is deeply intertwined with the fishing industry. Following the Treaty of Paris in 1763, British officers and soldiers acquired free land in Gaspé, and by 1784, the city had become a significant commercial fishing centre. Gaspé was incorporated as a village municipality in 1855 and gained city status in 1959.
Gaspé's territory spans 1,440 km2 and includes the communities of Cap-aux-Os, Cap-des-Rosiers, Douglastown, Haldimand, and others. The city borders the sea and the St. Lawrence River for approximately 130 km. French is the primary language of Gaspé's population, with nearly 90% of residents being of French-Canadian origin.
Despite its coastal location, Gaspé experiences a humid continental climate with significant seasonal temperature differences. Summers are warm but relatively short, while winters are cold and long. The highest temperature ever recorded in Gaspé was 36.0 °C on June 27, 2003, and the coldest was −41.7 °C on January 26, 1897.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Gaspé had a population of 15,063 living in 6,780 of its 7,352 total private dwellings. This represented a 3.4% increase from its 2016 population of 14,568.
One of the main attractions in Gaspé is the Cross of Gaspé. Commissioned by the Canadian government in 1934 for the 400th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's arrival, this 32-foot high monolithic granite cross is the largest of its kind in Canada. A replica of the Cross of Gaspé, half the height of the original, stands in the heart of the village of Rivière-à-Pierre.
Gaspé is accessible by automobile or Orléans Express bus service via Quebec Route 132, and the Michel-Pouliot Gaspé Airport. The town is also accessible by Quebec Route 198 that passes through the interior of the peninsula. The Port of Gaspé has a two-sided wharf and is accessible year-round with the occasional help of an icebreaker.
Gaspé is twinned with Puerto Montt, Chile (since 2005) and Saint-Malo, France (since 2009). These partnerships foster cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the cities.
