| Percé | |||
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| — Ville (Town) — | |||
| The village and the famous Percé Rock, from nearby Mont-Sainte-Anne. | |||
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Percé
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Quebec | ||
| Region | Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine | ||
| RCM | Le Rocher-Percé | ||
| Settled | 1800s | ||
| Incorporated | 1845 (township) | ||
| Incorporated | January 1, 1971 (town) | ||
| Government[1] | |||
| • Mayor | Bruno Cloutier | ||
| • Federal riding | Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine | ||
| • Prov. riding | Gaspé | ||
| Area[2] | |||
| • Land | 432.39 km2 (166.9 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2006)[2] | |||
| • Total | 3,419 | ||
| • Density | 7.9/km2 (20.5/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC) | ||
| Post code | G0C 2L0 | ||
| Area code(s) | 418, 581 | ||
| Website | ville.perce.qc.ca | ||
Percé is a small village near the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, Canada. As a municipality, it is 432.39 square km in area with a ville status.
Percé, member of the association of Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec, is mainly a tourist location particularly well-known for the attractions of Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island.
In addition to Percé itself, the town's territory also includes the communities of Barachois, Belle-Anse, Bougainville, Bridgeville, Cap-d'Espoir, Cannes-de-Roches, Coin-du-Banc, L'Anse-à-Beaufils, Pointe-Saint-Pierre, Rameau, Saint-George-de-Malbaie, and Val-d'Espoir.
Percé is the seat of the judicial district of Gaspé.[3]
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The area was within the traditional homelands of the Mi'kmaq people, who called the place Sigsôg ("steep rocks" or "crags") and Pelseg ("fishing place"). In 1603, Samuel de Champlain visited the area and named the famous rock Isle Percée ("Pierced Island"). During the 17th century, the place was used primarily as a stop-over for ships travelling to Quebec.[4]
Used as a seasonal fishing centre during the New France era, permanent settlement began in the early 19th century with the arrival of Irish, French Canadian, and Jersey natives. In 1801 the Parish of Saint-Michel-de-Percé was founded.[4] Percé became the most important fishing location on the Gaspé Peninsula after Charles Robin, a native of Jersey, began his fishing establishment. Old buildings of the Charles Robin Company can still be seen there.
In 1842, the geographic township of Percé was formed, and 3 years later, the place was incorporated as a township municipality.[4]
In 1971, Percé was greatly expanded and gained ville (town) status when it amalgamated with these 5 surrounding municipalities (with year of original incorporation):[4]
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Mother tongue:[2]
Population trend:[7]
Percé Rock is a natural rock formation located close to the shore facing the town. It is a natural tourist attraction for its size, color, and unusual door-like hole at one end the rock. It can be seen from any of the belvederes in the area including Mount Joli, Mount Sainte-Anne and Pic de l'Aurore. Tourists can walk up to the hole in the rock at low tide.
Bonaventure Island occupies an area of 4.16 square km facing the town of Percé. It is populated by one of the most important gannet colonies in the world and many other species of birds such as puffins, cormorants and murres also use the island as a home and breeding ground.
Further inland from Percé lies Mount Blanc which has a deep crevasse, as well as many other belvederes that overlook Cannes-de-Roches. Mount Sainte-Anne, with a height of 375 metres, provides views of the sea and, during times of good visibility, Miscou Island in New Brunswick can be seen.
Percé can be accessed via Route 132, coming either from the north or the south, and by Via Rail's Montreal – Gaspé train which stops at the Percé railway station. It is also reachable by air from the nearby Du Rocher-Percé Airport via private or charter aircraft - there is no scheduled air service to this airport.
| Gaspé | ||||
| Mont-Alexandre | Gulf of Saint Lawrence | |||
| Percé | ||||
| Grande-Rivière, Ste-Thérèse | Gulf of Saint Lawrence |
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