Saint-Léandre
Covering a 105,2 km2 area, Saint-Léandre offers a unique vantage point of windmills, spread all over its territory. The village’s center is located 18 kilometres away from Matane. Its livelihood depends on agriculture and forest exploitation. The Fairies’ Cave, named in honor of local folklore, is its main attraction, providing hiking trails for families or nature-seeking individuals.
The parish first appears in 1900 and becomes under religious guidance in 1906, before becoming the village it is today in 1912. Its name comes from the namesake Post office founded in 1902, in memory of its first colon, Léandre Bernier.
It is where Claude Picher spends the last twenty years of his life, painting away in his workshop. His paintings portray the Gaspesian Peninsula’s many natural wonders. Born in Quebec City in 1927, he starts to paint at only seven years old. He enrolls in Canada Royal Arts Academy in 1973 and finds a passion in figurative art. Between 1991 and 1995, he gives one hundred paintings to the town of Matane. His art collection titled «Gaspesie’s Color» aims to portray the region through art. His passion leads him to proclaim that he must paint his chosen home in entirety!
Activities: Hiking Trails, Fall, Rock formation, Blueberry Picking, Sociocultural Center, Farmer’s Market, Ice Skating Rink, Park with fruit tree plantation.
Services: Convinience Store, café-library, small woodworking workshop for rent, wood-fired pizza oven for rent.