Nestled high on the Canadian Shield, in the heart of the Laurentian boreal forest, the SAN embodies the history of a mythical place that has left its mark on the collective imagination. Occupied for millennia by the First Nations, this land of wild escapism, revealed to the world by the railroad in 1888, is made up of tens of thousands of lakes, including majestic Lake Édouard, the birthplace of the Batiscan River. Over 135 years ago, the richness of its fish stocks and the raw beauty of its landscapes gave rise to the continent’s first ecotourism resorts, making this region one of the still little-known hot spots of nature and adventure tourism.
On this peninsula embedded in the boreal immensity, an isolated village sprang up, erected to care for victims of tuberculosis. A veritable little autonomous community grew up around large-scale buildings, meeting all the needs of a modern town of the time. Today, this vibrant past is reborn in SAN, between pristine forests and sparkling rivers: a land of memory where Nordic agriculture, inspired monumental art and living homage to the landscape and the spirit of the place intertwine.
Under billions of stars
History
At a time when tuberculosis was wreaking havoc around the world, thousands of Quebec families saw one of their loved ones sent to the Lac Édouard sanatorium. At that time, the answer to illness was isolation in the heart of nature, in establishments designed as true therapeutic refuges, far from the hustle and bustle of cities. The Lac Édouard sanatorium, at once austere in its mission and refined in its layout, evoked for many a veritable forest resort, where comfort and fresh air were combined in the midst of a world turned upside down.
Behind its walls, a singular life was organized, made up of camaraderie, mutual support and deep bonds forged between patients. This spirit of solidarity has left a lasting imprint on our memories to this day. Today, the sanatorium village invites us not to relive the past, but to capture its spirit and reconnect with the silent fabric of our shared history.
Nature
SAN sits on an unspoilt peninsula, enveloped by the waters of Lac Édouard, Rivière Batiscan and Lac Florenz-Ziegfeld. From its very beginnings, this enchanting site, bathed in wild beauty, was chosen for its resourcing virtues, far from the hustle and bustle of the cities. Today, it is reviving this original spirit by becoming an open-air resort where nature and memory meet.
Glide by canoe along the source of the majestic Batiscan River. Walk in the footsteps of native peoples and coureurs des bois, discovering an unspoiled territory. Fall asleep to the distant song of the loon under a star-spangled sky, and keep an eye out for the endangered Chimney Swift, which has continued to find refuge here for over a century.
Art
The SAN envelops its visitors with a sense of calm and contemplation, nourished by the traces of the past that emerge at every turn. This spirit of the place, still vibrant, is strikingly reflected in the works of art that enliven the site today.
Each year, as part of the Canettes d’épinette festival, some of the country’s most renowned muralists come to create large-scale works inspired by the memory and beauty of the site. The rest of the time, these monumental murals, in constant evolution, offer visitors a unique artistic journey: a true transmission of the SAN’s soul through visual art. To stay here is to immerse yourself in the vision of the artists, to feel the spirit of the place through their eyes, and to discover one of the largest open-air street art museums in the country.
Agriculture
One of Quebec’s most beautiful barns proudly stands guard over the SAN. Built during the First World War to ensure the sanatorial village’s self-sufficiency, it was erected using the best craftsmanship of the time – a solidity that has seen it through the decades.
Completely restored over the past few years, the barn is now the beating heart of a small-scale Nordic farming operation, where the alpine climate is brought to the fore. Visitors discover the flavors of the local terroir, including the legendary SAN strawberry, grown with passion. Not far away, magnificent flower gardens are being reborn, highlighting forgotten ornamental species found in the old beds of the Allée des Soupirs and now restored, in the same spirit that animates the spirit of the place.
