Saint-Jean-Port-Joli

The Bourgault brothers, Médard, André and Jean-Julien, began carving in the 1930s and drew others in; by mid-century the village had dozens of carvers and a national reputation, and the tradition continues in workshops along the main road. Subjects run from religious figures and habitant scenes to modern abstract work. The Musée de la mémoire vivante takes an unusual approach: rather than objects, it collects and presents recorded testimony, built on the idea that lived memory is the heritage worth keeping. The church of 1779 holds carved and painted interior work. A sculpture symposium is held each summer.

History

The village takes its name from the seigneury of Port-Joly, established in 1677; the parish was canonically established in 1721, and work on its church, with its unusual architecture and many sculptures, began in 1779. The municipality was created in 1845, became a parish municipality in 1855 and was split in 1857 into St-Jean-Port-Joli and Saint-Aubert, and the wood-carving tradition began in the early 20th century with the Bourgault brothers, Médard, Jean-Julien and André (Wikipedia, Saint-Jean-Port-Joli).

The main sights

• The carving workshops - working studios along the village road.
• The Bourgault legacy - the family that started the tradition in the 1930s.
• The Musée de la mémoire vivante - a museum built on recorded testimony.
• The 1779 church - carved and painted interior fittings.

When to go

June to September for open workshops and the summer sculpture symposium; many studios reduce hours in winter. The village is a stop on the Route 132 drive rather than a destination.

What to expect

Workshops are working studios with irregular hours. The village strings along a highway rather than forming a centre. Much of what is sold is souvenir-grade alongside the serious work.

Nearby

Kamouraska lies northeast; Quebec City is southwest.

Key facts