We are now officially off the Gaspe Peninsula and into the area that is called the Lower St. Lawrence, Bas Saint-Laurentin in French. The St. Lawrence river is so wide here that the opposite shore is only a blue haze. We are still traveling along the shore, though, and water is constantly on our right, although sometimes we travel inland on what, in the US, would be called an interstate highway that seems fairly new.
Some of the land formations are dramatic, as these hills around Bic attest. There is a legend that when the world was created, one angel was responsible for giving out the topography. At the end of the day, he had a lot left over, so he dropped it all on Bic.
The trees are definitely beginning to change color. Unfortunately, all the red and orange maples seemed to be on the driver's side so the passenger, who was taking the pictures, was only able to find this one yellow popular.
Very little of the Gaspe Peninsula is suitable for farming, but now that we are in the St. Lawrence valley area we are seeing lots of farms. What is interesting is that the land still retains the look of the Seigneurial system. Settlement of the colony of New France was organized according to the feudal system which existed in France until the Revolution in 1789. A seigneurie or piece of land was granted to a landowner or seigneur who swore loyalty to the King. He in turn granted part of his land to tenant farmers (habitants) who paid him in various dues - produce and work on his land when required. The seigneur established a mill and a church, and the habitants also paid dues to support the church. The land was granted in long thin strips which started at the river bank so that as many people as possible had access to the water, the major means of transport. All along the drive today we could see the remains of that system.
The fields all ran in strips, north to south.
The farm house and barns were all on the other side of the road, one for each strip of land.
It made for a very interesting pattern on the land.
These fields seem to have more of a dividing line between them.
Lovely, well-kept, farm buildings.
Signs of the approaching winter; a wood pile. Notice the boat in the foreground.
Here's a sign that we see frequently that you almost never see in the US. (fromage=cheese)
We had a little passenger today. I think she is good luck.
Yes, you are right. Fall starts today. Enjoy the colors up there.
ReplyDeleteIt's very interesting to see the formation of the land plots based on the Seigneurial system. I'm learning so much from your travels!
ReplyDeleteJudy S.