Grosse Isle sits in the St. Lawrence River east of Québec City, a green island with one of Canada's heaviest immigration stories. From 1832 to 1937 it served as a quarantine station for ships arriving at the port of Québec. In 1847, during the Irish Famine, the station was overwhelmed by sick passengers from the coffin ships.
Today the island is protected as Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site. It is not a casual picnic island; the reason to come is the guided encounter with the quarantine station, the old buildings, the cemetery, and the memorials to the thousands who died here or arrived already broken by the crossing.
The visit works best as a deliberate day trip. Boats run seasonally from Berthier-sur-Mer, and Parks Canada normally opens the site only in the warmer months. Go when you have time to listen to the interpreters and walk the island slowly.