And thus was a Masterpiece created - Magazine #5
Discover the 5th anniversary issue of Go Charlevoix printed magazine.
And thus was a
Masterpiece
created...
And who by fire, and the movement of tectonic plates;
Who by water, the oceans having receded,
the rivers having overflowed their banks time and again,
tides eroding the shore and polishing stone;
Who by avalanches, glaciers, freezes and thaws;
Who, and for the love of what muse, is the creator of such a masterpiece?
In the sea of clouds that obscures the horizon when you’re on top of the world, standing on the peak of a Charlevoix mountaintop, you can feel the poetry. And you can see the painterly tint of the sky above the river as it changes, from the day as it dawns to the arrival of twilight. And you can see the sculptor’s hand in the shallows, on the sandbars, revealed as patterns in the clay at low tide.
Where fresh- and salt-water meet, aerial view, La Malbaie, Charlevoix, Qc
Charlevoix as the centrepiece in a collection, a piece of the planet that moves the soul! Artists’ souls, for centuries now, seeing it as a mirror of the deepest human emotions. The souls of the people who live here, inspired every day by the breath of life in it. The souls of travellers passing through, affected as never before by the profound beauty of the place, as enigmatic as the Mona Lisa’s smile, and as vibrant as Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
For this fifth anniversary issue, we’re landscape artists, sketching in situ, recording and reporting just a little, at best, of what the geographic and cultural landscape evokes, in the masterpiece that is Charlevoix.
Savour our new Terroir section, discover our Guide Foodie guide, explore the Things to Do section, meet our celebrities and, above all, let the stunning beauty of Charlevoix carry you away!
WANDERER Above the SEA OF FOG
Or, originally, Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer, painted in 1818: the seminal work by Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich. Is he turning his gaze inward, as Kant’s philosophy might have it, or is he admiring a nature greater than his own, exalted and frightening by its very power? Many thinkers called it “the sublime”: it’s the feeling one gets when connecting with the great outdoors in Charlevoix, as seen here from the top of Mount Élie, perched above that same sea of fog.
FREEZE FRAME
BOREALIA. The forest poetry of black spruce, lichen-covered rocks, the fragile harmony between mushroom and moss. Where the forest floor infuses the wild blueberries with its scent. Where golden leaves get swept away on the wind. An entire language beyond the climate; a mother tongue that speaks to our nothernness in ways only that very northernness can understand. With its provincial parks, its alpine plateaus, its boreal forests, and its wetlands, the Charlevoix biosphere region contains a wide range of fauna and flora that must be protected. Because our hearts beat as one with the forest’s own. Because our own inner fog lifts when we enter that forest. Because our breathing synchronizes with the big trees as they purify our oxygen. Because this is our gateway to this land, and because we are fully interconnected with its ecosystems.
Much more than just another region of the province, Charlevoix benefits from THE RICHNESS that the COMMUNITY, and the soil, has to offer!
Charlevoix, my home for 22 years now! And the birthplace of my sweetheart, and my daughters, who grew up here and who are flourishing in this incredible natural setting. I’ve discovered breathtaking landscapes here, not far from an inspiring river and inspiring mountain summits.
The idea of living here, feeling like I’m on vacation, is no utopian ideal: it’s real. Downhill skiing at sunrise, and then… Off to work! Leaving work earlier than usual, going for a paddle on the St. Lawrence estuary before heading off to dinner at a local spot, watching a shimmering moonrise, dancing with the crowd in front of a festival stage, and breathing in the salt air: That’s what Charlevoix is!
My friends and colleagues in the city have a hard time believing that work and other opportunities here have never been better! It’s an ideal place in which to build one’s dreams and more ambitious projects… and in which to celebrate one’s 50th birthday!
In parallel with this phase of life, our magazine, all dressed up in its best and brightest, reflects the art of living that drives us and, with this issue, celebrates its 5th year! An issue that speaks to the power of the engagement between those who love the region and this unique place to live! Every page, every smile, every connection made with another individual, is witness to the strength of our common bond. An invitation to consider the passage of time, and the intrinsic beauty of gatherings between people.
At its core, this celebration is a tribute to the beauty of connection, and to the magic of interaction.
With an incredible team, we have founded an original and vibrant creative agency! We try, every day, to highlight Charlevoix people and attractions, witnesses to the diversity of gazes and experiences that shape a living masterpiece! Safe travels, in this lush environment!
