A limestone monolith emerging from the sea, Rocher Percé, or "Pierced Rock," is both a landmark and an inspiration for legends. A 50-foot-high arch through one end makes it look like a needle pierced the rock, giving the formation its name. One of the legends of Rocher Percé is a love story of a young Frenchman sent to Canada and his fiancée who couldn’t bear to be away from him. He followed his true love to the new world, but as the ship approached its destination, pirates attacked. When the pirate captain laid eyes on her, he immediately fell in love and insisted on marrying her. The brave girl had no intention of marrying anyone but her fiancé, so she made a plan and agreed to marry the pirate captain. When the pirate’s ship approached the shore where her true love was, she bravely threw herself into the sea. A mysterious fog lifted and the pirate ship wrecked on Rocher Percé. Located off the coast in the town of Gaspé, Quebec, you can take a look at Rocher Percé from the coast or up close on a boat tour.
