Crystal Sanctuary

A Place of Crystals, Learning and Well-Being

Introduction

Long before opening a mine to visitors, we were students and teachers of yoga and meditation. When we discovered a unique quartz crystal deposit in the mountains of Quebec, we felt called to protect it, learn from it, and share its beauty with others.

Crystal Sanctuary began with a deep fascination with quartz crystals and a desire to better understand our relationship with the natural world. A personal journey quickly evolved into a lifelong mission: fostering personal growth and well-being through crystals.

Today that mission continues. The name Crystal Sanctuary reflects the vision that has guided us from the beginning: a place where crystals and personal growth coexist in harmony.

The Crystal Sanctuary

We see ourselves, not simply as owners of a mineral deposit, but more importantly, as guardians of a remarkable natural site.

Mining has always been carried out slowly, carefully, and on a small scale, with the goal of preserving both the beauty of the environment and the integrity of the crystals themselves. Crystals are collected in the deposit by hand, with no blasting and only minimal use of machinery. For much of the year, the mine naturally fills with water and becomes a peaceful lake surrounded by wildlife.

In this video, you will see how we mine crystals by hand.

A Thirty-Year Journey

Between 1989 and 2019, visitors came from across Canada and around the world to explore the many facets of quartz crystals and experience the unique atmosphere of the site.

During those years, we offered thousands of mine tours, more than 1,300 meditative concerts on crystal instruments, workshops on crystals and well-being, and courses in subjects ranging from sound meditation and crystal tools to Ayurveda and personal development.

By the time we closed the site to public access in 2019, more than 500,000 visitors had walked the trails, visited the store, explored the mine, attended events, and shared in this adventure. We remain deeply grateful to everyone who helped shape the history of Crystal Sanctuary.

Crystals and Sound

Over the years, crystals have inspired not only our many activities but also countless musical creations. Our passion has always been to help people discover a path toward serenity, awareness, and well-being.

In 1994, we discovered quartz crucibles used in industry to grow silicon crystals. A light tap on these pure white vessels revealed clear, musical tones that resonated for an exceptionally long time. We recognized their immense potential, both as musical instruments and as tools for meditation. In the ensuing years, over 13,000 crystal singing bowls were sold and we were invited to give workshops in many countries.

In 1999, Gaudry Normand invented the crystal didgeridoo. This modern instrument, made of fused silica glass, was modelled on the traditional Aboriginal didgeridoo. We produced and sold over 1,000 of these instruments. We also presented numerous workshops at the Crystal Sanctuary and in Europe, where we taught the art of playing this unique instrument.

In 2011, Gaudry invented the crystal harp, which we marketed under the Quartzophone brand name. Between 2011 and 2024, more than 3,500 crystal harps were handcrafted in our workshop and sold internationally. The pure crystal tubes of this instrument produce rich, expressive musical tones with deeply therapeutic qualities.

In 2024, we sold the Quartzophone assets, and all production, sales, and manufacturing expertise was transferred to the new owner.

Crystal Wisdom

One of the themes we shared throughout the years was the idea that human beings can develop a meaningful relationship with crystals, and that crystals are not separate from us.

From the minerals beneath our feet to the stars from which the elements were formed, we are part of a much larger story. More than beautiful objects, crystals remind us of our connection with the Earth, with one another, and with the ongoing evolution of life.

Crystals Available

Although we no longer offer any public activities or receive visitors, we continue to make selected crystals and mineral specimens available.

Orders are arranged on a one-to-one basis via email, and shipped directly to you. We invite you to visit the Crystals page to see photos of the different quartz crystals our mine produces. To order a specimen, please contact us and let us know your criteria (budget, size, type).

Explore the Website

This website contains both current offerings and the archives of the journey that has shaped the Crystal Sanctuary and touched thousands of people over the years.

You will find information about:

The founder–stewards of the Crystal Sanctuary
Quartz crystals: extraordinary representatives of the mineral kingdom
Crystal collecting at our mine: amazing discoveries since 1989
The archives: the activities and products that comprise our legacy.

Our Mission

Throughout the years, our activities took many different forms: a museum, a store, mine tours, workshops, concerts. But the intention remained the same: to inspire learning, self-discovery, and well-being through a deeper connection with crystals, nature, sound, and consciousness.

We have always prioritized the meditative experience through the medium of crystals and cristalline sounds: as a result, over 120,000 people learned to meditate at the Crystal Sanctuary since its inception.

Looking Forward

While much of this website is dedicated to the history of our company and the Crystal Sanctuary has been very quiet over the last few years, we have actually been working on important new projects! Within the coming year, we plan to publish a book and offer online courses based on the teachings of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras. The goal, in accord with our mission, is to bring to light timely and profound knowledge about consciousness, self-discovery and meditation. Stay tuned!

Welcome to this website

Whether you are perusing this website because you are seeking to purchase a special crystal, you are curious about our history, or because you too are passionate about meditation and personal growth, we are honoured to welcome you to these pages!

If you have any questions or wish to order a crystal, we invite you to contact us.

May your visit to this website inspire discovery, reflection, and a deeper appreciation for the remarkable world of crystals.

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Frequently Asked Questions