Tom Robinson

Eastern Townships & Mauricie

There's so much charm packed into the idyllic stretch of pastoral patchwork between Québec's two metropolises that it's bursting at the borders. Kick back and stay awhile to enjoy the picture-postcard scenery of the Eastern Townships and take in the unique bilingual atmosphere that constant American tourist traffic to this area has fostered. Alternatively, the Mauricie region – from Trois-Rivières north to Lac St Jean and following the flow of the mighty Rivière St-Maurice – has been known to enchant unsuspecting visitors in search of wild, unadulterated natural beauty.

The Trans-Canada Hwy (Hwy 20) cuts a straight path to Québec City from Montréal. The Eastern Townships are nestled between here and the Vermont border, mainly along Hwy 10; Mauricie falls to the north of Hwy 20 along Hwy 40.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Eastern Townships & Mauricie.

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Parc National de la Mauricie
This highly-organized national park covers 550 sq km, straddling northern evergreen forests and the more southerly hardwoods of the St Lawrence River Valley. The low, rounded Laurentian Mountains, which are among the world's oldest, are part of the Canadian Shield, which covers much of the province. Between these hills lie innumerable small lakes and valleys. The most popular winter activity is cross-country skiing (adult/child $9.80/free), with some 85km of groomed trails.
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Abbaye St-Benoît-du-Lac
Sitting on the western shore of Lac Memphrémagog, about 12km south of Magog, this complex is a striking blend of traditional and modern architecture, including a hallway awash in colorful tiles and a lofty church with exposed structural beams and brick walls. If you can, visit at 7:30am, 11am or 5pm, when the monks practice Gregorian chanting, famous throughout Québec. Equally famous are the monks' apple cider and finely made cheeses, available from the abbey's shop.
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Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook
Straddling a lovely forested gorge outside the town of Coaticook, this scenic park is famous for having the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. Visitors come for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding in summer, and snow-tubing and snowshoeing in winter. You can also camp or stay in one of the park’s cabins. The surrounding area boasts some of the Eastern Townships’ prettiest scenery, not to mention some wonderful cheesemakers (get the cheese-route brochure from the Coaticook tourist office).
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Orford Musique
Each summer this renowned music academy, dating back to 1951, hosts the Festival Orford Musique, a celebration of music and art that features more than 60 concerts by international musicians, with performances by guest artists as well as the academy’s own advanced students. Between September and May, the center also hosts occasional lunch and dinner concerts featuring jazz and classical artists.
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Frelighsburg
A few kilometers from the Vermont border, this village makes a pleasant stop along the Eastern Townships Route des Vins (Wine Route). A cluster of stone and wood homes straddles the banks of the brook that runs through town, and the surrounding area is filled with apple orchards. Local eateries specialize in smoked fish and maple products; if you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the famous maple tarts at the old general store-cafe in the center of town.
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Vignoble l’Orpailleur
One of the province’s oldest and best-known wine producers, l'Orpailleur has a terrific little display on the history of alcohol in Québec, as well as captions in the vineyards explaining the grape varieties and how they grow. Tours of the vineyards are offered, and lunch is served at Le Tire-Bouchon, the great little on-site restaurant. The vineyard is a 30 minute drive from Sutton.
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Bishop's University
If you're interested in scholarly pursuits, head 5km south from Sherbrooke (or catch bus 2 or 11) to Lennoxville to see the Anglican Bishop's University, founded in 1843 and modeled after Oxford and Cambridge in England. The campus' architectural highlight is St Mark's Chapel 8:30am to 6pm, from noon Sun) built in 1857, richly decorated with carved pews and stained-glass windows.
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La Domaine Joly de Lotbinière
This stately museum between Trois-Rivières and Québec City was built for Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière (1849–1908), a premier of Québec. This is one of the most impressive manors built during the seignorial period of Québec and has been preserved in its late-19th-century state. The outbuildings and huge cultivated garden are a treat, and the cafe serves lunch and afternoon teas.
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Musée Québécois de Culture Populaire
One of the most interesting stops in the area, this museum's changing exhibits cover the gamut from folk art to pop culture, delving into the social and cultural life of the Québécois. Previous exhibits include a quirky show on the social significance of garage sales, and woodcarvings of birds commonly sighted in the area.