Canada Guide
Southwest Québec
The lake-dotted countryside of Southwest Québec offers a range of recuperative pleasures for the city-dweller, from relaxing country drives and nosing about historic sites, to cycling and hiking in summer and a plethora of ski hills to choose from come winter.
Just across the river to the northwest of Montréal, along the fertile banks of the St Lawrence, the Basses Laurentides (Lower Laurentians) are dotted with whitewashed farm cottages and manor houses, a monastery and a provincial park that all make an easy day-trip from Montréal.
Extending along the north side of the St Lawrence from the Ottawa River to the Saguenay are the Laurentians – one of the world's oldest ranges – where five hundred million years of erosion have moulded a rippling landscape of undulating hills and valleys. The most accessible stretch lies north of Montréal but, unlike the more historic Basses Laurentides, settlement in the upper Laurentians did not begin until the 1830s, when the construction of the P'tit Train du Nord railway tracks let in the mining and lumber industries. When the decline in both industries left the area in a depression, salvation came in the form of the recreational demands of the growing populace of Montréal. The region is now one of North America's largest ski areas, and the train tracks have been replaced by a terrific cycling trail.
Along the US border to the east of Montréal, the charm of the Cantons-de-l'Est (Eastern Townships) lies in the acres of lush farmlands, vineyards, orchards, maple woods and lakeshore hamlets popular among antique collectors. Like the Laurentians, the region is also a popular getaway for city dwellers in search of active pursuits on the lakes, trails and pistes.
Along the north shore of the St Lawrence, the rather dull drive to Québec City provides access to a couple of worthwhile distractions. The Mauricie valley, home to the province's smallest national park, has a web of waterways and lakes amidst a landscape of mountainous forest. Spanning the mouths of the Rivière Mauricie, Trois-Rivières is a seemingly unprepossessing town unless you detour to its historic centre.
Highlights
1 Mont-Tremblant Eastern Canada's premier ski resort is a great spot year-round for outdoor pursuits.
2 Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac Listen to the Gregorian chants of Benedictine Monks amid spectacular countryside.
3 Orford & North Hatley Indulge yourself at a sumptious country inn and sample the local gourmet fare.
4 En Prison Trois Riviéres' old prison is now its top tourist attraction with guided tours by ex-inmates.