estled in the centre of the first region ofN New France to be colonized, and easily accessible from Montréal and Québec City, the magnificent regions ofLanaudière and Mauricie will show you what lies at the heart of Québec’s distinct character. With this book as your guide, lose yourself in the majestic landscapes of authentic Québec, with its Native roots and proudly preserved French traditions; escape to the serenity offered by close contact with nature; meet the welcoming people of these regions, and be carried away by a unique culture that is never less than inspiring. Escape… Wilderness resorts, Discover… charming inns, cozy Towns, villages, getaways and other historic sites, the land unique accommodations. and its heritage. Lanaudière Mauricie Move… Indulge… Lanaudière & Charming restaurants Wildlife viewing, hiking and and specialty shops horseback riding, exploring the to experience the region’s immense national parks, region’s authentic fishing, dogsledding, hunting. culture and cuisine. & Experience Mauricie and celebrate… Festivals and other events tailored for each season: a village on ice, sugar shacks, ice fishing, fall colours, picking your own fruit. www.ulyssesguides.com Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @UlyssesGuides Extrait de la publication Other publications to travel better in Québec Extrait de la publication Authentic Lanaudière & Mauricie Research and Writing: Julie Brodeur Editor: Pierre Ledoux Translator: John Sweet Graphic Design and Layout: Pascal Biet Cartography: Judy Tan Photo Credits Cover Page: La Mauricie National Park of Canada © Michel Julien, Fall colours © Michel Julien, View of the Oswaldo Macià. Calumny exhibit presented at the Musée d’art de Joliette in 2008 © Musée d’art de Joliette/Photo : Richard- Max Tremblay © Musée d’art de Joliette, Old Trois-Rivières © Mathieu Dupuis, Camping in La Mauricie National Park of Canada © Michel Julien, Local fine cuisine © Michel Julien, Dog sledding © Michel Julien ; pages 1, 2 and 6-7: © Michel Julien ; pages 112 to 115: © Michel Julien. This work was produced under the direction of Claude Morneau. Acknowledgements Julie Brodeur would like to thank Marc Berger, Mélanie Marcouiller (Tourisme Mauricie) and Jason Saunders (Tourisme Lanaudière) for their precious collaboration. Ulysses Travel Guides acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for this project. Ulysses Travel Guides would also like to thank the Government of Québec – Tax credit for book publishing – Administered by SODEC. Note to Readers Write to Us The information contained in this guide was correct at press We value your comments, corrections and suggestions, as time. However, mistakes may slip by, omissions are always they allow us to keep each guide up to date. You can send your possible, establishments may close, etc. The authors and comments to us in writing at the following address; the best publisher hereby disclaim any liability for loss or damage resulting contributions will be rewarded with a free book from Ulysses from omissions or errors. Travel Guides (please indicate which title you would like to receive). Ulysses Travel Guides 4176 St. Denis Street, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2W 2M5, www.ulyssesguides.com, [email protected] Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec and Library and Archives Canada cataloguing in publication Main entry under title: Authentic Québec: Lanaudière and Mauricie Translation of: Le Québec authentique: Lanaudière et Mauricie. Includes index. ISBN 978-2-89464-580-2 1. Lanaudière (Québec) - Guidebooks. 2. Mauricie (Québec) - Guidebooks. 3. Lanaudière (Québec) - Pictorial works. 4. Mauricie (Québec) - Pictorial works. FC2945.L358Q4213 2013 917.14’41045 C2013-940061-3 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including photocopying, without the written permission of the publisher. © March 2013, Ulysses Travel Guides All rights reserved Printed in Canada ISBN 978-2-89464-580-2 (Printed Version) ISBN 978-2-76580-298-3 (Digital PDF Version) Extrait de la publication Contents Discover 9 1 Dynamic Rivers... and People – Larger-than-Life Characters – Native Roots – Religious Heritage – Secrets of the Land Escape 31 2 Outstanding Outfitters – Wilderness Breaks – Unforgettable Accommodations – Charming Inns – Cozy Getaways – Refreshing Stops Move 57 3 Great Adventures – Green Getaways – Turbulent Landscapes Indulge 73 4 Regional Flavours – Charming Bistros Experience 87 5 The Joys of Winter – Sugaring Off Parties – Summer Getaways – Flamboyant Fall Colours 6 Celebrate 103 The Best of Authentic Québec 113 Index 116 List of Addresses 118 Extrait de la publication 0 10 20km Parc régional Lanaudière du Lac-Taureau Réservoir Taureau Réserve faunique Manawan Rouge-Matawin Réserve faunique Saint-Michel- Mastigouche des-Saints Lac Kaiagamac 131 N Saint-Zénon Lac Parc national du des Îles MAURICIE Mont-Tremblant Lac Lavigne Saint-Alexis- des-Monts 131 Mandeville Sainte-Émélie- Saint-Édouard- Saint-Donat de-l'Énergie Saint-Damien Saint- de-Maskinongé Parc régional Lac Didace Lac Maskinongé Ouareau de la Chute-à-Bull 131 Saint-Gabriel- de-Brandon Saint-Côme 348 347 Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci 337 329 Saint-Jean- Saint-Edmond de-Matha Saint-Cléophas Parc régional Saint- de la Forêt Ouareau Sainte-Béatrix Barthélemy Saint-Alphonse- Saint-Félix- Rodriguez 138 de-Valois Saint-Norbert Saint-Viateur Saint-Cuthbert 40 Québec 125 Sainte-Mélanie 347 131 Sainte-Marceline-de-Kildare Entrelacs Notre-Dame- Sainte-Élisabeth de-Lourdes Île Dupas Chertsey Saint-Ambroise- Saint-Ignace- de-Kildare Berthierville 341 Saint-Charles- de-Loyola LAURENTIDES Borromée Rawdon 158 Sainte-Marguerite- 125 341 Joliette The namesdu-Lac-Masson of the towns Sorel-Tracy where attractions, estab­ Saint-Liguori Saint-Thomas 125 346 lishmentsSainte-Agathe- or activities are Crabtree Saint-Paul 40 132 des-Monts Sainte-Julienne 31 described in this guide Saint-Calixte appear in bold. Saint-Alexis- Saint-Jacques-de-Montcalm Lanoraie de-Montcalm 335 30 The coloured dots refer to Saint-Gérard- Saint-Esprit the guide’s various chap­ Majella 131 ters. 343 Saint-Lin– Saint-Roch- Lavaltrie 15 Laurentides de-l'Achigan 339 L'Épiphanie Contrecœur Discover Sainte-Sophie Fleuve Saint-Laurent 125 Saint-Sulpice Escape L'Assomption Montréal 158 La Plaine 138 132 Move 25 337 Le IndulgeSaint-Jérôme Verchères 335 Gardeur Mascouche Experience Repentigny 640 117 MONTÉRÉGIE Celebrate Charlemagne 30 Extrait de la publication Terrebonne 334 Lachenaie ZEC Rivière-aux-Rats Wessonneau Mauricie La Tuque Lac-Édouard Lac-Saint-Jean e La Bostonnais ic r u a M - t n i a S Grande-Anse Réserve faunique du 155 Lac Saint-Maurice e Mékinac r è i v i R ZEC Tawachiche Trois-Rives 155 N Rivière-Mattawin ZEC Chapeau-de-Paille Parc national du Canada de la Mauricie/La Mauricie Sainte-Thècle National Park of Canada Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac 352 153 159 Grandes-Piles Saint-Jean-des-Piles Saint-Adelphe (Shawinigan) Saint-Tite Réserve faunique de Mastigouche 153 Lac des 155 Piles Saint-Stanislas Parc de la Saint-Prosper- de-Champlain Grand-Mère rivière Batiscan 351 (Shawinigan) 159 Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc 352 359 Parc de l’Île-Melville Rivière Shawinigan Saint-Narcisse Sainte-Anne- de-la-Pérade Lac à Saint-Boniface l'Eau Claire 361 Batiscan Shawinigan-Sud (Shawinigan) Rivière Québec Saint-Élie-de-Caxton 350 359 Batiscan 157 Saint-Alexis-des-Monts Saint-Étienne- des-Grès Saint- Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel Champlain 40 Charette Maurice t 349 153 Saint-Louis- en 351 ur de-France -La 55 aint uve S Fle Saint-Paulin 138 155 Cap-de-la- 132 Madeleine Maskinongé 349 153 Saint-Édouard-de-Maskinongé Trois-Rivières Parc des chutes Saint-Sévère de Sainte-Ursule 40 Pont CENTRE- Laviolette Sainte-Ursule Yamachiche Pointe-du-Lac 138 DU-QUÉBEC 348 Nicolet 0 10 20km Louiseville Extrait de laLac publication Saint-Pierre 138 Authentic Québec Authentic Québec—criss­crossed by tumultuous rivers, scattered with pristine lakes, and covered by fertile plains and vast forests—offers first and foremost escape, and the serenity that comes through communing with nature. Its lodges and resorts, easily accessible from the great urban centres of Montréal and Québec City, offer a captivating panorama and an invitation to adventure. Settled in the heart of the first region of New France to be colonized, the term “authentic Québec,” as used in this guide, covers the regions of Lanaudière and Mauricie. Encircled by immense spreads of forest, its towns and villages can boast of an exceptional architectural heritage and popular traditions that are alive and well. Everywhere, the welcome is both warm and heartfelt. 6 To experience the essentials of authentic Québec, and to uncover its hidden treasures, our guide offers, through chapters organized along various themes, a selection of remarkable activities, attractions and sites that will lead you to discover and marvel at this region. Then our “Best of” section lists the most outstanding activities according to your interests and personality, from the hedonist to the adventurer—not to mention the family! Finally, you will find, at the end of this guide, an address section which provides all the practical infor­ mation you need for all the places mentioned in each of the thematic chapters. So go ahead and lose yourself in the majestic landscapes of authentic Québec, with its Native roots, its proudly preserved French traditions and, above all, its unique culture distinguished by an inspiring and energetic spirit. Happy discoveries! Extrait de la publication 7 Extrait de la publication Escape2 See the list of addresses on p. 121 Escape into the wilderness and leave the workaday world behind, to enjoy the unique experience of the pourvoiries (outfitters), an out-of-this-world short break, or an unforgettable stay in a charming inn or a cozy B&B. The important thing is to use each stopover as an opportunity to spoil yourself! We invite you to immerse yourself in the warmth and friendliness of authentic Québec’s hospitality! Extrait de la publication Outstanding 2 Outfitters uberge rental. In the summer, they provide Escape A easy access to a magnificent white CanadAventure sand beach and to the lake, which Located on the shores of Lac offers pleasant bathing.