Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
THINGS TO DO
Your Townships adventure starts here.
Sports, Nature & Outdoor Activities
Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Let your imagination run free at galleries, theatres, museums and workshops.
Spa & Wellness
Treat yourself to massages, body treatments, Nordic baths and other sensory delights.
Shopping
Scour our markets, boutiques and other hidden gems to score incredible finds.
Events
Discover our cultural vitality with a wide range of special events.
Cycling
The Townships is a great cycling destination, because it’s designed for pedal power - slow, contemplative, challenging or sporty.
Hiking Trails
Fill your pack with local flavours before setting off to explore the natural beauties that make our region so stunning.
Campgrounds
Abundant amenities in the heart of nature.
Restaurants
All are sure to please even the most discerning of palates. Bon appétit!
Golfing
Tee off in the Townships and get into the swing of things with 9 or 18 holes. Fore!
Where to stay
Lodging options to suit any taste and budget.
Hotels & Country Inns
Stunning locations and outstanding service come together for a bliss-inducing stay.
Bed & Breakfasts
Get up close and personal with life in the Townships.
Off the Beaten Path
Think outside the box with out of the ordinary accommodations.
Cottages & Condos
Custom comfort near the city or in nature.
Campgrounds / RV Rentals
Abundant amenities in the heart of nature.
Vacation Centres
Kick back and relax as a family with all-inclusive vacation options.
Other Types of Lodging
Experience something different by choosing unique lodging.
Destination Spas
The only thing better than a day at the spa? Several days at the spa!
Hikers Welcome
If you, like thousands of visitors annually, plan on hiking in the region, know that your efforts will be rewarded by our world-class hospitality.
Bienvenue Cyclistes
Explore the region on two wheels and stay in one of the many accommodation options bearing the Bienvenue cyclistes icon.
Pet Friendly
Don’t want to leave your four-legged friend behind? Book a stay in some of the region’s many dog-friendly digs and you won’t have to.
The Townships
The Townships possess a rich heritage that you will discover everywhere on its nine territories, in its towns and villages, its Coeurs villageois, etc.
Not to be missed
What is it that draws visitors to the region, year after year? Find out here :
Cœurs villageois
Visit our Cœurs villageois – charming communities that truly characterize the spirit of our region.
Towns and villages
Explore our lively, welcoming towns and villages with their heritage architecture and fascinating histories.
Nine territories to discover
Each territory has a distinct personality and a wealth of hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered!
The Townships at a glance
Here’s a glimpse of the region, a few historical notions, and numbers.
Tourist routes
Hit the road! The region has several tourist routes designed around different themes – heritage, scenic landscapes, wine….
National and regional parks
Four national and two regional parks – an outdoor paradise in the fresh air, each and every one!
Taste the townships
Here, in so many ways, you’ll enjoy all kinds of gastronomical experiences! When you discover our unique products and our highly renowned tables, you’ll love us forever!
Restaurants
Every time you sit down at one of our tables, you’ll experience a truly special moment. Savour it!
Cafés de village
Visit our Cafés de Village and discover each one’s specialties while meeting the most welcoming and friendly people.
Créateurs de Saveurs Products
You can rely on our food producers who put as much love as delicious flavours into everything they plant and produce.
Vineyards
The Route des vins de Brome-Missisquoi, the Route des vins de l’Estrie, and about twenty other vineyards… The Townships region proudly honours its title of being the first wine region of Quebec.
Microbreweries
The region counts more than twenty microbreweries! Just like the people who run them, each one has established their own strong, unique personality and … extremely inviting character!
Cheese Factories & Dairy Producers
goat’s milk… Here you’ll savour rich artisanal cheeses. Some you already know, many others you’ll enjoy discovering.
Public Markets
Purple peppers, fir honey, pineapple tomatoes … besides all the products you love, sometimes you also discover new, amazingly surprising ones!
Pick-your-own
Pick-your-own farm-fresh fruits and vegetables.
Restaurants Complices
These restaurants take to heart working with local producers and to offer dishes that integrate certified Créateurs de saveurs products.
Foodie’s Maps
Brasseurs des Cantons and Têtes fromagères are two gastronomical circuits highlighting our microbreweries and cheese factories.
Gourmet Itineraries
Plan your stay by offering yourself a wealth of flavours. Consult our getaway ideas.
Weekend and Trip Ideas
Discover our activities suggestions, getaway ideas and itineraries in the Townships.
Family Outings
Find loads of ideas for memorable family outings!
Romantic Getaways
Outings, restaurants, spas, weekend ideas… Suggestions for spending some precious moments together.
Outdoor Activities
Hiking, kayaking, beaches, cycling… Without a doubt, all outdoor enthusiasts are sure to find something to do here!
Tourist Routes
Vineyards, mountain peaks, heritage sites… Our designated routes make for the most beautiful road trips!
Itineraries
Whether for two, with your family or with friends, here you will find a ton of suggestions for planning perfect getaways!
Experiences to Try
Our collaborators have tested several different adventures … and have approved!
Coeur villageois
Visit our Cœurs villageois – charming communities that truly characterize the spirit of our region.
Towns and Villages
Explore our lively, welcoming towns and villages with their heritage architecture and fascinating histories.
Guide and Maps
View our guide and maps online or download your free copies.
Nature, sports and outdoor activities
12 Hiking Outings in the Eastern TownshipsNature, sports and outdoor activities
Published on Aug 13, 2018
On the slopes and foot of Mount Brome, the great outdoors reigns with over 100 km of trails running through forests, fields and summits. There’s nothing better than an outdoors marathon – mountain biking, hiking, running and climbing- to discover all the area attractions.
By Simon Diotte
9 A.M. I arrive in the parking of Mount Oak for the first segment of my outdoors marathon: The mountain bike segment. Although I’m barely awake, dozens of mountain bikers are heading off on the trails.
I don’t know what the people in Bromont put in their coffee but they’re highly motivated. They’re so cranked up that they come with their kids. They send them off on the trails like birds throwing their fledglings from the nest.
I thought that in Quebec we overprotected our kids. Well, not here! The presence of these kids doesn’t reassure me. I’m an outdoor type of guy, but I’m still new at mountain biking. I’ve only gone out a few times.
Each time I was pretty scared. Hitting a tree, to then fall on a rock, doesn’t really appeal to me! Today, I’m giving myself another chance. Marie Allaire, from Tourisme Bromont, will be my guide. Although Bromont has numerous trails reserved for experts, Mount Oak, one of the three networks of this municipality with a population of 7,000, is the perfect destination to initiate yourself to the sport. “Here, anybody who can pedal a bike can ride,” she reassures me.
I get on my double-suspension bike, I start out and…WOW! On the hill, the trails are wide and the obstacles are not suicidal. My bike takes the the bumps as if I was Michael Kingbury. On the Fruit Loop trail, which undulates like the devil’s tail, I realize all the fun this sport offers. I can’t wait to come back… with my daughters. “If Mountain biking is a religion in Bromont, then I’m converting!”
After two hours of riding, I need an energy boost. Marie Allaire takes me to Mûre, a new business located at the same address as Satya Yoga, at just 5 minutes from Mount Oak. The owner, Ariane Querry, concocts all kinds of fresh vegetable juices to replenish your system. I swallow a mixture of carrots, oranges, apples and ginger, after which I feel ready to tackle Mount Horizon, the second segment of my marathon.
I get in my car and a few minutes later, I arrive at the start of a trail called the Divine and meet my guide, Félix Bernard of les Amis des sentiers de Bromont. This organization takes care and maintains the enormous municipal trail network shared by mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders. Starting on Missisquoi Road, a 20-minute walk takes us to the belvedere of Mount Horizon with its lovely view overlooking the landscape to the east.
On the picnic table, I share a delicious lunch from the Canaël bakery, a local institution, then I take the time to digest my meal by completing the Cumulus trail loop, which runs through a beautiful, mature forest where a tribe of chipmunks live. An hour of feeling pure Zen after an all-terrain mountain biking experience, really feels good!
The next segment: running along the trail network around Lake Gale. The ultra-marathon runner, Alister Gardner has the mission of setting the pace for me. Originally from Great-Britain, he has already completed two ultramarathons of 160 km. Me: Zero. It doesn’t matter, after my mountain biking experience, I’m scared of nothing!
This athlete regularly spends his time in this well-preserved forest. What makes him the happiest is when he’s able to run up Mount Gale at full speed to reach its top altitude of 358 metres, and run back down to jump in the lake for a swim. And then, he does the whole thing over again. “It feels so wonderful to refresh myself here after such a great effort,” he tells me. As for myself, we agree to go up just once. Following a “granny” beat, but still running, my honour remains intact. With each stride, I admire the charm of these natural surroundings. A true treasure.
My ultimate test: The Backbone, block climbing (bouldering) centre, to climb on 16-foot-high walls without a safety rope! This Bromont Centre, which opened last April is a dream come true for Véronique Marseille, 29 years old and a passionate climber. Persuasive, she convinced her dad, mom, and brother to start this business with her. “It’s super stimulating to see the locals get on board with us with our project,” rejoices the mother of the clan, Andrée. All the little hands have a great time and the adults can both train physically and technically here.
I climb over a few blocks and then suddenly, it’s 5 P.M., mission accomplished! I finished my outdoors marathon and I’m still in one piece! A few minutes later, I’m finally sitting on the terrace of Edgar Hyperlodge, the restaurant and pub of the West Shefford microbrewery, drinking a well-deserved cold glass of beer!
Download the trail map: Sentiersbromont.org
Spa and relaxation
Perfect Revitalizing VenuesNature, sports and outdoor activities
5 Gardens to Visit in the Townships this SummerNature, sports and outdoor activities
Exploring the Eastern Townships at 4 km/h – the Abbey CircuitAll rights reserved © Tourism Eastern Townships 2024, (Quebec, Canada)
Filters
X