Treat yourself to massages, body treatments, Nordic baths and other sensory delights.
THINGS TO DO
Your Townships adventure starts here.
Spa & Wellness
Treat yourself to massages, body treatments, Nordic baths and other sensory delights.
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Let your imagination run free at galleries, theatres, museums and workshops.
Shopping
Scour our markets, boutiques and other hidden gems to score incredible finds.
Restaurants
All are sure to please even the most discerning of palates. Bon appétit!
Events
Discover our cultural vitality with a wide range of special events.
Skiing
To each mountain its experience! Skiing or snowboarding, you will love hitting the slopes, whichever the ski resort you will vote for!
Snowshoeing
Explore our great outdoor spaces at your own beat. Let yourself be charmed by our landscapes. And breathe!
Cross-country Skiing
Cross-country skiing in the Townships … at your pace and your level!
Fatbike
Discover our numerous trails as you enjoy pedalling on the snow.
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
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.
Lodgings with Spa Options
Plan a stay in an accommodation with a private spa or a treatment center. Relaxation guaranteed!
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.
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.
Restaurants Saveurs Cantons-de-l’Est
These restaurants prioritize local producers and offer dishes made with regional ingredients, providing an authentic experience of the Eastern Township terroir.
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
Snowshoeing, skiing, fatbiking, tube sliding... Without a doubt, all outdoor enthusiasts are sure to find something to do here!
Wellness Experiences and Spas
Let us help you take care of yourself.
Slow Travel
Take the time to take your time in the Townships
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 order your free copies.
Nature, sports and outdoor activities
Published on Jan 13, 2020
We couldn’t wait to get started with this, our first long winter hike, which promised to be quite the challenge with a thermometer showing a frigid - 20 °C on December 19, 2019. But we didn’t mind. Every time we find ourselves inside Mont-Mégantic’s national park, we fall in love with the region’s mountain and forest landscapes all over again!
Our plan? To begin the trek at the Observatoire sector Welcome Centre, and head towards the Franceville sector Welcome Centre by taking a couple of detours to enjoy the most beautiful points of view the park has to offer.
Although the trail was covered with several centimetres of snow, which had fallen a couple of days earlier, and that snowshoes would have been the preferred option, our crampons were still efficient enough. We started our ascent towards Mont Saint-Joseph around noon. Knowing it would take us at least 5 to 6 hours to reach the Ruisseau-de-la-Montagne shelter, we had no time to waste. However, this didn’t stop us from admiring the views when they were worth it, nor to look inside the new shelter atop Mont Saint-Joseph, or to rest and warm up when we arrived at the Col des Trois Sommets shelter.
Once we had reached the summit, we started the long descent on the Traversée trail just before sunset. We were still able to reach the Franceville sector without using our headlamps even though darkness had begun to settle in. When we spotted the Ruisseau-de-la-Montagne shelter at about 13 kilometres from our starting point, we were quite happy to finally be able to warm ourselves inside!
The next morning, we relaxed and enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace. Instead of returning directly to the Welcome Centre, we took advantage of our time here and headed up the Cimes trail to admire the frost-covered trees on top of the Pic de l’Aurore. We finally completed our trek on the second day, early in the afternoon.
Enjoying the view from the ridge on top of Mont Saint-Joseph, with all the freshly fallen snow. It was spectacular!
The shelter, cozy and comforting after a day spent outside in the cold.
We recommend this trek for all intermediate to advanced hiking enthusiasts. The level is somewhat more difficult if, like us, you choose to take the two detours which will add an elevation of about 500 m to the route. However, there’s also a more direct way which eliminates going up any mountain tops. The views are less impressive, but the experience is just as pleasant, and, the route is more accessible for less advanced ramblers.
In the near future, we hope to hike up to the new shelter on top of Mont Saint-Joseph where we can’t wait to stay. We’re planning to do the long crossing of the park from the other direction, to compare the levels of difficulty, and simply for a new challenge. When it comes to taking advantage of the park, the possibilities are endless!
Here are the technical details for this amazing crossing:
Distance: Between 15 km and 21 km, depending on your choice of detours.
Level: Difficult.
Ascension: Between 300 m and 850 m
Possible detours: Mont Mégantic, Mont Saint-Joseph, Mont Victoria, Pic de l’Aurore.
Important! To return to the starting point of the trek, you’ll need a second car or organize your transport with someone who won’t be hiking with you.
Photos : Ian Roberge from 4000 Hikes
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