Mont Royal is covered in slush, unfortunately, and with a little cynicism and a virus caught in a speakeasy whereeveryone is crowded together and coughing in each other’s hair, winter in Montreal can quickly feel long. We want to move, to change, to go to Europe or South America—to the sun, the beach, streets where we can walk in thin-soled shoes.
We understand. And we think that winter is long, but if we look on the bright side,we can spend the end of the season a bit like happy tourists. All we need is a Communauto, a desire to hang out, and a simple itinerary around Lake Memphremagog.
Magog—the lake, the ice, the sea monster
Magog is a fairly typical small town in the Eastern Townships. There’s a main street with cafés and slightly hippie shops, a lakeside promenade, and an air of nostalgia and contentment that’s lacking in the city.
The village is bordered by Lake Memphremagog —and they say it’s so deep that it’s inhabited by a creature that can be seen on foggy mornings…
In winter, it freezes over and becomes a playground for those who enjoy skating, ice fishing, and snowmobiling. For those who like to hang out and breathe in the cold (freezing) country air, take a walk along the snowy shores and warm up around a campfire while watching the mountains turn from white to deep purple in the evening.
@jagpicstagram via @tourismememphremagog
Our itinerary for a day in Magog and the surrounding area
When you arrive in Magog, we recommend taking a stroll down the main street and grabbing a drink at Café Géogène, located at 290 Rue Principale Ouest, Magog.
Afterwards, we suggest getting back in the car and driving to the Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac. The abbey is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Quebec and is home to monks who live according to the rules of Saint Benedict. You can visit the abbey, stop by the shop to pick up some cheese that smells like monastic life, or attend mass. The abbey is located at1 Main Street, Saint-Benoît-du-Lac.
@jagpicstagram via @tourismememphremagog
Afterwards, we return to ice skate on the shores of Lake Memphremagog in Magog as the light fades— the snow is always more beautiful when tinged with pink and blue. TheSentier Glacé is open from 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. and illuminated in the evening, and it is next to Pointe Merry Beach.
And then we head back to Montreal, because we miss the city a little bit after all…
Enjoy your ride!