When we think of New France (now Quebec), we think of colonization, white bonnets worn by the filles du Roy, scurvy, loooong winters and gray stone houses – but what we don’t know is that a big chunk of this history is still very well preserved, and much of it is architectural.
For history buffs, those who want to visit Quebec along the St. Lawrence River (by car or bike) or those who just want to enjoy the Quebec summer among the golden wheat, we recommend the Champlain tour…
Champlain
Champlain is one of Quebec’s oldest villages, with a history dating back to 1664. Samuel de Champlain, one of the first colonists to set foot on the land he renamed “New France”, gave his name to the Champlain River, the municipality and then the village.
The village as we know it today was established in 1830, and many of its buildings have been well preserved. The village boasts some 200 buildings of historic interest.
Champlain Church, for example, is famous for its magnificent 17th- and 18th-century paintings. The traditional architecture and well-preserved houses offer a fascinating insight into life in colonial times.
The village also has a dedicated heritage trail!
The Chemin du Roy and the Route Verte
The village of Champlain is located on the Chemin du Roy, a 280km tourist route that follows the St. Lawrence River between Repentigny and Quebec City, passing through the Quebec City, Mauricie and Lanaudière regions.
You can do the route by car or by bike – because Champlain is also one of the stops on the Route Verte (the most beautiful bicycle route in the world, according to National Geographic).
The Route Verte passes through many pretty villages to visit: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Antoinde-de-Tilly, Kamouraska, Batiscan…
Eating and sleeping
Agritourism
Since Champlain is mostly a stopover, we’ve come up with four farm addresses where you can pick your own produce and taste the sun-drenched fruits of summer.
- Au Royaume Bleuets et Fraises, 1260 rue Notre-Dame, Champlain
- Complètement Raisin, 1139 rue Notre-Dame, Champlain
- Ferme Lessard, 635 rue Notre-Dame, Champlain
- Ferme Champlinoise, 1396 rue Notre-Dame, Champlain
Sleep
If you want to spend the night in Champlain, we recommend it;
- Auberge Champêtre Le Music Hall, 104 Boulevard de la Visitation, Champlain
Enjoy your stay in Champlain!