Quebec is a region of water – you can’t throw a stone without it ricocheting. There are lakes, rivers and the river. At the lake, we do pontoon-soft cream-bronzette. At the river’s edge, we collect shells, oysters and cliffs. And what do you do by the river?
In Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, a short 45-minute drive from Montreal, you can spend the day by the river…
Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu
The village of Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu lies on the banks of the Rivière Richelieu, which rises in Lake Champlain and flows northwards into the St. Lawrence River. In Abenaki, the river is called Masoliantekw.
All around the river, in the Montérégie region, the terrain is flat and the fields stretch as far as the eye can see. This is one of the reasons why the region’s villages are so small, and so well preserved – the land is protected from urbanization and suburbanization because it is dedicated to agricultural use.
The heritage, including stone houses over 150 years old, is very rich, and the gardens are full of flowers – it’s what you’d call a postcard village in France.
Life by the river
Strolling among the reeds and cattails isn’t enough in Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu; here, you don your best little white sailor hat, your yellowest yellow rain boots and take the cable ferry across the old-fashioned river that links Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu to the village opposite, Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu.
The service runs from April to December between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. The crossing costs $5 for cars, $4 for motorcycles and $3 for cyclists and pedestrians.
It’s the height of romance: motorcycling through golden wheat fields and crossing at the end of a summer afternoon to dine on a terrace in the village opposite.
The municipal wharf, Ferdinand-Fecteau, is also perfect for a picnic break or a few hours’ fishing, and you can enjoy an ice cream or a basket of onion rings at the L’Antoinette snack bar.
Cycling through wheat fields
The village of Saint-Antoine sur Richelieu offers two cycling circuits: a heritage circuit to see the most beautiful old stones in the area, and a “two ferries” circuit to see both sides of the river (and lots and lots of golden wheat). You can download them here!
For a heritage walking tour of the village, there’s also a circuit for history nerds , downloadable here!
Agrotourism…
We also recommend a detour (by bicycle or car) to the Camerise sur Richelieu farm, where you can pick your own cherries, a type of Quebec blueberry, between mid-June and mid-July.
To boost our antioxidants and fruit salads when we’re (unfortunately) back in town, we also stop by Couleurs Cassis for pick-your-own blackcurrants in July.
And, when night falls, we can be back in Montreal in less than an hour, our hair full of reeds, our hearts rested, our suitcase full of fruit and, if we’re fishing, our cooler full of fish…
Enjoy your getaway!