Attractions and Tours

The Aerobic Corridor (“Corridor Aerobique”) is the Laurentians’ second longest linear park. At nearly 60 km in length, it connects Morin Heights in the south to Saint-Rémi-d'Amherst in the north. Like the 200 km “P’tit Train du Nord” trail, which runs roughly parallel, the Aerobic Corridor follows a former railway line, in this case the CN.

By the beginning of the 20th century, there were hundreds of covered bridges all across Quebec. Today the province numbers just over ninety, some built as late as the 1950s. In the Laurentians, there are six covered bridges, all in the Upper Laurentians, and all except one are well north of Mont Tremblant. In the heyday of the covered bridge, most villages had at least one; some had several. They dotted the back roads as well, crossing brooks and rivers of all sizes. Very few, however, have survived the ravages of time.

(Continued from Part 1)

The Vieux Palais de Justice de l’Assomption is the oldest county courthouse in Quebec. Its architecture is inspired by traditional 18th- and 19th-century styles. It comprises the Lebourdais House, built in 1811, the Gamelin-Woolrich House, built in 1822, and a former Hudson’s Bay Company trading post. It was not until 1857 that it became a courthouse. In 1975, the then-abandoned building was classified as a historic monument.

The Expo du Vieux-Moulin beckons you inside to learn about forestry: the lives of loggers in bygone days, the different trades and the techniques used. Take a look at a model of an old sawmill that stood here in the late 19th and 20th centuries. A huge history book tells about the early days of the village of L'Énergie and a magnificent herb garden introduces the plant life you’ll see along the Sentiers de la Matawinie walking trail.

Located in the heart of Rawdon, the Centre d'interprétation multiethnique is proof of the town’s rich local culture: no fewer than 30 different ethnic groups make their home in Rawdon! The Centre‘s exhibition of art and crafts by these cultural communities illustrates the diverse local heritage. Be sure to visit the Centre and discover a famous town that is unique not only in Quebec, but also across Canada.

The mission of the Musée d'art contemporain des Laurentides, located in one of the most prestigious buildings in the Laurentians, is to introduce visitors to the visual arts and to promote and exhibit them, with an emphasis on contemporary and current art. The museum has been accredited since 1986 and is recognized as one of the most dynamic and popular of all Quebec museums. It offers a great variety of activities, from lectures to round-table discussions, meetings, cultural getaways and video evenings.

ST. ANDREWS EAST
The municipality of Saint-André-d’Argenteuil, which includes the former villages of St. Andrews East (Saint- André-Est) and Carillon and the parish of Saint-André-d’Argenteuil, is a wonderful place to spend a day or two. There is so much historic architecture in this area, and amid such a lovely setting, that visitors will have no trouble finding sights to see.

The Légaré Mill, a National Historic Site, is the oldest working water-driven mill in Canada. This old community mill dating from 1762 sits in an enchanting site on the banks of the Chêne River, in the heart of Old Saint-Eustache. The miller still produces wheat and buckwheat flour using time-honoured methods. In the spring, he practises another old tradition, resurfacing the millstones. Visitors can watch him use a pick-hammer to restore the stones’ rough surface.

During the 20s and 30s, down hill skiing was all the rage and the P'tit Train du Nord played a pivotal role in opening up the Laurentians as a resort area. As the automobile arrived on the scene and the area was accessible by super highway, the trains usefulness finished and the rail line eventually shutdown.