Historical Walk Along the Richelieu Route

The Chambly Canal National Historic Site offers 20 kilometres of bicycle paths along the banks of the Chambly Canal as far as Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, where you will find panels telling its history.

Still on the banks of the Richelieu River, the Fort Saint-Jean Museum will take you back through 350 years of military history with maps, models, uniforms, weapons and artefacts. You will also have the opportunity to take the tour with a guide.

Continue your visit by taking a step back in time at Fort Chambly National Historic Site of Canada to discover the life of French soldiers during the era of New France. This fort was never attacked except during the conquest of 1760.

Then, discover La Maison amérindienne, the ideal place to learn more about the First Nations peoples through various exhibitions and activities.

Take advantage of the morning for a cultural visit to the Museum of Fine Arts of Mont-Saint-Hilaire to discover the talent and creativity of artists from the region, from Quebec and elsewhere. It is important to know that the Montérégie is the region with the largest number of artists in Quebec. After your visit, fill up on energy at La Cabosse d’or, located in Otterburn Park. This chocolate shop offers a wide range of delicacies: chocolate, biscuits, candies, ice cream and pastries.

In the afternoon, you will take a cultural immersion into the 1800s, at the heart of the revolutionary movement, at the Maison nationale des Patriotes. Costumed guides explain the social, economic and political context of the events of 1837-1838.

A few kilometres away, still along Route 133, is the Saint-Ours Canal. Inaugurated in 1849, it allowed boats to navigate from the river to New York. It’s a great place to take a walk and watch the boats passing by. You can also take the ferry to Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu and discover the history of the old houses located in the heart of this village.

To end your day, you will dive into the immersive universe of Statera – The Fabulous Archipelago, a multimedia experience in three parts: a cruise, an interactive tour and 360-degree projections.

The first visit of your day is to the biophare. This museum institution is dedicated to the Lac-Saint-Pierre Biosphere Reserve. It shows the human, social and cultural activities of the region. Take advantage of the opportunity to take a boat trip and visit the various exhibits.

Your tour will end with the Randonnée nature des îles de Sorel, which is a cruise in the middle of the Lac-Saint-Pierre Biosphere Reserve. This cruise will allow you to discover enchanting landscapes and a variety of fauna and flora.

Before you return, set course for the Laiterie Chalifoux. Chalifoux refers to Riviera cheese curds, a product that is part of Sorel’s heritage. You can enjoy ice cream or yogurt served in a glass jar.