TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL | Top 10,000 Places to Visit in Canada
The page created by Natasha Jogezai | Toronto Metropolitan University | Photo by Florance Moreau, Google Maps
Bring your bike on this trip and adventure through the scenic Véloroute Portneuvoise! In one trip down this 89-kilometer-long trail, you can glimpse serene agricultural plains, quaint rural villages, the St. Lawrence River and the Chemin du Roy.
Also accessible through the trail is the regional park of Portneuf, Saint-Alba, Saint Ubalde and Saint-Casimir. With so many sights to see, the trail will satisfy any adventurer!
Photos: https://tourisme.portneuf.com/en/members/veloroute-portneuvoise
Lucky for all nature lovers, the bicycle trail is not the only outdoor attraction Cap Santé has to offer! The park, set on the edge of the Jacques-Cartier River, offers a range of outdoor activities perfect for any type of traveller. For hikers, there’s a scenic interpretive trail; for bird watchers, the site is the ideal location to observe the many bird species living in the area.
If you’re bringing any young adventurers on your trip, the park features a riverside playground for them to enjoy! Other activities available on the site include canoeing, kayaking, aquatic life observation, fishing, and park events.
Photo: Google Maps, Paul Martel,
A newly opened stopover in Cap Santé, L’Escale du Roy is a presbytery turned community hub and is the perfect beginning to any trip to Cap Santé.
Originally built in 1849, the building was acquired by Cap Santé in 2018 and subsequently transformed by architect Thomas Baillargé. The process of transformation engaged all the town citizens, and these consultations led to the creation of L’Escale du Roy.
The first floor is an eatery and a tourist information center. In contrast, the second floor is a display space for local and regional artists to sell works and organize art activities. And if you’re just in the mood to relax, head to the back of the building to access the terrace space, built for visitors to come and enjoy nature.
Photo: https://tourisme.portneuf.com/en/members/lescale-du-roy
Saint-Famille is a large church with 2 square towers, one on each side of the main entrance. Above the entrance, there are three statues representing religious figures. Other than that, the outside is relatively simplistic; however, it has a number of stained glass windows allowing for light and the presentation of religious images.
Nevertheless, there is a massive chandelier situated in the centre of the church to allow for more lighting. On both sides of the stained glass windows, one would see a painting. Naturally, one’s eyes would be drawn to the beautifully intricate altar at the front of the church, and you would see a number of complex paintings as well as several realistic statues.
Photos: Harfang, CC BY-SA 3.0; Google Maps, Mathias Rousseau
July – September
Started in 2021, La Virée Enracinée is a summer food event that brings together local restaurants and producers to promote local food products. The event was created by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as part of their Territories: Biofood Priorities program and comprises eight restaurants and counters.
The 2022 edition saw this increase with eleven counters, including restaurants, microbreweries, and snack bars. Take a break from the large superstores and processed ingredients and experience the happiness of locally grown fresh food!
Photo: https://portneuf.ca/culture-de-saveurs/ou-acheter/la-viree-enracinee-2/
Christmas
Another seasonal experience in Cap Santé is the Marché du Noël d’Antan à Cap Santé, the oldest outdoor Christmas market in Quebec. The market is a temporary village comprising approximately forty festively decorated houses hosting over 70 vendors. The market embraces the Christmas spirit with tree lighting, dancing parties, and craft workshops. The market is the perfect time to visit one of Quebec’s most beautiful and historic villages!
Catch a glimpse into Cap Santé in one place with Parc Joseph-Fillion’s photography exhibit. The exhibit, named Optique Cap-Santé, is open year-round and is composed of living pictures from Cap Santé.
Living pictures are a unique medium that does not capture just one image, but a full moment in time, letting you experience the dynamics of the image yourself. Alongside the exhibit, the park has a picnic area and dining options and is fully accessible.
Photos: Google Maps, Maria do Céu João; Remei Puig
Chemin du Roy, or the King’s Way, was built in XVIII century to link Québec City and Montreal. Work began in 1731, under the supervision of Grand Voyer (senior road surveyor) Eustache Lanouiller de Boisclerc, and was completed in 1737.
On the banks of the St. Lawrence River, you’ll come across three of the prettiest villages in Québec:
