Outdoor activities
Country routes
New France RouteThe New France Route
Splendours surrounding Québec City
The New France Route (Route de la Nouvelle-France), some 50 km (30 mi.) in length, is an absolute jewel. Imagine it: ancestral homes all along this historic roadway lend it a unique cachet. As a backdrop: the Laurentian mountain chain and its imposing Mont Sainte-Anne; wide open views of the St. Lawrence and Île d'Orléans, known for its bucolic charm and pretty villages; nearby is Québec City, seated majestically atop Cap Diamant.
Promenades and pilgrimages
From the borough of Beauport, in Québec City, to the Côte-de-Beaupré region, century homes boasting colourful roofs abound. As you travel along Avenue Royale, you'll be treated to a steady stream of heritage houses, buildings and sites. Among other places, you can visit the ornate Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, the oldest pilgrimage site in North America (1658).Must-see natural phenomena!
Among the route's many natural attractions, you have to see Mont-Sainte-Anne, one of the highest ski centres in eastern North America. Along the way, take a break at the Chute Montmorency, a splendid waterfall that you can admire from a cable car, and make a point to see the churning waters of the Canyon Sainte-Anne, which you can cross by way of a suspended bridge. In the spring and fall, don't miss the massive numbers of snow geese that gather in Cap-Tourmente. Lastly, a segment of the New France Route can be travelled by bicycle thanks to the Corridor du Littoral (Route Verte bikeway), a 10-km (6-mi.) riverside stretch running from Québec City to the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency.Your itinerary
The New France Route follows Highway 360 for the most part and links Old Québec City to Cap-Tourmente, northeast of the capital (57 km / 35 mi.).
