Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Mauricie
A wealth of natural and cultural heritage
From the banks of the St. Lawrence, the Mauricie extends into the heart of the boreal forest, covering 40,000 km2 (15,440 sq. mi.). The King’s Road (Chemin du Roy), Canada’s first carriageway, runs alongside the river as it travels through Trois-Rivières, midway between Montréal and Québec City. The backcountry, a vast forested domain punctuated with lakes and rivers, is a veritable outdoor paradise. Long the realm of the lumberjack and the log driver, the Mauricie has also developed a successful hydroelectric industry. With its colourful antecedents and immense natural beauty, the region today offers no shortage of contrasting getaways!
Spotlight on history
The heritage tour in Old Trois-Rivières highlights the secular past of this city that was founded in 1634 at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and the St. Lawrence rivers. Another important site, the Forges du Saint-Maurice, preserves the remains of Canada’s first ironworks. The region’s industrial heritage is remarkably displayed in the Cité de l'énergie (city of energy) theme park, located alongside the Chutes de Shawinigan (Shawinigan falls). Religious traditions, in turn, are alive and well—and very well represented—at the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap, an important 17th-century shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary. And, since the Mauricie loves a party, the Saint-Tite Western Festival and Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières are events you won’t want to miss!Fresh air to spare!
Along with the endless expanse of nature, the Mauricie’s 75 outfitters are sure to please hunting and fishing enthusiasts of every stripe. The quality of the local outfitters has, in the past, attracted such eminent outdoorsmen as Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Winston Churchill! Snowmobile and quad buffs, in turn, can enjoy thousands of kilometres of signposted trails. At La Mauricie National Park of Canada, whose terrain covers over 530 km2 (205 sq. mi.), visitors can enjoy some of the region’s most spectacular panoramas, along with an appetizing array of outdoor activities that include hiking, canoeing and kayaking. A number of other parks and two major nature reserves—namely, Mastigouche and Saint-Maurice—form the backdrop to some of the Mauricie’s most breathtaking rivers. Come winter, given the ideal snow conditions offered up by the region, you’ll want to add ice fishing, cross-country skiing and skating to your activity menu—and maybe even see what it’s like to drive a dogsled! The Mauricie: Québec’s true “nature”!
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