29 August 2024

Eastern Townships and Montérégie | A Flavourful Autumn Excursion

A unique gourmet and sensory getaway, where every place you visit and every product you taste brings you a little closer to the bountiful nature and rich culture of two magnificent regions: Montérégie, which proudly and rightly holds the nickname of “Quebec’s larder”, and the Eastern Townships, a vast territory where nature, culture and terroir offer a thousand and one opportunities for discovery.

Day 1 : Compton and Magog

Drive to Compton and start your gourmet morning at Verger le Gros Pierre. A unique U-pick experience awaits you on site, with 9,000 dwarf apple trees and 21 varieties of apples! Take a tour of the orchard in an accessible cart, and sample apple-based products such as juices, ciders and pies. Enjoy a panoramic view of the Coaticook Valley from the terrace.

Then immerse yourself in the artisanal world of La Fromagerie de la Station, the fruit of four generations of passionate farmers who emphasize the close link between the well-being of their animals, the quality of their organic products and their sustainable approach. Sample local specialties such as Comtomme and Alfred le Fermier. On site, visit the Économusée de la fromagerie fermière, where you can learn more about the cheese-making and farming trades.

Continue your sensory journey at Bleu Lavande, a floral universe with areas that invite you to stroll, enjoy a picnic and relax. In addition to the lavender fields, which even in autumn exude an intoxicating serenity, visit the interpretation center and immerse yourself in an immersive experience signed Moment Factory. The on-site boutique offers a wide range of products based on lavender essential oil.

For your last stop, enjoy a stroll along the shores of Lake Memphremagog or a cruise (subject to seasonal availability) with Escapade Memphrémagog. Three types of gourmet cruises (aperitif or meal) are available.

Or round off your day with a visit to Maison Merry, the home of Magog’s founders and a place of civic memory. Relive the fascinating history of the region through immersive exhibitions on local life and traditions.

Day 2 : Lac-Brome, Cowansville and Dunham

Want to learn all about ducks, from egg to plate? Visit Canards du Lac-Brome. Original tastings are offered every weekend, and a wide range of tried-and-tested recipes are available. Adjacent to the boutique is the Centre d’interprétation du canard.

The Léon Courville Vigneron vineyard is the place to be for epicureans. Facing Brome Lake, the autumn-gilded vines stretch as far as the eye can see. Tastings of refined wines, produced with passion and expertise, whether red, white, rosé, ice or méthode champenoise, are offered by appointment during the week.

« Bon comme du bon pain! (as good as good bread) » You might think that Boulangerie La mie bretonne is the true source of this French saying. Stock up on freshly baked artisan breads, viennoiseries and pastries, as well as a range of delicatessen products, in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. You can also eat in the café gourmand.

Then head to Fumoirs Gosselin in Cowansville. Now run by the Gosselin brothers, the company is the third generation of a Frelighsburg grocer’s grandfather. Discover the secrets of artisanal smoking, with sustainably farmed salmon and pork, smoked slowly over maple wood. A true explosion of flavors that will delight lovers of fine products.

What better way to end your day than with a visit and tasting at Vignoble de l’Orpailleur, a landmark of Quebec’s winegrowing heritage! A pioneer of winegrowing and a mecca for wine tourism in the province, l’Orpailleur has been in operation for over forty years. Right next door to the vineyard, explore the Économusée du vigneron, where traditional techniques and the history of wine production in Quebec are presented.

Day 3 : Lacolle, Hemmingford, Beauharnois, Châteauguay

The escapade continues in Montérégie for gourmands and gourmets. Start your day at Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser, where the founder’s passion for cheese is evident in every product. Mr. Kaiser, a master cheesemaker and pioneer in the creation of Canadian “raclettes”, specializes in the production of washed-rind cheeses according to the traditions of his native Switzerland. Don’t forget to take home a few specialties to prolong the pleasure.

Are you a sausage fan? Then you’re in heaven at Charcuterie Stefan Frick in Lacolle, where you’ll find 77 different kinds! Enter this temple of fine charcuterie, where every product is a culinary work of art. Sausages, terrines and other tasty charcuterie products are sold by Mr. Frick, an exceptional German butcher, and his family.

Next, immerse yourself in the enchanting cider-making world of the Demoy family’s Cidrerie du Minot in Hemmingford. Taste a variety of sparkling, ice and non-alcoholic ciders, from sweet to dry, with subtle, fruity aromas that capture the very essence of autumn. On site, explore the Économusée du cidriculteur to understand cider-making techniques, from apple picking to bottling.

Head to the Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional Park, the ideal place for a final stroll along the water’s edge. Explore the picturesque trails set between the green of the woodlands and the blue of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Day 4 : Saint-Bruno, Chambly, Rougemont, Mont-Saint-Hilaire

Another beautiful autumn day in the Montérégie region takes shape with an excursion to Parc national du Mont-Saint-Bruno. Five lakes, an orchard, a historic mill and dozens of kilometers of trails make this a veritable island of nature in an urban setting.

If the fresh air has whetted your appetite, make a stop at Ferme Guyon, an agrotourism farm featuring a fresh produce market, a boutique selling local products, an educational mini-farm and a butterfly house.

An apple region par excellence, Montérégie abounds in orchards and cider mills. Discover Cidrerie Michel Jodoin, renowned for its handcrafted ciders produced with pride by the fourth generation of an apple-growing family established in Rougemont since 1901. Take part in a guided tour, followed by a tasting of their flagship products, from still to sparkling to ice cider. An experience for curious gourmets!

Or push further into the surrounding hills and stop at Flanc Nord – Verger et Cidrerie on the slopes of Mont Saint-Hilaire. Open to U-pickers for over 30 years, this family-run farm produces not only apples, but also pears, plums, cherries, blueberries and rhubarb. Fresh, tasty products await you.

Finally, a stroll around Mont-Saint-Hilaire is a charming way to round off your getaway with a cultural visit: the Domaine Ozias Leduc, the Maison Paul-Émile Borduas, the Musée des beaux-arts de la ville and the Maison autochtone are all within easy reach.

Lodging suggestions :