Discover the must-sees
Inaugurated in 2009 to welcome a community of Cistercian monks, the Val Notre-Dame Abbey in Saint-Jean-de-Matha stands out for its contemporary architecture designed in harmony with nature.
On site, the gourmet shop offers a selection of local products, while a 15-km network of trails open from spring until the first snowfall invites visitors for contemplative hikes. In winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails allow visitors to explore the forest and admire superb views of the region. The Abbey also offers workshops and guided activities to discover the edible products of the forest, medicinal plants and more.
About an hour from Montreal, the Marie-Reine-des-Cœurs centre in Chertsey offers the perfect setting to reconnect with nature. Its mountain trails invite visitors to take walks where they can discover the rich natural environment and notice details that are worth slowing down for.
Several chapels and a grotto dating back to 1945 line the trail and offer exceptional views of the surrounding landscape. On-site accommodations allow you to stay longer and fully enjoy this unique setting.
Built between 1887 and 1892, the Saint-Charles-Borromée Cathedral in Joliette occupies a prime location near other historic buildings in the city. Its eclectic style and three turrets topped with bell towers give it a remarkable presence in the cityscape. Its interior, inspired by Byzantine architecture, contains several artistic treasures, including 23 murals by Ozias Leduc.
If you walk over to the Musée d’art de Joliette, just a few minutes away, you can purchase a bilingual guide to Leduc’s works in the cathedral at the museum shop, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in this exceptional artistic collection.
In Rawdon, a circuit of churches (website in French only) allows visitors to discover five sites that bear witness to the cultural and spiritual diversity that has shaped the region. These churches located across the municipality each have their own distinctive architectural character. Visitors can scan the QR codes on the interpretive panels with their smartphones to learn more about the history of each building.
Included on this circuit are the city’s oldest church, another whose neo-Gothic style is reminiscent of Methodist temples, and an Orthodox church with Byzantine architecture.
Located in the suburbs of Montreal, the Église de la Purification-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie (Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary) is the third oldest church in the province and a big part of the heritage of Repentigny and Quebec.
Its fieldstone walls, some of which date back to 1723, house an interior of rich works of art, from the high altar by Philippe Liébert to the sanctuary lamp by Laurent Amyot, as well as a troubadour-style Way of the Cross and paintings from the Utrecht school.
In the summer, free guided tours allow visitors to delve deeper into the discovery and immerse themselves in more than 350 years of Repentigny’s history.
Built in 1786 at the request of Scottish lord James Cuthbert to bury his wife and daughter, the Chapelle des Cuthbert (Cuthbert Chapel) is considered Quebec’s first Protestant church. Built by local craftsmen, it stands out for its simple architecture, reminiscent of the houses of the time. In fact, only its bell tower reveals its function as a place of worship.
The chapel—formerly named after Scotland’s patron saint, St. Andrew—evokes the meeting of Scottish traditions and local culture. Today, it remains a discreet but evocative witness to this page of history, accessible from early June to late August.
