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© Village Québécois d'Antan

Centre-du-Québec

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Come enjoy Centre‑du‑Québec’s lovely country villages and views of the St. Lawrence River. In spring, observe the geese on the banks of Lac Saint‑Pierre, and in fall, admire the full spectrum of forest colour as you wind your way through the Appalachian foothills.

Location and access

As its name suggests, the region lies midway between Montréal and Québec City on the south shore of the St. Lawrence. From the north shore, it can be accessed via the Laviolette bridge (Highway 55) in Trois-Rivières.

Raquette © M.Julien, TCDQ
Motoneige © M.Julien, TCDQ
Folk bands © Mondial des Cultures de Drummondville
Mosaicultures at the Parc Marie-Victorin in Kingsey Falls © Parc Marie-Victorin
Picnicking in Bécancour, on the Route des Navigateurs (navigators’ route) © TCDQ/Buzz Productions

The full outdoor experience at the Parc régional de la rivière Gentilly

This regional park is located in the Gentilly backcountry, not far from Bécancour. Through its network of trails, you can explore this pretty corner of forest criss-crossed by two rivers. Winter or summer, it is a delight to young and old alike. In addition to its snowshoeing trails, the park now offers outdoor enthusiasts an enhanced network of fat bike trails. Also new, Hok skiing (a hybrid of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing) has now been added to the regional park’s offering. There’s definitely something for everyone!

Free practice runs of fat biking or Hok skiing are available to anyone who rents a cabin (trail conditions permitting).

Fat biking is also a children’s sport! In fact, 20- and 24-inch fat bikes are available for children aged five or older, while kids aged two to five can ride on pedal-less bikes mounted with skis called balance bikes.

Official tourist guide
Regional tourism website

Over 1,000 km (620 mi.) to discover by bike!

From the banks of the St. Lawrence River to small country roads and even to the Appalachian foothills for the more adventurous, Centre‑du‑Québec is the ideal location for cycling with its bicycle network of over 1,000 km (620 mi.).

Cycling specialists agree that Centre‑du‑Québec stands out for its scenic countryside and, in particular, its wide shoulders, which make it a very safe region for cycling. With fields as far as the eye can see, silos and farm structures that evoke the region’s primary vocation, as well as the gently meandering St. Lawrence River, biking in Centre‑du‑Québec is pure pleasure! 

The Parc linéaire des Bois‑Francs linear park on the Route Verte 1 (green road) was built over an old railway track, and some of the stations were converted into rest areas for cyclists. At Plessisville, you can even climb aboard an old caboose!

Official tourist guide
Regional tourism website

Family excursion to the Centre de la biodiversité du Québec

This biodiversity centre is a fascinating educational tool to raise awareness among young people and adults about the discovery and conservation of Québec’s animal species. Along a path that takes you indoors and outdoors, you’ll interact with various Québec plant and animal species. In the interpretation centre rooms, you can pet a grass snake or the head of a turtle; feel, while blindfolded, different types of vegetation that grow throughout the province from the plains to marshlands; and observe tadpoles, frogs and fish both big and small from the St. Lawrence River.

In the outdoor enclosures, you can watch skunks, otters, raccoons, foxes and white-tailed deer go about their activities. What’s more, the Centre also boasts a 4‑km (2.5 mi.) observation trail spanning eight ecosystems, which are identified on interpretation panels.

A new interactive exhibition takes visitors on a voyage to the depths of the St. Lawrence River. Among the highlights: a wall projection, animated presentation, constantly changing surroundings, tactile floor and more!

Official tourist guide
Regional tourism website

Snow-goose watching

When the snow melts, the flood plains of Lac Saint‑Pierre become an immense, safe rest area for snow geese—not to mention a massive feeding ground! It’s hard to predict exactly when these great white birds will come in for a landing. Some winters, they linger down south a bit longer—after all, nature doesn’t follow a strict schedule. Generally speaking, however, the first geese make their appearance in late March.

The Baie-du-Febvre area is a well-known and ideal observation site in Québec. There is no admission fee or need for heavy-duty boots; the rest areas are just a few hundred metres (a few hundred yards) from Route 132 or Route Janelle. What’s more, the locals understand the importance of preserving this exceptional natural site and developing it sustainably. No wonder the territory has earned UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status. 

Every year from March through May, Lac Saint‑Pierre and the surrounding area welcome half a million migrating snow geese.

Official tourist guide
Regional tourism website
Official tourist guide
Regional tourism website