Les Chenaux Regional County Municipality

Understand

Before the arrival of the French, the region was occupied by the Iroquois First Nation from the St. Lawrence. Although these Indigenous people were sedentary, no village associated with this culture has been found at Les Chenaux. They dispersed around 1580 without leaving a trace, possibly victims of the conflicts between the various Indigenous nations. The region was then frequented by the Algonquins and the Atikameks. The colonization Les Chenaux began in 1664 with the concession of the seigneury of Champlain to Étienne Pézard de La Tousche. It was followed by the Batiscan (1666) and the seigneuries of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade (1667).

Getting there

By car Autoroute A-40, or principal highways Route 138, Route 157, or Route 159.

By bus The MRC des Chenaux transport service runs buses from Trois-Rivières and Shawinigan to Notre-Dame-de-Mont-Carmel, as well as some trips within the MRC.

By plane The nearest airport is in Trois-Rivières.

Getting around

MRC des Chenaux transport service runs sporadic buses on routes:

Sainte-Anne de la Pérade — Sainte-Geneviève de Batiscan — Batiscan — Champlain — Saint-Luc de Vincennes — Trois-Rivières Saint-Narcisse — Saint-Maurice — Our Lady of Mount Carmel — Three Rivers Sainte-Anne de la Pérade — Saint-Maurice — Saint-Stanislas — CLSC Sainte-Geneviève — Le Tremplin Sainte-Geneviève

See

The Domaine seigneurial Sainte-Anne (Manoir Madeleine de Verchères) in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade is a former seigneurial estate presenting the story of three famous people who lived there. The site is decorated with gardens.

Do

The Saint-Prosper Sugar Festival takes place in late April, in Saint-Prosper-de-Champlain, with family activities and lots of sweet food. The Batiscan River Park in Saint-Narcisse, offers zip lines, a Via Ferrata, marked trails for hiking, and camping. The Sacred Circuit is a tourist circuit on the Chemin du Roy to appreciate the religious heritage of three Catholic churches (Champlain, Batiscan and Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade), an old presbytery (Batiscan) and a unique crypt (Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade). (June to August) Batiscan, village in the wind is an annual kite competition in Batiscan. The village of Champlain has laid out two heritage tours that celebrate its architecture and history. La Gabelle Park in Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel allows you to practise sport fishing, or to indulge in walking or hiking, and cross-country skiing trails in winter.

Eat

Visit one of the many cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks) scattered across the region to enjoy a hearty traditional Québécois meal and sample fresh maple syrup products. Early spring, when the maple sap is running, is the best time, but some cabanes à sucre are open year-round.