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EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES OFF THE FARM

photo There are also many activities and excursions that can be enjoyed off the farm. Guests can visit the region of La Mauricie, renowned for its forest wealth and hydroelectric power potential, and visits to Montreal and Quebec City are also possible.

1. From places of interest in the region…

  • Cité de l'énergie: A theme park, unique in Canada, which offers both a fun and learning experience to visitors of all ages. Constructed on an exceptional site close to the Shawinigan Falls, la Cité de l'énergie is an opportunity to discover the amazing industrial adventure of the city of Shawinigan during the 20th century. Shawinigan was long known as the Niagara of the East and played a very important role in the industrialization of Canada, with numerous innovations in hydroelectricity, aluminum, the paper industry and electrochemistry. La Cité has the second-highest observation deck in Quebec and it organizes interactive exhibits and impressive multimedia shows.

  • Forges du Saint-Maurice: A national historic site that houses the remains of Canada's first iron and steel manufacturer. Created in 1730, this ironworks company was active for 150 years. Take a guided tour and enjoy an exciting experience in an enchanting decor.  

  • La Mauricie National Park: A Canadian natural heritage conservation site, La Mauricie National Park, which is a member of the Parks Canada network, is a must-see for all outdoor enthusiasts. Created in 1970 to protect this part of the Laurentians, it offers a wide variety of activities, including swimming, hiking, rabaska canoe expeditions, traditional canoeing as well as kayaking.

  • Saint-Jean-des-Piles: A charming and picturesque village where the TV series "Les Filles de Caleb" was filmed, it is one of the main entrances to La Mauricie National Park. At the entrance to the village, a promenade and a viewpoint offer a spectacular view of the Saint-Maurice River.

  • Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin: A peaceful oasis, Île Saint-Quentin has a uniquely insular ecosystem, quite rare in Eastern Canada.

  • Parc de l'île Melville: Visitors can take part in the popular family activity of treetop adventures. The young and the young-at-heart will enjoy five different routes where they can learn new skills on suspension bridges, footbridges, nets, Tarzan ropes and a large Tyrolean traverse measuring 106 metres. In total, the park offers visitors 82 aerial challenge bridges.

2. … to cities and villages

  • Montreal: Montreal owes its name to the Mont-Royal, which Jacques Cartier climbed in 1535. With approximately 3.4 million inhabitants, Montreal is the second-largest Francophone city in the world. The city hosted one of the most spectacular universal exhibitions -Expo 67- as well as the 1976 Olympic Games. A city of international festivals, Montreal is a dynamic and modern urban centre. The guided tour of the city includes visits to Old Montreal and the Old Port.   

    • Montreal shopping centres: Les Ailes de la Mode, Promenade de la Cathédrale, Cours Mont-royal, etc. 

    • The La Ronde amusement park: Only minutes from downtown Montreal, La Ronde offers visitors 35 rides.

  • Quebec City: The guided tour of the city included: the Observatoire de la Capitale, Old Quebec, the Parliament, the Plains of Abraham and Montmorency Falls.

  • Shawinigan: The city's name comes from an Algonquin word meaning "portage on the crest". Long nicknamed the City of Light, Shawinigan is one of the main sites in Canada's industrial history. The city has an impressive set of bodies of water, with over five waterfalls on its territory.

The new city of Shawinigan was created on January 1, 2002. It is the result of a merger of seven former municipalities: Shawinigan, Shawinigan-South, Grand-Mère, Saint-Georges-de-Champlain, Lac-à-la-Tortue, Saint-Jean-des-Piles, Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides. Together, these sectors make Shawinigan Quebec's 18th most populated city with a population of 51,958 inhabitants (2006).

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