Accommodation in the South St. Lawrence Region
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for South St. Lawrence, Quebec.
Quebec is Canada’s largest province, meaning there’s a whole lot to see within the borders of this French-speaking region. This also means that visitors who stick to the province's cities like Montreal, Quebec City and Gatineau are missing out on some of the best parts of Quebec—namely, its culturally-rich small towns and stunning rural landscapes. The South St. Lawrence is one such area where the best bits of rural Quebec come together in a delightful mosaic.
Orientation
The South St. Lawrence region runs south along the mighty St. Lawrence River from the Ontario border right to the Bay of St. Lawrence and New Brunswick to the east. It’s also bordered by the US state of Maine to the south. Whether visitors are touring this region on its own or travelling through on their way to somewhere else, they’re sure to find exactly when they’re looking for—and more.
Montérégie
Located southeast of Montreal, Montérégie is a region characterized by rolling hills dotted with picturesque vineyards and orchards. Montérégie boasts plenty of historical attractions but it’s also known for its rural landscapes that are perfect for exploring on bike. In fact, the region has an impressive 600-km (373-mi) network of bicycle paths. It’s no surprise, then, that campgrounds are popular in this region of Quebec. Over 80 of them are scattered both off and on the beaten path.
That’s not to say that roughing it is the only way to go in Montérégie. A wide range of hotels—ranging from luxurious four-star boutique hotels to budget motels—can be found here, mostly in larger areas like St-Hyacinthe, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and Vaudreuil-Dorion. For those looking for a more personalized experience, rural bed and breakfasts are found in many of smaller villages such as St-Antoine-sur-Richelieu and Boucherville.
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, on the banks of the Richelieu River, is by far the liveliest tourist hub in this part of Québec, and it’s where most people will opt to stay. It offers a number of independent and chain hotels, as well as bed and breakfasts, and a nearby family campground.
Eastern Townships
Arguably one of the most picturesque regions in Quebec, the villages of the Eastern Townships draw in thousands of tourists with their Victorian-style buildings, antique shops, galleries, restaurants and markets. Outside the borders of the villages, rolling hills that are covered with vineyards, orchards and the occasional golf course make way for dazzling lakes and unparalleled vistas.
Given the charm of this region, then, it’s no surprise that holiday resorts, cabins and bed and breakfasts are the way to stay in this part of Quebec. Places like Magog, North Hatley and Granby offer the opportunity to rent your own farmhouse or enjoy breakfast in a Victorian-era home with a local family.
All the comforts of a full-service hotel can be found in the larger communities of Orford, Bromont and the largest city in the Eastern Townships, Sherbrooke. Sherbrooke offers several hotels and motels, as well as bed and breakfasts, and even a hostel for budget travellers.
It’s not just about charming villages here, however. Roughing it is also an option in the Eastern Townships. Nearly 100 campgrounds dot the forested areas between the villages, and there are even tipi rentals in Saint-Romain and yurt rentals in Piopolis.
Centre-du-Québec
North of the Eastern Townships is the more rugged region of Centre-du-Québec, where mighty forests give way to quaint country villages. Centre-du-Québec has a rich cultural heritage that combines influences from Aboriginal, French, Irish and Scottish settlers, but these days it’s known more for outdoor pursuits like ATVing, snowmobiling and golfing.
Drummondville is the largest city in this area and as such is the most popular place for visitors to spend a night or two. Both big name and family-run hotels are available in the area, as well as a selection of bed and breakfasts. The nearby towns of Bécancour and Victoriaville also offer a range of accommodation options, with the most abundant being independent and budget hotels and motels. Additionally, given the rural nature of the area, campgrounds make a popular accommodation choice here, especially in St-François-du-Lac and Princeville.
Chaudière-Appalaches
Heading further east and north along the St. Lawrence will lead visitors to the region of Chaudière-Appalaches, where riverside villages dot the landscape. The Chaudière river valley is a big highlight here, where maple trees and wildlife will delight visitors of all ages. Chaudière-Appalaches is known for being a region rich in artistic talent, with many residents producing one-of-a-kind crafts and artwork that draw in eager shoppers. The tourist hubs of Montmagny, Lévis and St-Georges are the most popular places to stay in this region, which each centre providing a variety of budget hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts.
For a charmingly rural experience, holiday resorts are also available in smaller villages such as St-Luc-de-Bellechasse, St-Anges and Ste-Agathe-de-Lotbinière. As well, campgrounds are provided throughout the region.
Bas-Saint-Laurent
After a travelling east through Quebec for a while, the St. Lawrence River runs into the massive Gulf of St. Lawrence. At the cusp of this transition is the area known as Bas-Saint-Laurent, or Low St. Lawrence. This coastal area is a great place to watch the tides turn and get a glimpse of the sun rising over the ocean landscape.
Visitors come to the region to visit the seaside villages, enjoy a feast of lobster, dip their toes in the chilly waters and take endless photos of the bright white and red lighthouses. Once they arrive, most stay in the towns of Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski in one of the many hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts. But for a more personalized experience, cabins and cottages are available for rent in rural destinations such as Dégelis and Ste-Luce.
Gaspésie
Gaspésie is the most rugged portion of the South St. Lawrence region, jutting out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence with an impressively expansive and craggy coastline. Gaspé—located on the far tip of Gaspésie—and Matane—further inland but still on the coast—are popular places to stay, each offering a decent selection of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts and cabin rentals.
Those who don’t mind roughing it should spend a night under the stars in gorgeous Forillon National Park of Canada, which is literally on the tip of the Canadian mainland. If that’s full, visitors can check out Parc national de la Gaspésie and Parc national de Miguasha (a UNESCO World Heritage site,) both of which also offer world-class adventure and scenery. Dozens of other privately run campgrounds are also available throughout the area.
Orientation
The South St. Lawrence region runs south along the mighty St. Lawrence River from the Ontario border right to the Bay of St. Lawrence and New Brunswick to the east. It’s also bordered by the US state of Maine to the south. Whether visitors are touring this region on its own or travelling through on their way to somewhere else, they’re sure to find exactly when they’re looking for—and more.
Montérégie
Located southeast of Montreal, Montérégie is a region characterized by rolling hills dotted with picturesque vineyards and orchards. Montérégie boasts plenty of historical attractions but it’s also known for its rural landscapes that are perfect for exploring on bike. In fact, the region has an impressive 600-km (373-mi) network of bicycle paths. It’s no surprise, then, that campgrounds are popular in this region of Quebec. Over 80 of them are scattered both off and on the beaten path.
That’s not to say that roughing it is the only way to go in Montérégie. A wide range of hotels—ranging from luxurious four-star boutique hotels to budget motels—can be found here, mostly in larger areas like St-Hyacinthe, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and Vaudreuil-Dorion. For those looking for a more personalized experience, rural bed and breakfasts are found in many of smaller villages such as St-Antoine-sur-Richelieu and Boucherville.
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, on the banks of the Richelieu River, is by far the liveliest tourist hub in this part of Québec, and it’s where most people will opt to stay. It offers a number of independent and chain hotels, as well as bed and breakfasts, and a nearby family campground.
Eastern Townships
Arguably one of the most picturesque regions in Quebec, the villages of the Eastern Townships draw in thousands of tourists with their Victorian-style buildings, antique shops, galleries, restaurants and markets. Outside the borders of the villages, rolling hills that are covered with vineyards, orchards and the occasional golf course make way for dazzling lakes and unparalleled vistas.
Given the charm of this region, then, it’s no surprise that holiday resorts, cabins and bed and breakfasts are the way to stay in this part of Quebec. Places like Magog, North Hatley and Granby offer the opportunity to rent your own farmhouse or enjoy breakfast in a Victorian-era home with a local family.
All the comforts of a full-service hotel can be found in the larger communities of Orford, Bromont and the largest city in the Eastern Townships, Sherbrooke. Sherbrooke offers several hotels and motels, as well as bed and breakfasts, and even a hostel for budget travellers.
It’s not just about charming villages here, however. Roughing it is also an option in the Eastern Townships. Nearly 100 campgrounds dot the forested areas between the villages, and there are even tipi rentals in Saint-Romain and yurt rentals in Piopolis.
Centre-du-Québec
North of the Eastern Townships is the more rugged region of Centre-du-Québec, where mighty forests give way to quaint country villages. Centre-du-Québec has a rich cultural heritage that combines influences from Aboriginal, French, Irish and Scottish settlers, but these days it’s known more for outdoor pursuits like ATVing, snowmobiling and golfing.
Drummondville is the largest city in this area and as such is the most popular place for visitors to spend a night or two. Both big name and family-run hotels are available in the area, as well as a selection of bed and breakfasts. The nearby towns of Bécancour and Victoriaville also offer a range of accommodation options, with the most abundant being independent and budget hotels and motels. Additionally, given the rural nature of the area, campgrounds make a popular accommodation choice here, especially in St-François-du-Lac and Princeville.
Chaudière-Appalaches
Heading further east and north along the St. Lawrence will lead visitors to the region of Chaudière-Appalaches, where riverside villages dot the landscape. The Chaudière river valley is a big highlight here, where maple trees and wildlife will delight visitors of all ages. Chaudière-Appalaches is known for being a region rich in artistic talent, with many residents producing one-of-a-kind crafts and artwork that draw in eager shoppers. The tourist hubs of Montmagny, Lévis and St-Georges are the most popular places to stay in this region, which each centre providing a variety of budget hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts.
For a charmingly rural experience, holiday resorts are also available in smaller villages such as St-Luc-de-Bellechasse, St-Anges and Ste-Agathe-de-Lotbinière. As well, campgrounds are provided throughout the region.
Bas-Saint-Laurent
After a travelling east through Quebec for a while, the St. Lawrence River runs into the massive Gulf of St. Lawrence. At the cusp of this transition is the area known as Bas-Saint-Laurent, or Low St. Lawrence. This coastal area is a great place to watch the tides turn and get a glimpse of the sun rising over the ocean landscape.
Visitors come to the region to visit the seaside villages, enjoy a feast of lobster, dip their toes in the chilly waters and take endless photos of the bright white and red lighthouses. Once they arrive, most stay in the towns of Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski in one of the many hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts. But for a more personalized experience, cabins and cottages are available for rent in rural destinations such as Dégelis and Ste-Luce.
Gaspésie
Gaspésie is the most rugged portion of the South St. Lawrence region, jutting out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence with an impressively expansive and craggy coastline. Gaspé—located on the far tip of Gaspésie—and Matane—further inland but still on the coast—are popular places to stay, each offering a decent selection of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts and cabin rentals.
Those who don’t mind roughing it should spend a night under the stars in gorgeous Forillon National Park of Canada, which is literally on the tip of the Canadian mainland. If that’s full, visitors can check out Parc national de la Gaspésie and Parc national de Miguasha (a UNESCO World Heritage site,) both of which also offer world-class adventure and scenery. Dozens of other privately run campgrounds are also available throughout the area.
Affordable Rooms
Includes Breakfast
