Quebec & Charme

Recommended activities for your free day in Montreal: a walking tour of the city’s Old Port, or bike rental to explore the extensive cycling paths and the Formula 1 circuit. You may visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts or the Montreal Botanical Garden and Biodome, or enjoy shopping in the boutique and shopping mall district along St. Catherine Street.

Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts is a lively holiday town in Québec's Laurentides, set on the shores of the picturesque Lac des Sables, in the heart of a beloved mountainous region north of Montreal. Nicknamed the pearl of the Laurentides, it is the area's main town, with a charming centre enlivened by cafés, restaurants and boutiques and a pleasant lakefront from which scenic cruises depart. In summer the lake invites swimming, sailing and watersports, while the surrounding trails offer hikes among wooded hills, spectacular in autumn. In winter the region becomes a skiing paradise. The famous Le P'tit Train du Nord cycle path crosses the town. Between lake, mountains and relaxation, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts embodies the enchantment of the Laurentides.

Ste-Rose-du-Nord nestles on the banks of the Saguenay Fjord in Québec and is considered one of the fjord's gems for its spectacular setting between rocky walls and dark waters. The small village keeps a craft-village feel, with little wooden houses, small galleries and a wharf from which to admire the scenery. A departure point for cruises and kayak excursions, it offers the chance to spot the fjord's wildlife and the landscapes of Saguenay National Park. Ste-Rose-du-Nord is a poetic stop for those travelling between nature and quiet.

Québec City, capital of the eponymous province, is the most European city in North America, the only one north of Mexico to have kept its fortified walls, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set on a promontory above the St Lawrence River, it is dominated by the unmistakable silhouette of the Château Frontenac, a sumptuous hotel towering over Vieux-Québec. The cobbled streets of the old town, divided into Haute-Ville and Basse-Ville, enchant with their stone houses, boutiques, cafés and Francophone atmosphere, especially magical under winter snow. The Petit-Champlain district, among the oldest on the continent, and Place Royale preserve the charm of New France. The Terrasse Dufferin offers scenic walks over the river, while the gastronomy celebrates Québec cuisine. Romantic, historic and uniquely characterful, Québec City is a city to be explored on foot, among fortifications, alleys and old-world atmospheres.

North Hatley is a charming village in Québec's Eastern Townships, set at the northern end of Lake Massawippi in a setting of wooded hills. Loved since the nineteenth century as an elegant resort, it keeps historic villas, charming inns, art galleries and a summer theatre. The lake's waters invite boating, while the surrounding countryside is dotted with vineyards and farms. North Hatley is a refined lakeside retreat in the heart of the Eastern Townships.