The tourist area of the Laurentides

Mountains of pleasure!

Located north of Montreal, the area owes its name to the historian François-Xavier Garneau who named it in 1845. The "Laurentians" place-name reminds us that the mountains lie parallel to the St Lawrence River. The area covers close to 22,000 square kilometers.

Map of the region and sub regions

The Laurentides extend west to east, from the limits of the Outaouais area to the boundaries of the Lanaudière and the Mauricie areas. They are only minutes away from Montreal and Laval. The international airport of Montreal, located in Mirabel, and a significant network of highways serve the area.

Views from Lac des Sables

The Colonization of the Laurentides

Seigniories

The concession of the first land grants dates back to 1673. Then, the governor, Frontenac granted 4 seigniories: Terrebonne, des Mille Iles, Deux-Montagnes, and Argenteuil . The American Loyalists settled on the banks of the Outaouais River as early as 1785. Between 1803 and 1805, the first paper-mill in Canada opened its doors. The Rebellion of the Patriots in 1837 played an important role in Quebec's history.

" King of the North "

A significant name in the history of Quebec is at the origin of the colonization of the Laurentides: the priest Antoine Labelle called the " King of the North ". In 1840, the situation in the seigniories is at its worst. Young people choose to exile in the United States, at this point in time, the priest Labelle goes up the North river by boat to conquer the Pays-d'en-Haut. The north of the Laurentides seems to him like the promised land for its people. One owes him the arrival of P'tit Train du Nord, which from 1909, allowed the intensification of the economic relationships with the Montreal area. He will have founded during its ministry a score of parishes. In 1888, the Prime Minister at the time, Honoré Mercier named him deputy minister of colonization.

Auberge du Lac des Sables

The presence of the First Nations Archaeological excavations at the beach of Oka, made it possible to find traces of an American indian occupation, 4000 years B.C..

The First Nations people, mainly Algonquines, hunted for the survival of their people in the forests of this vast territory. During the 19th century, the American Indian travelled on the rivers of the area for their fur-trading activities.

Water: A source of Work and Leisure. The forestry development started around 1835 and the first sawmills appeared at the end of the 1870's.

Today, the rivers and lakes (more than 4,500) of the area are nature lovers' delights and sports activities are the main attractions.

Nautical activities:

Swimming

Sailboarding

Sailing

Canoeing

Pedalo

Kayaking

Fishing

Sea-dooing

Scuba diving

Rafting

Water slides

Aquatic Park

Cruises

Storm of Activities

Winter Kingdom

During wintertime, the Laurentides cast their magic spell when a pure white blanket of snow covers the landscape. You can practice:

Snowshoeing

Cross country skiing

Alpine skiing

Dogsledding

Ice fishing

Snowmobiling

ATV

Sleeping in a Teepee

A storm of activities awaits you!

Discovering a nation?

The living past

With the turning of a small country road, you will have the surprise to discover an imposing architectural and cultural unit. A covered bridge, an old saw mill, churches which speak to us about yesterday and of its first newcomers. Moreover, there are several museums and interpretation centers for those who wish to look further into their knowledge of the area, the practices and the habits of our ancestors.

The nature quite present

Although the area of the Laurentides is only at a few minutes of Montreal, it nevertheless knew how to keep a close contact with nature. You will find on this territory, ZEC (Controlled Zones of Exploitation) and outfitters, natural reserves such has the faunal reserve Rouge-Matawin and Papineau-Labelle . You will be able to camp in odorous forests and to discover the pleasures of life in full nature a hare with which watches you with the turning of a bush and the song of the birds which wakes you up you in the early morning. The amateurs of golf will be charmed by the beauty of the landscapes and the exceptional quality of the greens.

The country in the city

The food industry is essential in this imposing landscape. Dairy, bovine and market-gardening farms are some examples. At the first signs of spring, everybody gathers to the sugar shacks. Later in season, it will be possible for you to pick juicy strawberries and raspberries. In autumn, the season of apples, the family meets for one day of pleasure to play all around the apple trees and at the end of the day, turned pink cheeks of health, you will come back with a lighter heart.

Varied infrastructures

Arts and culture

The Laurentides has also cultural life that invites you to come to discover their many theatres, entertainment buildings, art galleries and museums.

The creative craftsmen will surprise you by their imagination and their concern of the detail.

Restaurant and lodging

The Laurentides area has a vast network of lodging, which occupies the second place in the province of Quebec for the number of hotel establishments. If you are looking for either a calm and peaceful or multifonctional place with integrated tourist activities, you are insured to find exactly what you want. The area has the necessary installations for conventions. There are many restaurants and obviously all types of cooking are present.