When one thinks of coming to Quebec, one thinks of visiting Montreal, the vibrant metropolis, Quebec, the strikingly beautiful walled city, or Tadoussac, the peaceful harbor where the St-Lawrence’s magnificence is overwhelming. But la Belle Province is full of beautiful cities and villages, all offering stunning landscapes, great food and plenty to do. Here are three of the most underrated cities of Quebec.
Sherbrooke
A two hours drive east from Montreal on a beautiful mountain road will take you to the small city of Sherbrooke. Nicknamed “Queen of the Eastern Townships”, Sherbrooke will first surprise you with its typically Anglo-Saxon architecture, unique in Quebec. Each year, the city welcomes over 40,000 students from all over the province and abroad, making it one of the liveliest, most dynamic cities south of Montreal. Apart from its vitality, Sherbrooke is also quite beautiful: The river Magog goes right through downtown, and there are many parks and green areas all over town.
Rouyn-Noranda
L’Abitibi is an iconic region of Quebec. Miles and miles of wilderness, pristine lakes and dense forests, it gives a taste of what Quebec looked like to its first settlers. Rouyn-Noranda is the heart of this very special region. Located about 650km North-West of Montreal, right in the middle of the forest, Rouyn-Noranda is isolated… but awesome. Abitibi is already famous for the creativity, artistry and uniqueness of its inhabitants. Rouyn-Noranda is the epicenter of that. The 50,000 souls’ city is home to some of the best, edgiest, most inventive and most popular festivals of the province, such as the Festival de musique émergente, the International Cinema Festival of the NorAndBlues festival.
Chibougamau
Perhaps you didn’t know, but the Nord-du-Québec region (literally “North of Quebec”) represents more than 60% of the province’s territory. The weather up there is pretty harsh, hence the lower population density, but it is definitely worth visiting. While planning a trip to the great North of Quebec (Kuujjuaq, Aupaluk, etc.) would take lots of preparation, visiting the community of Chibougamau is a great way to feel like you’re in a new world and to live a great adventure without getting to much out of your way. With its 7,000 habitants, Chibougamau is the largest city in Nord-duQuebec. Surrounded by stunning, untouched landscapes, it is an ideal destination for nature lovers.
Photo Credits
Sherbrooke – Rue Wellington Nord – Wikipedia Public Domain
Fountain on Osisko Lake – Wikipedia Public Domain
Station de ski Mont Chalco – Chibougamau – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Guest Author Bio
Mireille Mayrand-Fiset
Mireille is a travel, music and theater enthusiast. She wrote for the stage and television, and is now working as a freelance blogger for Via Rail, a leading Canadian rail service operator, also providing travelers with suggestions of fun things to do in Montreal.
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