Gatineau

With more than 200,000 inhabitants, Gatineau (municipality) is a city resulting from the amalgamation of the older cities of Gatineau, Hull, Aylmer, Masson-Angers and Buckingham. (The old city names are still used as the sector names of the amalgamated Gatineau.) The majority of hullois and gatinois are francophones; most (but not all) are bilingual.
Hull (population 65000, postal codes J8X, J8Y, telephone +1 819-77...) is the original centre of the city, the most densely-populated (but not most populous) area in the Outaouais region and the closest to Ottawa. On the west bank of the Gatineau River and north of the Ottawa (Outaouais) River, Hull is directly opposite Parliament Hill, lowertown Ottawa and the Byward Market.
Hull was founded 1800 by Philemon Wright as a lumber camp on the Ottawa River and therefore predates Ottawa, although the town's former principal industry of manufacturing matchsticks led to a major fire; little or nothing from the 1800s remains in Hull today. The downtown waterfront was once heavily industrialized by Scott and Eddy, the two main paper makers, and the Ottawa river was used to generate hydroelectric power. The city's largest employer is the federal government with 20,000 civil servants working in Hull and thousands more who commute to Ontario daily.
Aylmer is a small-town suburb directly west of Hull. Gatineau (secteur), the bedroom community for which the amalgamated municipality was named, is to the east of the Gatineau River. Further downriver is Buckingham, a small rural village. Head further afield and one quickly finds open farmland and the occasional maple sugar shack, a seasonal tradition where trees are tapped and sap distilled to produce Québec's famous maple syrup.
Head north from Hull and one quickly arrives in Gatineau Park; the Camp Fortune and Edelweiss ski areas are also north of the city, near Chelsea and Wakefield respectively.

Gatineau is just across the river from Ottawa, which is on the Trans-Canada Highway and offers rail connections to Toronto-Kingston and Montréal. An autoroute connects Gatineau directly to Montréal (A-50).

By bus

;Access by city bus:

• STOVarious local Outaouais buses stop at Parliament Hill and in Ottawa's Byward Market.

• OC TranspoA handful of OC Transpo (Ottawa city bus) routes terminate at government buildings in Hull, most of which are rush hour only. These buses use OC Transpo fare media, including Presto, even when boarding in Gatineau. On weekdays (excluding holidays), OC Transpo bus 15 connects Lyon O-Train Station to Gatineau, Quebec terminating in front of the Canadian Museum of History (stop: Laurier / Élisabeth-Bruyère). OC Transpo bus 85 passes Pimisi O-Train Station and goes to Terrasses de la Chaudière in Gatineau, about 1¼ KM west of the Canadian Museum of History.

;Access by intercity bus:

• Terminus Voyageur de Hull

  phone: +1 819-771-2442
  address: 238, boulevard Saint-Joseph J8Y 3X6
  Limited service is provided from Hull to Montréal; additional intercity services (including hourly runs to Montréal) are available from Ottawa's station.

By plane

• l'Aéroport Exécutif de Gatineau-Ottawa

  phone: +1 819-663-0737
  address: 1717, rue Arthur-Fecteau
  Small airport with Canada Customs, CANPASS facilities, Hertz and Enterprise hire cars, restaurant, Vintage Wings of Canada historical aircraft museum. Limited scheduled Pascan service (daily to Quebec City), otherwise primarily serves general aviation.
• Air connections are also available in Ottawa (YOW) locally and Montréal (200 km distant) (YUL) with direct connections to intercity passenger rail at Montréal-Dorval airport.

• Bike There is an extensive network of bike paths throughout the area as well as in the National parks. Enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty while exercising. Long time advocacy group Bike Ottawa (since 1984) maintains an extensive website with a set of interactive bicycle route maps that rate all bicycle routes through Gatineau and Ottawa on a 1-4 scale, with 1 being child-friendly and 4 being very stressful. They also make available information on infrastructure progress. Contact them also with questions about routes, concerns and popular destinations. Although it is a volunteer-run organisation, they are usually fairly fast in responding. #ottbike is the commonly used hashtag on social media.

• Canadian Museum of History

  phone: +1 819-776-7000
  address: 100 Laurier Street, Hull
  Formerly known as the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau's star attraction and Canada's most-visited museum deserves at least half a day of your time. This museum presents the story of Canada's population beginning with Aboriginal migration across the Bering Strait through European settlement by the Vikings around 1000 CE, and the British and French in the 1500s. The museum has items ranging from full-size Salish totem poles to the recreation of a small prairie town complete with a grain elevator. The museum also includes an exhibit on Canada Post and a separate museum for children.

• Grand Hall, Level 1. The world's largest collection of totem poles, quite an amazing sight when all assembled together.
• Canada Hall, Level 3. A very well done and surprisingly interesting presentation of Canadian history, with countless life-sized walk-through exhibits and recreations of villages, towns and cities at different stages.

Defilé du Père Noël

address: rue Principale, Aylmer

Annual Christmas parade at the end of November.

Domaine de la ferme Moore

phone: +1 819 595-5551

address: 670 boulevard Alexandre-Taché, Hull

A historic working farm with a bistro, in the Hull sector of Gatineau near the Ottawa River.

Library and Archives Canada - Gatineau Preservation Centre

phone: +1 613-996-5115

address: 625 boul. du Carrefour

The Gatineau Preservation Centre of Library and Archives Canada is a place you need to plan to visit: it's nowhere near downtown, the public can enter only in a guided tour, the tour needs to be booked in advance (you can book a tour at the link in this entry), and you need photo ID other than a health card to be admitted even if you have a reservation. But once you're in, you get to see many of Canada's treasures of original manuscripts and related memorabilia. No flash photography is permitted. No pens are permitted (pencils are allowed). The building itself is worth seeing; the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada included it in their 2000 list of the top 500 buildings built in Canada during the last millennium.

• Bar/Billard Le Terminus

  address: 84C Jean-Proulx, Hull and 181 Principale, local FF1, Aylmer=
  The best place in the Ottawa/Gatineau region to play pool.

• Les Olympiques

  phone: +1 819-777-0661
  address: 125 Rue de Carillon
  Experience championship quality junior hockey in an intimate arena. Go for the game but the ambiance is what makes this unique.

• Gatineau Park

  phone: +1 819-827-2020
  address: 125 Rue de Carillon
  Gatineau Park has its own WikiVoyage page; the map pointer here marks the park's southern extension into Gatineau. The outdoor playground for Canada's National Capital Region (Ottawa and Gatineau). It offers amazing possibilities for outdoor recreation, within a 20 minutes drive of either city. This includes: skiing (cross-country and downhill), mountain biking (cross-country and downhill), hiking, canoeing, camping, rock-climbing and bird-watching.

• Casino du Lac-Leamy

  phone: +1 819-772-2100
  address: 1 Boulevard du Casino, Gatineau
  Run by the government of Quebec, the Casino du Lac-Leamy is the largest casino in the Ottawa-Gatineau area.

Festivals

Gatineau shares several activities and festivals with the capital, Ottawa. These include the Ottawa Bluesfest and the Winterlude (Bal de Neige) winter festival. In 2001, les jeux de la Francophonie were hosted jointly by Ottawa and Hull.

• Canadian Ski Marathon

  address: 81 Jean-Proulx, Suite 200, Hull
  Held annually in February. A two-day cross-country ski marathon from Gatineau to Lachute.

• Fête nationale du QuébecQuebec's biggest party of the year starts June 23. Saint-Jean-Baptiste is Québec's patron saint, his feast day is June 24. Events held at various locations. Some events have been used as demonstrations to promote Quebec sovereignty, so be cautious about expressing an opinion on the matter.

• Fête nationale du CanadaJuly 1, events held at various locations including Ottawa's Parliament Hill. Some events have been used as demonstrations to promote Canadian unity, so be cautious about expressing an opinion on the matter.

• Festival d'Humour de GatineauAnnual comedy festival, early July. Events held at various locations.

• Wonders of Sand

  address: Parc du Lac-Beauchamp
  Early July. Sand-sculpting competition.

• Festival Country du Grand Gatineau

  address: 110 rue Georges
  Annual country music festival held in the second week of August. Cost: $10 to $40.

• Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau

  phone: +1 819-243-2330
  Annual hot air balloon festival held in the September long weekend. Cost: $15 to $53.

• Rendez-vous des saveurs de l'Outaouais

  address: 25 Laurier Street
  Annual food festival held in September. Events include cooking classes and wine tasting.

• Miss Chocolat

  phone: +1 819-775-3499
  address: 173 Promenade du Portage, Hull
  Artisan chocolatier, bold flavour combinations, chocolate workshops.

• Papilles Gourmandes

  phone: +1 819-595-2439
  address: 256 boul St-Joseph, Hull
  Regional Quebec products including pâtés and cheeses.

• Pecco's

  phone: +1 819-771-8933
  address: 85 rue du Portage, Hull
  Retailer for bicycles and cross-country skis.

• La Trappe à Fromage de l'Outaouais (Gatineau)

  phone: +1 819 243-6411
  address: 200 rue Bellehumeur, Gatineau
  Cheese and regional food products.

Mid-range

• Le French Quarter

  phone: +1 819 777-1125
  address: 80 Promenade du Portage

• Piz'za-za – restau bar à vin

  phone: +1 819 771-0565
  address: 36 rue Laval
  Great pizzas here. Thin crust, personal size pizzas are served for about $12, there is no option for a larger pizza. Tropical pizza is good, if a bit spicy. If pizza is not your thing the salads are also great. There is lots of parking space in the area and a few pubs within the same block.

• Le Troquet

  phone: +1 819 776-9595
  address: 41 rue Laval
  Bistro

Splurge

Speciality and seasonal

The érablière, cabane à sucre or maple sugar shack is a seasonal tradition across a wide region extending from southeastern Ontario to Québec's Eastern Townships. With rare exception, these are found in the countryside near tiny rural villages. Local maple syrup is produced seasonally; the sap begins to flow early during the spring thaw and is collected for distillation. This places the start of the season at the mercy of the elements, although there is usually fresh syrup to be had in late March or early April - usually before the last of the snow is gone. Maple sugar shacks are typically large rural communal dining halls in which diners fill up on a dietician's nightmare of traditional high-calorie lumberjack food, cost starts around $20/person but varies as some venues offer entertainment, "tire sur neige" (maple toffee on snow) or sled rides. Once the season ends, many of these venues close or are used for other agritourism activity - an open field often becomes a summer campground.

• Cabane à sucre Brazeau

  phone: +1 819-427-5611
  address: 316 Côte St-Charles, Papineauville
  Sugar shack. Enjoy a traditional lumberjack meal in a communal setting. Educational programs available. Products sold on premises.

• Cabane à sucre Chez Ti-Mousse

  phone: +1 819-427-5413
  address: 442 Côte St-Charles, Papineauville
  Sugar shack. Sale of maple products, entertainment and carriage rides. Educational programs available.

Québec has traditionally had less restrictive liquor laws than nearby Ontario: minimum drinking age is 18, beer and wine are available in corner stores and the rules on opening hours for bars are less restrictive. The Promenade du Portage area in the Hull sector city centre is known to attract rowdy, drunken patrons from across the Ottawa River.

• Aux quatre jeudis – Café Bar

  phone: +1 819 771-9557
  address: 44 rue Laval

• Les Brasseurs du Temps

  phone: +1 819 205-4999 ext 1
  address: 170 rue Montcalm
  A brewpub with an impressive selection of high-quality homemade beers, a great patio and good food. Highlights are a "dégustation" (tasting) of their beers, interesting salads and a laid-back atmosphere.

• Où-Quoi! Lounge Urbain

  phone: +1 819 777-6555
  address: 48 rue Laval
  A great little bar to get a drink at and hang out with the locals. Its low-key vibe attracts a steady crowd of regulars. The back room offers some privacy if you're partying VIP style. Quebec law prohibits smoking inside but it is still allowed on the terrace. Treat the bartenders right and they will take very good care of you.

• Le Petit Chicago

  phone: +1 819 483-9843
  address: 50 du Portage, Vieux-Hull
  Large bar with dance floor and a vibrant social scene. Each night has a different theme. Check out the improvisational jazz on Monday nights.

Hotels

• Auberge de La Gare

  phone: +1 819-778-8085
  address: 205 boul. St-Joseph, Hull
  42 rooms with queen-sized beds, including five with a whirlpool and 21 with two beds. Parking and continental breakfast are included.

• Best Western Plus Gatineau-Ottawa

  phone: +1 819 770-8550
  address: 131 rue Laurier
  Waterfront hotel, 133 non-smoking rooms and suites, free Wi-Fi, cardio fitness, indoor pool. Conference centre and on-site catering for 10 to 270 people. Parking $12/day.

• Condo Touristique Au Paradis

  phone: +1 819-243-1680
  address: 863 rue Jacques-Cartier, Pointe-Gatineau
  Short-term apartment for up to 4 persons; large waterfront house with massage therapist office on-site.

• Crowne Plaza Gatineau-Ottawa

  phone: +1 819-778-3880
  address: 2 rue Montcalm, Hull
  Parking $18/day

• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Gatineau - Ottawa

  phone: +1 819 778-0000
  address: 1170 ch. d'Aylmer
  On the Château Cartier Golf Course

• Four Points by Sheraton & Conference Centre Gatineau-Ottawa

  phone: +1 819-778-6111
  address: 35 rue Laurier, Hull

• Hilton Lac-Leamy

  phone: +1 819-790-6444
  address: 3 Boul. du Casino, Hull

• Quality Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 819-568-5252
  address: 111, rue Bellehumeur

• Ramada Plaza Gatineau/Manoir du Casino

  phone: +1 819-777-7538
  address: 75 Rue d'Edmonton, Hull

Bed and breakfast

• Au 55 Taché

  phone: +1 819-772-1454
  address: 55 Boul. Alexandre-Taché, Hull

• La Belle Corbeille

  phone: +1 819-777-4584
  address: 23 boul Saint-Raymond, Hull

• Gîte Fanny et Maxime

  phone: +1 819-777-1960
  address: 31 rue Lessard, Hull

• Le Philémon

  phone: +1 819-776-0769
  address: 47 Dumas, Hull

• La Villa Rivermead

  phone: +1 819-778-8024
  address: 912 chemin d'Aylmer

Campgrounds

• Camping Lamoureux

  phone: +1 819-986-7947
  address: 42 Ch. Neilon, L'Ange-Gardien

Buckingham/L'Ange Gardien

• La Sucrerie Le Palais Gommé

  phone: +1 819-281-9882
  address: 562 ch. Doherty, L'Ange-Gardien
  Maple sugar shack, seasonal.

• Domaine de l'Ange Gardien

  phone: +1 819-281-0299
  address: 1031, rue Pierre-Laporte L’Ange-Gardien
  Campground and maple sugar shack, seasonal.

• Gatineau Park is a 10-minute drive north from downtown Hull, near Chelsea.
• Ottawa, Canada's Capital, is directly across the Ottawa River.
• Wakefield is a small, picturesque, artist village about a 25-minute drive north on highway 5.