Trois-Rivières

The Saint-Maurice River

The Saint-Maurice river, with its watershed with a length of 587 km, is the main river of the Mauricie administrative region. The waters of four rivers bathe his magnificent Laurentian plain. St. Anne, Batiscan, Du Loup river and Maskinongé river are also important for economic and recreational tourism development in the region. Lake Saint Pierre has been part, since November 2000, of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO. Lake Saint Pierre is the only example of sustainable development, recognized by the United Nations, have a way of world-class navigation, crossing from one end to the other's territory.

History

It was founded in 1634, but the city occupies a location known to the French since 1535 when Jacques Cartier, in a trip along the St. Lawrence, stopped to plant a cross on Saint-Quentin island. But the Three Rivers name was used for the first time in 1599 by Sieur François Gravé Du Pont, a geographer working with explorer Samuel de Champlain, who confirmed the name in 1603. Sieur Gravé Du Pont as he sailed river towards Montreal, saw little intervals a first tributary of the river, a strip of land, a second tributary, another strip of land, and finally a third tributary it took even to a different river. He did not know then that two large islands divide the course of the Saint-Maurice River in three parts where the latter flows into the St. Lawrence river. The name Trois-Rivières has stayed through the years and the city was incorporated in 1857. Location of a major fur trade during the first 25 years of its existence, Trois-Rivières remained the cradle of many "travellers", explorers and trappers, the most famous of which were Nicolet, Hertel, Godefroy, Radisson, des Groseilliers, Boucher and Lavérendrye.

By car

Autoroute 40 between Quebec and Montreal passes through Trois-Rivières.

By bus

An Orléans Express bus travels to Trois-Rivières about every two hours from the central bus stations in Montreal and Quebec. Cost for students is $45.32 for a round trip. Cost for adults is $53.28 for a round trip.

By plane

• Trois-RivièresPrivate aircraft only.

• The Société de transport de Trois-Rivières (STTR)The local public transit system operates 14 regular routes during the day and 6 during the evening. Some routes do not operate on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

• Old Trois-Rivières

• Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada

  phone: +1 819-378-5116
  address: 10 000, boulevard des Forges
  Archaeological site of the first site of the steel industry and the first industrial town in Canada

• Québec Museum of Popular Culture

  phone: +1 819-372-0406
  address: 200, rue Laviolette
  The museum presents six bold and unusual exhibitions, all in a distinctly Québécois style. Visitors can also look behind the scenes as the museum opens up its storage area to reveal part of its rich ethnological collection - an innovation in Québec.

• Old Prison of Trois-Rivières

  phone: +1 819-372-0406
  address: 200, rue Laviolette
  The Old Prison of Trois-Rivières, classified as an historical monument, offer the visit-experience "Go to Jail!", where ex-inmates lead visitors on a tour that provides a real glimpse into prison life. This prison was in operation from 1822 to 1986, and closed its doors due to the unhealthy conditions. The tour of cells and places of solitary confinement is a true eye-opener! You can start the tour with a prison card that includes your photograph and fingerprints. Groups can serve a one-night sentence, upon reservation.

• Manoir Boucher de Niverville

  phone: +1 819-372-4531
  address: 168, rue Bonaventure
  Exhibit shows the different aspects of life in New France: political, social events, manners and customs, to discover the life of the ancestors.

• Moulin seigneurial de Tonnancour

  phone: +1 819-377-1396
  address: 11930, Rue Notre-Dame Ouest
  Historical site of the flour mill of the 18th century and the sawmill, both operated by hydraulic force and whose mechanisms are still functional. Art exhibitions are presented in the art gallery of the house of the miller.

• Borealis, paper industry's history center

  phone: +1 819-372-4633
  address: 200, avenue des Draveurs
  Museum on the history of the pulp and paper industry in Quebec. Housed in the old filtration plant of a paper.

• Our Lady of the Cape Shrine

• Musée des Filles de Jésus

• Musée des Ursulines

• Centre d'exposition Raymond-Lasnier

• Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin

• Salle J.-A.-Thompson

Nearby

• Centre de la Biodiversité du Québec

  address: 1800 avenue des Jasmins, Bécancour
  A science museum that educates about and promotes the conservation of Quebec's native species with exhibitions and walking trails.

• Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières​​The largest motor racing event to be held on an urban circuit in the Americas. It has served as a springboard for several major Formula 1 drivers. It stands out for its unlimited public access to the enclosures. The first weekend features FIA Rallycross racing, and the second weekend features NASCAR racing.

• Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine
• Festival International Danse Encore
• Festival International de la Poésie
• FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières
• Rendez-vous des coureurs des bois de Trois-Rivières
• Les délices d’automne

• Centre commercial Les Rivières

  address: 4225 Boulevard des Forges
  140 stores.

• Bistro l'Ancêtre

  phone: +1 819-373-7077
  address: 603 rue des Ursulines
  Oddly enough, this is the only restaurant on Ursulines, tucked away in a suitably old building at the far (east) end, but it draws a local crowd in addition to tourists. The food is more Italian than French, with pizzas and pastas making up most of the menu, but all mains include soup, dessert and coffee and cost only $7-12.

• Binerie Chik

  phone: +1 819-840-6687
  address: 1150, rue Royale
  A classic retro diner, for breakfast or for lunch.

• Le Sacristain

  phone: +1 819-694-1344
  address: 300, rue Bonaventure
  Housed in a former Wesleyan church, Le Sacristain offers grilled sandwiches, soups, salads, stews and homemade desserts.

• Le Poivre Noir

  phone: +1 819-378-5772
  address: 1300 du Fleuve

The main bar strip is located on rue des Forges between the Saint Lawrence River and rue Royale.

• Nord-Ouest Café

  phone: +1 819-693-1151
  address: 1441 rue Notre-Dame

• Archibald Microbrasserie

  phone: +1 819-519-7888
  address: 3965, Rue Bellefeuille
  Brews their own beers, live music, food.

• Hotel Gouverneur Trois-Rivières

  address: 975, rue Hart
  Rates $95 and up. Downtown near the court house. The hotel offers 127 rooms, 77 in regular class and 50 in business class.
• Auberge Godefroy Hotel-Spa-Golf. Becancour. Four-star hotel 10 minutes' drive from downtown Trois-Rivieres. Has a fine restaurant and health center. 17 575 boul. +1-800-361-1620 www.aubergegodefroy.com

• Rodeway Inn Trois-Rivieres

  address: 3600, boul. Gene-H.-Kruger
  All rooms have a satellite TV, coffee maker, fridge, free Wi-Fi. Outdoor swimming pool, a gym, and a bar/lounge.

• La Mauricie National Park - 45 km north