Tours
A rich history
The city of Sherbrooke, located at the confluence of the St.-Francis and Magog Rivers in the heart of the Eastern Townships, is set against a backdrop of valleys, hills and plateaus. The Abenaki people called this place Ktineketolekwac, which means ‘Big Forks’. Before the official settlement of the region, the Big Forks area was occupied by Gilbert Hyatt and his associates, who, in 1801, built a flourmill and a sawmill on the Magog River gorge. The generating power of the gorge contributed to the rapid growth of the city, which gets its current name from Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, a British military man who served as lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia as well as Governor General of Canada from 1816 to 1818. In 1850, with the arrival of the railway, Sherbrooke embarked upon a new era of development. |
Walking Tour of the Old North Ward
Centre d’interprétation de l’histoire de Sherbrooke
275, rue Dufferin
819 821-5406
shs.ville.sherbrooke.qc.ca
A self-guided walking tour will let you discover Sherbrooke’s architectural gems. Please reserve your mp3 player at the Centre d’interpretation de l’histoire before 3 pm. Summer schedule: Tuesday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Off season: Tuesday to Friday, 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 1 pm to 5 pm. $10 per person. |
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Walking Tour of the Lennoxville borough
Starting point: Uplands Cultural and Heritage Center, 9 Speid Street
819 564-0409
Discover unique architecture in the vicinity of Bishop’s University on this 90-minute, 2.22 kilometer (1.4 mile) heritage walking tour. |
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Walking guided tour of the Old North Ward
819 821-1919
Francis, the window-washer
Thursdays and Fridays, 2 pm to 4 pm
Spot, the hobo
Thursdays and Fridays, 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
From July 3rd to September 12th. Starting point: Tourist Information Bureau, 785 King Ouest Street
A few unusual characters will accompany you as you discover old Sherbrooke. With gusto, humor, and song, they will reveal the secrets of our downtown and tell you stories and anecdotes about the places, streets, stairways, nooks and crannies that you encounter. Experience history as you never have before! Suitable for all ages, this 2-hour tour is offered in French. |
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Driving tours of the Sherbrooke area
Discover the area... At our tourist bureau, take your pick of several different driving tours of the area, which will allow you to view the beautiful valleys and rivers of the countryside, as well as the many wonderful panoramas. Try the Townships Route, a new, 18-kilometer itinerary which brings you through the heart of Sherbrooke and along some of the Eastern Townships’ winding roads.
Regional circuit
www.chemindescantons.qc.ca
A tourist and cultural route, the Townships Trail takes as its theme our American and British heritage. This itinerary covers 415 kilometers and takes visitors through 31 municipalities, including Sherbrooke (the Lennoxville borough and the downtown area of the Eastern Township’s capital city). |
“Traces et Souvenances” guided theatrical tour
Departures from the Sherbrooke’s Historical Interpretation Center
275, rue Dufferin
819 821-1919
www.tracesetsouvenances.com |
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July 12th to August 17th, Saturdays 10 am and Sundays 2 pm (Tours are offered in French only). Join Mary O’Malley, a colorful and charming Irish woman, as she brings nineteenth-century Sherbrooke to life with her lively tales. You will meet other characters of the era: Gilbert Hyatt, the proud and valiant Loyalist; Geraldine Mollins, the spirited wife of an early settler; the attractive Grace Thompson and as well as other personalities, all of whom will make your tour fun and unforgettable. Traces et Souvenances, a 2 ½ hour theatrical tour covering 2 centuries, has charmed more than 20,000 visitors over the past 14 years. Come along with us for bus ride back in time! |
Theatrical City Tour
¨Par le chemin des fresques¨
Departures from the Sherbrooke Tourism Bureau
785, rue King Ouest
819 821-1919
www.tracesetsouvenances.com |
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From July 5th to October 5th, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm.
Get on board for non-stop fun on the Tour de la Cité’s « Par le Chemin des fresques » bus tour! The cast of 15 characters, including a nun; a trio of country music singers, Carmen, Bernie and Danny; Senator Howard; a factory hand’s daughter; a gardener; and a music lover, will show you glimpses of urban Sherbrooke from the ‘50s right down to modern times. They will accompany you, on and off the bus, in sunshine and rain, as you visit the city murals, the Domaine Howard, the Old North Ward, the Granada Theater, the promenade along the Lac-des-Nations, and downtown Sherbrooke. The Tour de la Cité « Par le Chemin des fresques »tour will transport you to a world somewhere between fiction and reality, offering you an experience that is enriching, different, and memorable!
Guided or panoramic tourist ride through old Sherbrooke aboard an antique car
819 349-0485
lamoureuxdelavoitureantique@videotron.ca
Starting point: Tourist Information Bureau
785 King street West
819 821-1919 |
Travel back in time and take a drive in an antique car through the streets of the Old North ward of Sherbrooke, a picturesque neighborhood resplendent with beautiful Victorian homes. Treat yourself to the pleasure of being driven in a shiny 1928 Dodge, a 1956 Studebaker President, or a 1951 Packard. A courteous and considerate chauffeur will accompany you on this one-hour drive in a collector’s car. You can discover the different heritage sites of the city, or you can simply take in the exceptional scenery. Reservations necessary in order to reserve a specific car, for 2 or 4 passengers. Fee: $35 per adult; $20 per child 12 years or younger. Free parking nearby. Available from May to October. |
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Guided visits of the Magog River Gorge
This guided walking tour in the heart of old Sherbrooke explores the paths, bridges and scenic overviews around the Magog River, bringing visitors to an awareness of the fundamental role of this waterway in the birth and development of the city. Discover the birthplace of Sherbrooke’s evolution and explore archival documents in order to compare the present with the past, learning about the major changes that took place over time. From the Frontenac Hydroelectric Station to the Cliff Promontory, from the Place des Moulins to the Winter Prison, the Magog River Gorge is yours to discover! The Length of Visit is 90 minutes to 2 hours, including a brief visit of the Frontenac Hydroelectric Station.
Visitors start the tour and pay their admission fee at the Frontenac Hydroelectric Station located at 395, Frontenac street and the schedule is according to the opening hours of the Station, i.e.:Tuesday through Sunday, from the end of June to the end of August: 10 AM to 5 PM (we recommend that you arrive at least two hours before the Frontenac Hydroelectric Station’s closing time).
Information and Reservations: You may contact the Société d’histoire de Sherbrooke at 819 821-5406 or call the Frontenac Hydroelectric Station directly during the summer at 819 821-5757. |
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