With its exceptional geographical location bordering the United States and New Brunswick, Témiscouata is a cultural crossroads with a rich heritage. Three routes, each with its charms and attractions, allow you to discover the history and beauty of this vast region. Whether you choose the Route des Frontières (Border Route), the Route des Découvertes (Discovery Route) or the Route Champêtre (Rural Route), you will experience the heart of Témiscouata life.
The Route des Frontières (Route 289) is one of Québec's thirteen official tourist routes. You can join it near the St. Lawrence river at Saint-André and Saint-Alexandre in the county of Kamouraska. It then follows the border with Maine and New Brunswick, through the villages of Pohénégamook, Rivière-Bleue, Saint-Marc-du-Lac-Long, Packington and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande. On the way you can visit the Parc de la Frontière with its international bridge, an economuseum, a former railway station and the only covered bridge in the region. Ninety five kilometres of beautiful scenery! At the same time you can visit Saint-Athanase to admire the River Noire valley and Saint-Elzéar where the lookout has a panoramic view of almost three hundred sixty degrees.
The Route des Découvertes (Route 185) is the main route to New Brunswick. Crossing the mountains at Saint-Honoré you can see the St.Lawrence River. The next stage on your journey is Saint-Louis-du-Ha-Ha!, before reaching the majestic valley of Lake Témiscouata and the towns of Cabano, Notre-Dame-du-lac and Dégelis. Don't miss the village of Saint-Pierre-de-Lamy, with its series of lakes, or Saint-Eusèbe, home to the famous Festi-Cèdre (Cedar festival). There are scientific and historic points of interest, such as Aster, an astronomical observatory, and the famous Fort Ingall which dates from 1839.
The Route Champêtre (Routes 295 and 232), covers the eastern sector of Témiscouata. It is the gateway to the J.A.L., a group of villages comprising Saint-Juste-du-Lac, Auclair and Lejeune, a countryside rich in local produce. You will be charmed by the beautiful rural landscape. Continuing east you cross the valley of lakes and the villages of Saint-Michel-du-Squatec, Biencourt and Lac-des-Aigles. As its name suggests, this heavily forested valley is a paradise for water sports and open air enthusiasts.
The Route des Frontières
The Route des Frontières follows the route 289. Starting at the junction of the Route des Navigateurs (the Navigator's route) at Saint-André, it goes through Saint-Alexandre-de- Kamouraska in the county of Kamouraska, passes through the Park reserve, runs along the border of the State of Maine at Pohénégamook and Rivière-Bleue, and goes through Saint-Marc-du-Lac-Long and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande on the border with New Brunswick in the county of Témiscouata, to finish near the municipal limits of Packington.
This tourist route takes its name from its proximity to the borders of Québec, New Brunswick and Maine in the United States. The region has many symbols which remind us of its politically significant location: customs posts, border markers and an international bridge, as well as the natural border formed by the river Saint-Francois.
The life of this region is intimately linked to the reality of living on the border: migratory populations, constant flux of the work force, commerce, trade and leisure activities on both sides of the border. Wonderful stories concerning the border fuel the imagination: the division of the territory between Canada and the United States, successive waves of alcohol smuggling during prohibition and the smuggling of tobacco in the 80's and 90's.
The Route des Frontières allows you to discover the panoramic, natural, historical, cultural and recreational richness of this agricultural, forested region. Travellers are constantly reminded of Témiscouata's natural and cultural heritage.
C.P. 2004, Rivière-Bleue
Telephone: 418 893-2649
Fax: 418 893-5530
Web site: www.routedesfrontieres.com
E-mail: info1@routedesfrontieres.com