Madawaska County can be explored through a range of discoveries: blacksmithing history and pioneer sites sit alongside historic buildings, river landscapes, and outdoor activities. When planning your trip, it helps to first choose your focus: cultural and historical sites, garden and water experiences, or trails for getting active.
Blacksmithing History in Saint-François
The Forge Jos B. Michaud in Saint-François was built in 1894. It operated for at least 100 years before passing to the blacksmith’s son. The Musée de la Forge Jos B. Michaud offers insight into the craft of blacksmithing through its tools and the story of its former owner, Joseph B. Michaud. The year it was built and its long period of use give the forge its historical context; the tools and the owner’s biography are the museum’s main focus.
A forge in Saint-François-de-Madawaska operated for 62 years; today it is a museum that is open to visitors in summer. If you plan a visit, take its seasonal summer opening into account.
Pioneer Sites and Historic Buildings
Ledges… Place des Pionniers brings the history of the pioneers of the Saint-François District to life through a village ensemble. A trail leads among historic buildings dedicated to the pioneers. The site is a scaled-down replica of the former village of Saint-François, once known as Ledges. The buildings represented include a house, a church, a farm, a post office, a school, and a general store.
The Cyr Historical House in Saint-Basile was built by Alexis Cyr between 1825 and 1830 and is considered the oldest house in Madawaska County. Another architectural landmark is the P'tit Sault Blockhouse: it was built in 1841 in the municipality of Edmundston, on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Saint John River and the Madawaska River. The St. John the Baptist Church Provincial Heritage Place is also in the municipality of Edmundston. The church was built between 1878 and 1887 and is the northernmost example of Bishop John Medley’s Gothic Revival church-building project.
These sites offer different historical perspectives: Ledges… Place des Pionniers presents a scaled-down village ensemble, while the Cyr Historical House and the two other structures are associated with specific buildings and their history. If architecture and local history are your main interests, you can take these differences into account when choosing which places to visit.
Gardens, Rivers, and Lakes
The New Brunswick Botanical Garden is located on the Madawaska River in the municipality of Edmundston. It features twelve themed gardens across more than eight hectares, or 20 acres. The number of gardens and their area give the visit a clear thematic framework; its location by the river is also one of its defining features.
The nature park in the Ward of Saint-François offers views of the Saint John River and is suitable for family picnics. Lac Unique and Lac Glazier are each associated with canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Alongside river views at the nature park, you can also choose activities at two named lakes. This distinction can help with your travel plans: you can consider a park visit and picnic, or focus on the water activities listed for the lakes.
Trails, Events, and Travel Planning
The Ward of Baker-Brook has snowshoeing and hiking trails. ATV trails are available in every ward of Haut-Madawaska; the ATV Club of Haut-Madawaska is listed as a contact. A much larger route is the Petit-Témis Interprovincial Linear Park, which connects Edmundston in New Brunswick with Rivière-du-Loup in Québec via more than 130 kilometres of trails. This regional route is on a different scale from the locally situated hiking and snowshoeing trails.
Events also offer different points of interest. The festival in the Saint-Hilaire District includes a visit to the Maxime-Albert Museum and activities that recall notable moments in the history of Saint-Hilaire. Les Festivités du Demi-Marathon de Saint-François features activities for the whole family, including dancing, inflatable games, walking or running, a family afternoon, and booths. If you would like to include one of these programs in your trip, check the event dates in advance.
You can plan a visit to Madawaska County around your own interests: blacksmithing history and historic buildings offer a cultural focus, while the garden, river, and lakes provide connections to nature and water. For outdoor activity, you can choose between local trails and the regional Petit-Témis connection. Event dates and the museum’s expressly seasonal summer opening in Saint-François-de-Madawaska are practical details to consider when planning your timing.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Edmundston, Saint-André, Rivière-Verte, Saint Hilaire, Lac Baker, Sunbury County, Gloucester County, Victoria County.
For the main travel overview: New Brunswick.
