The Petit-Témis trail follows the Madawaska River; Fortin du Petit-Sault tells a story that dates back to 1841. Together, the riverside route and historic site offer two distinct points of reference for planning a trip to Edmundston. Twelve themed gardens add to these experiences. The wider destination of Madawaska County also offers other distinct cultural and nature-focused themes.

Riverside Scenery and Themed Gardens in Edmundston

République Provincial Park is located on the banks of the Madawaska River. The Petit-Témis trail in the park follows the river and connects New Brunswick with Québec and the rest of Canada. The park’s riverside setting is a focal point, while the trail adds connections between provinces. Together, they make the river a practical point of reference for planning, without assuming a particular length of stay.

The New Brunswick Botanical Garden is also located along the Madawaska River. It features twelve themed gardens across more than eight hectares. While the Petit-Témis follows the course of the river, the garden is defined by its thematic layout. These distinct features offer two different ways to experience Edmundston’s riverside attractions: a connecting trail on the one hand and a garden with several themes on the other.

The History of Fortin du Petit-Sault

Fortin du Petit-Sault was built in 1841 in anticipation of a border war between the British and the newly independent Americans. The fort contains artifacts recovered from the site, as well as models made by local artists. The historical context and the objects housed in the fort therefore represent distinct aspects of its history: the artifacts came from the site, while the models are works by artists from the region.

More Places in the Wider Madawaska County

Ledges… Place des Pionniers features a trail between historic buildings dedicated to the pioneers of the Saint-François District. The site is also a miniature 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 trail and the miniature village offer different perspectives on pioneer history and the former village.

The Forge Jos B. Michaud in Saint-François was built in 1894 and operated for at least 100 years before passing to the blacksmith’s son. The Musée de la Forge Jos B. Michaud offers insights into the craft of blacksmithing through tools and the story of its former owner, Joseph B. Michaud. The building’s history and the craft are two interconnected themes here.

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. The 150th Anniversary Heritage Room Museum in Saint-François-de-Madawaska preserves another kind of historical record: artifacts, religious objects and personal belongings of pioneers and their descendants. The Site historique de Clair is located in Maison Daigle-Saint-Jean, a building dating from 1848 on the Saint John River. Together, these examples show different ways of exploring regional history: a historic home, preserved objects and a historic site housed in a named building.

The landscape and activities in Madawaska County also vary from place to place. The nature park in the Ward of Saint-François offers a view of the Saint John River and is suitable for family picnics and enjoying the outdoors. Canoeing, kayaking and fishing are listed as activities at Lac Unique and Lac Glazier in the same ward. Those more interested in trails can find snowshoeing and hiking trails in the Ward of Baker-Brook. There are also ATV trails in every ward of Haut-Madawaska; the ATV Club of Haut-Madawaska is listed as a contact. The examples therefore include water activities, hiking and snowshoeing trails, and ATV trails at the named locations in the county.

The examples from Madawaska County add further distinct historic sites and activities to this selection.

Discover more destinations: Lac Baker, Saint Hilaire, Saint-André, Rivière-Verte

Back to the main travel overview: Madawaska County.