A watermill dating from 1842, a heritage site with gardens, and trails for walking or cross-country skiing: Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies offers several highlights for a stay.
The Mill and Seigneury History
The Moulin banal des Aulnaies is a classified historic mill in the heart of Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies. The building was constructed in 1842 as a water-powered flour mill. It is a three-and-a-half-storey rectangular stone building at the intersection of Route de la Seigneurie and Route 132, on a rise in the land along the Le Bras River. Its design, former use and location give the mill a distinct historical and architectural character.
Another layer of history was added in the 1980s, when the Moulin banal was set up to become part of an interpretation centre about the seigneurial system, together with the nearby Domaine seigneurial des Aulnaies. For travellers interested in culture, this offers a look both at the mill as a building and former workplace, and at how it was incorporated into the theme of the seigneurial system.
The Domaine and Its Landscape
The Domaine seigneurial des Aulnaies is also a classified heritage site in the heart of Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies. The grounds lie on a plateau and are bordered by the Ferrée and Le Bras rivers. The landscape includes wooded areas, lawns, a pond, rustic gardens and winding paths. Unlike the mill, whose rectangular stone structure forms a single building, the grounds are defined by the terrain and several landscape features.
Those looking for walking trails will find more than two kilometres of paths at the Seigneurie des Aulnaies, winding through an impressive pine forest. They pass ornamental trees, an orchard and old flower gardens. The trail length and the named tree and garden areas help distinguish this option as a way to get active and explore the landscape.
Walking or Cross-Country Skiing
The Bel-Humeur cross-country ski trails offer another option: loop routes of 1 km, 2.4 km, 3.2 km, 4.3 km, 5.2 km or 6 km. New sections pass through several kilometres of grey pine plantations to a skier refuge. Trail operations depend on snow conditions.
The two options differ in activity and route length. More than two kilometres of walking trails are available at the Seigneurie; at Bel-Humeur, you can choose from six specific loop lengths. You can first decide whether a walk or cross-country skiing better suits your plans, and, for skiing, also take snow conditions into account.
The Chapel on the Old Chemin du Roy
The Chapelle de procession Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes is a classified heritage building. It is located on the old Chemin du Roy at the eastern edge of the village centre of Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies. This clearly distinguishes the locations: the mill and Domaine are in the heart of the village, while the chapel is at the eastern edge of the village centre. This provides a specific point of difference when finding your way between the historic landmarks.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
When looking for a hotel in Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies, you can start with a simple priority: Are you especially interested in the mill and the seigneurial system, the Domaine’s landscape, walking, or—when snow conditions allow—a cross-country ski loop?
Discover more destinations: Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, L'islet.
Return to the main travel overview: L'islet.
