Saint-Antoine-De-Tilly combines historic buildings with a landscape along the St. Lawrence River shaped by marshland and tides. The church, Manoir de Tilly and an octagonal barn tell the story of different periods of construction. The marsh, a lookout point at the old cemetery and local products offer further highlights to help you plan your trip.
Church, Manor and Historic Architecture
The Église de Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly is a historic Catholic church. It was built between 1786 and 1788 and designated a historic monument in 1963. Its interior is also noteworthy: it is one of André Paquet’s most complete works. Here, architectural history and artistic design go hand in hand.
The Manoir de Tilly was also built in 1786, by Jean-Baptiste Noël de Tilly. It is the oldest residence in Saint-Antoine-De-Tilly. Its construction so close in time to the church makes the architectural history especially vivid: both buildings date from the late 18th century, while another landmark barn was built much later.
Philias Aubin had this octagonal barn built in the Saint-Antoine-De-Tilly landscape in 1901. It is unique in the MRC de Lotbinière. It adds an agricultural building to the picture of historic architecture. Overall, the village has more than 50 houses and buildings with exceptional historic architecture. Those interested in architectural forms can place individual landmarks within the broader local collection.
Marshland and the St. Lawrence River
A municipal lookout on the cliff edge by the old cemetery offers a view of Neuville and the opposite riverbank. The Marais de Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly offers a different perspective on the landscape. It is a distinctive ecosystem with great biodiversity, located in the freshwater estuary of the St. Lawrence River. Together with the tides, this setting helps support plant species considered unique or even rare worldwide.
A hiking trail runs along the marsh. It is nine kilometres long, a concrete reference point when planning a hike. The cycling trip on the Route des Navigateurs is separate: Saint-Antoine-De-Tilly is included as a destination on this tour, with the St. Lawrence River in the background. The trail described here runs along the marsh on foot, while the cycling route features the village as a destination.
The organization Les Amis du marais de Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly promotes public access to the St. Lawrence River. The river is part of both the natural setting around the marsh and the backdrop to the cycling trip described here. The lookout, hiking trail and cycling route offer different perspectives on the surroundings without needing to be combined into one route.
Local Products and the Village Area of Les Fonds
Local products add to the cultural and landscape attractions. Fromagerie Bergeron specializes in Gouda and offers an observation gallery, an interpretation centre, tastings and an on-site sales counter. This combination invites visitors to learn about production, sample the cheese and make a purchase. At Fleuraissance ferme florale, by contrast, the focus is on flower growing: this eco-friendly flower farm along the St. Lawrence River grows more than 100 varieties of cut flowers.
Les Fonds de Saint-Antoine offers another point of reference: the lower-lying village area, with villas and cottages by the water. Along with the historic buildings, the marsh, and the cheese and flower offerings, it provides a range of travel interests to choose from.
Discover more destinations: Sainte-Agathe-de-Lotbinière, Saint-Apollinaire, Leclercville, Laurier-Station
Return to the regional travel overview: Lotbinière.
