The Chemin du Roy crosses the MRC de Maskinongé as a historic, tourist, and scenic route. Its origins in the era of New France give the region a tangible point of reference for its cultural history. Nature and regional products are also part of the picture: depending on your interests, you can get to know Maskinongé through its early routes, waterfalls and hiking trails, or the production of distinctive goods.
The Chemin du Roy: History and Route
The Chemin du Roy was the first road built for horse-drawn carriages between Montréal and Québec in New France; it was constructed between 1706 and 1737. Its origins place it within Québec’s early transportation history. Within the MRC de Maskinongé, the route covers 32.5 km and is a historic, tourist, and scenic route. As far as the village of Yamachiche, the Chemin du Roy follows Route 138; from there, it continues along a country road toward Louiseville. The sequence of highway, village, and country road provides a clear reference for tracing the route within the MRC.
Waterfalls, Forest, and Hiking Trails
At Parc des Chutes de Sainte-Ursule, the Rivière Maskinongé forms a series of seven distinct waterfalls; the highest is 30 meters tall. Visitors can hike the trails and stop at a lookout point offering a view across the grounds. The park also offers nature interpretation and wildlife observation, as well as hiking and canicross. These activities appeal to different interests, combining nature observation and interpretation with more active pursuits. Since operating details may change, check the park’s current information before your visit.
In Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, the Réserve faunique Mastigouche covers 65% of the municipality. La Nature d’Alexis offers 60 km of hiking trails through mixed forest and changing landscapes in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts. The figures refer to different scales: 65% describes the share of the municipality covered by the wildlife reserve, while 60 km is the length of the hiking trails. This means an extensive natural area and a trail network through changing landscapes offer distinct points of reference.
Regional Products and Brewing History
The Route des alcools de Maskinongé brings together local businesses that transform regional resources into distinctive products. Its focus extends beyond a single product: it highlights several businesses and their use of regional resources. If you are interested in local products, this route offers a way to experience the region through its production and business community.
Microbrasserie Nouvelle-France was founded in 1998 and is one of Québec’s pioneering microbreweries. Its founding year provides a specific point of reference for its history, while its pioneering role places it within the development of microbreweries in Québec. The brewery’s history thus offers a distinct cultural perspective alongside the early transportation history of the Chemin du Roy.
For planning purposes, 32.5 km and 60 km are not comparable route figures: the first refers to the section of the Chemin du Roy within the MRC, while the second is the length of La Nature d’Alexis’s hiking trails. They therefore help answer different questions—about the course of the historic route or the extent of a hiking trail network.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Paulin, Saint-Alexis-Des-Monts, Louiseville, Yamachiche, Maskinongé, Saint-Édouard-De-Maskinongé, Matane, Pierre-De Saurel.
For the broader travel overview: Quebec.
