Portneuf: River Landscapes and Nature

Tourism in the MRC de Portneuf focuses primarily on natural attractions, historical features and heritage sites. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth deciding what matters most to you first: would you like to experience nature, discover historic places, or explore both? The St. Lawrence River borders the Portneuf area for more than 50 kilometres. The region is also shaped by the watersheds of four major rivers: the Jacques-Cartier, Portneuf, Sainte-Anne and Batiscan.

One specific natural attraction is the Réserve naturelle du Marais-Léon-Provancher in Neuville. The 125-hectare protected area helps preserve its fauna and flora. The kind of experience you are looking for also matters when choosing a nature-focused visit: the nature reserve represents protected habitats, while Parc naturel régional de Portneuf offers more than 70 kilometres of forest trails across several areas. These include the Sainte-Anne River gorges and the Lacs Long et Montauban, Lac Carillon and Les Lacs areas. The park extends across several municipalities in Portneuf; public access is available via Saint-Alban and Saint-Ubalde.

Grotte le Trou du Diable in Saint-Casimir offers another distinct nature experience. At 980 metres long, it is considered the second-longest accessible cave in Québec. Portneuf therefore offers different ways to experience nature: forest trails and several park areas on the one hand, and a single cave site on the other.

Historic Places and Craftsmanship

Deschambault-Grondines is distinguished by its many historic buildings. They are located in the village centres of Deschambault and Grondines, as well as along the Chemin du Roy, which runs beside the St. Lawrence River. The Vieux Presbytère de Deschambault was built in 1815; its permanent exhibitions explore the building’s history and the village’s heritage. At the Moulin à vent de Grondines, an exhibition explains the windmill’s dual purpose: it served as a grain mill for about 200 years and as a signal station on the St. Lawrence River shipping route from 1912 to 1967.

The church in Grondines is also among the churches recognized as national heritage sites and has special protection status under Québec’s Cultural Heritage Act. Together with the historic buildings and exhibition venues, it brings the different aspects of the region’s built heritage to life. Culture et patrimoine Deschambault-Grondines includes the Moulin de La Chevrotière, the Vieux Presbytère de Deschambault and the Moulin à vent de Grondines. Their permanent exhibitions present local and regional architectural and landscape heritage, as well as traditional skills.

For those interested not only in exhibitions but also in the practical side of traditional crafts, Culture et patrimoine Deschambault-Grondines offers workshops in blacksmithing, carpentry and wood carving. You can learn or deepen your knowledge of traditional techniques. This adds a hands-on approach to the historical perspective.

Waterways and Seasonal Activities

Canoeing and kayaking are possible on the Route bleue section between Cap-Santé and Quai des Écureuils in Donnacona. The safe route is of moderate difficulty and is accessible throughout the summer. Check conditions for your planned trip before setting out.

In Rivière-à-Pierre, the Centre d'interprétation du granite, founded in 2003, is dedicated to the municipality’s granite. It gives residents of Rivière-à-Pierre and tourists the opportunity to learn about it, and is open in summer. Since seasonal opening hours may vary, check visiting options for your travel dates.

This way, you can plan your trip around your interests without trying to combine all the activities into a single outing.

Discover more destinations

Saint-Basile, Portneuf, Deschambault, Neuville, Donnacona, Pont-Rouge, Saint-Ubalde, Le Rocher-Percé

For the main travel overview: Quebec.