The Manoir de la Baronnie-de-Portneuf is a wooden manor house with a distinctive place in the town’s history. Portneuf also offers opportunities for kayaking, activities and an educational beekeeping tour. When planning, it is worth considering these themes separately: heritage is one focus, while activities on the water and at the Base de Plein Air cater to other interests.
A rare wooden manor house
The Manoir de la Baronnie-de-Portneuf is the only surviving manor house among the three seigneuries elevated to baronies under the French regime: des Islets (1675), Portneuf (1681) and Longueuil (1700). It is also one of the rare examples of a wooden manor house. Classified as immovable heritage, it is protected in its entirety, including the building’s exterior and interior as well as the grounds. The manor house stands in Portneuf along the route of the former Chemin du Roy.
Those interested in historic architecture will find several concrete aspects that are connected: the wooden construction, its distinctive status among surviving manor houses, and the comprehensive protection of the property. This means the manor house can be understood through more than just its façade; its interior and grounds are also part of the protected heritage.
Planning a kayaking trip and events
The Route bleue de l'estuaire fluvial provides two launch sites in Portneuf for kayaks and shallow-draft boats: the Parc récréonautique de Portneuf and Quai Lemay. The route map provides information about local navigation conditions and available services, and suggests routes for exploring the maritime landscape. Check current navigation conditions before setting out.
The Défi Kayak Desgagné Montréal-Québec is also connected with Portneuf: the town welcomes participants every year. If you want to plan your trip around the event, check the event dates in advance. The launch sites and information on the route map can help you plan your own paddling trip; the event offers another recurring annual reason to keep the town in mind.
Activities and rentals
The Base de Plein Air in Portneuf offers a wide range of activities throughout the year. Rental equipment includes skis, skates and fat bikes. These specific types of equipment give you concrete options if you want to combine activities with rentals. Available inventory may vary, so check whether the equipment you need is available before making plans.
When choosing between the offerings, it helps to distinguish between a broad range of activities and specific rental options: the Base de Plein Air describes activities available year-round, while skis, skates and fat bikes are the specific rental items listed. If one of these options is important for your stay, check availability directly.
An educational beekeeping tour
Miel & Co. offers a self-guided educational tour or a bookable guided tour about beekeeping. There are two formats to choose from on the same topic: explore the educational tour on your own or book a guided version. Availability for the guided tour may vary; keep this in mind when planning.
The wider Portneuf destination
The wider Portneuf destination opens up a view of a larger region. The St. Lawrence River borders the Portneuf area for more than 50 kilometres; the region is also shaped by the watersheds of the Jacques-Cartier, Portneuf, Sainte-Anne and Batiscan rivers. This regional perspective complements the local themes in Portneuf with further connections to nature and the landscape.
The heritage of the wider Portneuf destination also includes Deschambault-Grondines, with numerous historic buildings in the village centres of Deschambault and Grondines and along the Chemin du Roy, which runs beside the St. Lawrence River. The Vieux Presbytère de Deschambault was built in 1815 and features permanent exhibitions on the history of the building and the village’s heritage. For nature enthusiasts, the Parc naturel régional de Portneuf offers more than 70 kilometres of forest trails in several areas, including the Sainte-Anne River gorges and the areas of Lacs Long et Montauban, Lac Carillon and Les Lacs.
Discover more destinations: Deschambault, Pont-Rouge, Saint-Ubalde, Neuville, Saint-Basile, Donnacona.
Go to the main travel overview: Portneuf.
