The Musée d’histoire de Rouyn-Noranda operates two historic sites: the Magasin général Dumulon and the Église orthodoxe russe Saint-Georges. The museum also conveys the city’s 20th-century heritage through exhibitions, cultural outreach activities and off-site initiatives. The story of the city takes many forms, from historic sites to educational programs.
Art and History in the City
The Musée d’art de Rouyn-Noranda preserves a collection of more than 2,000 works dedicated to the arts of the Americas. Visitor offerings include exhibitions, activities, a boutique and a café; the study collection is also open to the public. On the “De l’art plein la vue” tour, you’ll encounter 19 public artworks. Most are by artists who live in Rouyn-Noranda or Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
The architectural heritage tours also offer different perspectives on the old neighbourhoods of Rouyn and Noranda. Short routes are designed for walking or cycling, while a longer route is intended for exploring by car. For a manageable stroll through Vieux-Rouyn, “Le chemin des pionniers” takes about an hour; “Une mine, une ville” through Vieux-Noranda takes about two hours on foot. The city’s history walks connect historic photographs with buildings that still stand. In the rural area, historic information panels are complemented by original artworks by artists from Rouyn-Noranda. “Sur les traces des clochers” explores the area’s diverse religious heritage through historic and present-day places of worship from different denominations.
Another trail leads into the history of mining. A tour of the Fonderie Horne ends at the Musée minier Horne, where you’ll learn about prospector Edmund Horne, after whom the copper and gold deposit was named. The connection between industrial history, urban development and art makes Rouyn-Noranda a destination for a variety of cultural interests.
Lakeside Trails and Views of the Landscape
Parc botanique À fleur d’eau is home to more than 25,000 plants, trees and shrubs. A wooden boardwalk circles Lac Édouard, while the Jardin géologique offers information about regional geology and the development of mining. The park also has wheelchair-accessible paths, picnic areas, pétanque courts, a baseball field and a play area.
The Sentier polyvalent Osisko passes through urban and wooded landscapes along part of Lac Osisko, considered the lake where Rouyn-Noranda began. The trail is designed for bicycles, skateboards, inline skates and pedestrians; there are parking lots at several points around the lake. At Lac Osisko, RécréOsisko lends bicycles and watercraft such as canoes, kayaks and pedal boats at no charge. The rental service operates year-round and offers different equipment depending on the season. In winter, a partnership with the city library makes skates and snowshoes available to borrow; check the library’s schedule for details.
Nearby are the Collines Kekeko, less than 12 kilometres from Rouyn-Noranda. Fifteen marked hiking trails lead to viewpoints, cliffs, rock shelters and waterfalls. The long-distance Transkekeko trail also crosses the hills; it takes about seven hours. The Sentiers du lac Rouyn offer 32 kilometres of marked trails for snowshoeing, running and hiking. Maps are posted at every intersection, and access is free.
Music, Film and Seasonal Discoveries
For more than 20 years, the FME has supported emerging and independent music. Its program includes indoor and outdoor concerts, themed evenings, “5 à 7” events and other formats. The Festival des Guitares du Monde features concerts and musical activities with guitarists from Québec, Canada and the international scene. The Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue screens short, medium-length and feature films, as well as documentaries, animated films and fiction films from several countries. If you’d like to plan your trip around an event, check the dates for that year’s edition.
Outdoor activities also change with the seasons. The seasonal Marché public de Rouyn-Noranda offers fresh local products and opportunities to meet regional producers. Parc-Aventure Joannès features a forest maze, mini-golf and an obstacle course, as well as mountain biking, hiking and high-ropes courses. At Mont Powell, mountain biking trails are designed specifically for the sport; runners and hikers are also welcome in summer and winter. For a different kind of experience, Jardin Spa offers a boreal thermal experience based on multisensory thermotherapy.
Discover more destinations: Rouyn-Noranda, Nord-Du-Québec, Memphrémagog, Lotbinière, Sept-Rivières--Caniapiscau, Beauce-Sartigan, Drummond, Communauté-Urbaine-De-Montréal.
Go to the main travel overview: Quebec.
