Jul 9

Written by: chris
7/9/2011 

Quebec’s Cantons-de-l’Est

There’s a corner of Quebec that I have long wanted to explore and I have the opportunity to do so at last, linked to a Travel Show on Quebec. Facilitated by Danie Beliveau of Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est, we are spending an idyllic few days meandering through what we Anglophones still call the Eastern Townships. As we are to discover, this land doesn’t merely flow with milk and honey, it also gushes with wine, cider, cheese, chocolate, roses and more..

Trains and Boats

It’s good to hand over the wheel to someone else once in a while, the better to take in the scenery. Even though the weather is a little uncooperative, the Orford Express tourist train is a relaxing and rather luxurious way to take in the delights of the Cantons-de-l’Est countryside as we wend our way from Sherbrooke to Magog and Eastman, supplemented by a gourmet dinner. As the sun sets and the shadows deepen, a local chanteuse adds to the joie de vivre on board.

From rails to the waters of Lake Memphremagog’s new cruise boat which plies the waters of this unpronounceable lake that stretches long and thin all the way south into Vermont. This sparkling new ‘Grand Cru’ excursion boat from Escapades Memphremagog also offers a first class service and floating cuisine to match, as the mountainous shoreline slips by, dotted by gorgeous lakeside properties.

Cider With Roses

Laurie Lee comes to life! A beautifully sunny day spent sampling all kinds of tasty, visual and scented treats…Val Caudalies in Dunham is a great place to taste the local wines – and also a speciality of this region: ice cider. Deliciously sweet and bursting with flavours, I highly recommend this!

Then on to Rose des Champs near Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, where you can wander among thousands of roses of all kinds and sample the many products made from rose petals, including jellies, jams, perfumes and soaps. The countryside around here is particularly beautiful.

Chocolate, Cheese and Lavender

More sensory overloads followed! Bromont Chocolate Museum not only explains much of the mystery of chocolate production, but also tempts with home made chocolates to die for. The Fromagerie des Cantons in Farnham is a tiny cheese boutique where we sampled (and bought!) some of the home made cheeses that seem so deliciously creamy to Ontario palates. And at Joie de Lavande in Lac-Brome we floated in a sea of lavender colour and smells, where Christopher and Alison Marks have created their own little bit of floral heaven.

Eastern Township Hospitality

Our trip through Cantons-de-l’Est has been highlighted by the hospitable accommodations we have enjoyed en route. The Delta Sherbrooke is perfectly positioned to explore the city of Sherbrooke and also features the Relais-Détente Spa which we relished. Chateau Bromont is a gorgeous property in a spectacular position below Mont Bromont and is a perfect place to escape from it all in summer (golf) or winter (ski). We had yet another scrumptious meal here and enjoyed the convivial company of Didier Rabette, marketing and sales manager at the Chateau. And the Estrimont Suites and Spa is a great family-style resort set in greenest countryside with pools and Jacuzzis for all.