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TROIS-RIVIERES

AREA INFOSERVICE DIRECTORYWEATHEREVENTSNEWS

Trois-Rivières (historically and rarely Three Rivers) is the second-oldest city in Quebec, founded in 1634. It lies almost half-way between Montreal and Quebec City and can make a nice stopover on travel between those two cities. Trois-Rivières is the regional capital of the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, a vast area of 39,748 km². Located at the junction of two economic regions, Trois-Rivières has a population of 137,000 (2016), with almost 475,000 people in its metropolitan area. It is 130 km from Montreal and 120 km from Quebec City on ​​the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River.

The Saint-Maurice River, 587 km long, is the main river of the Mauricie administrative region. The waters of four rivers bathe the magnificent Laurentian plain. St. Anne, Batiscan, Du Loup River and Maskinongé River are also important for economic and recreational tourism development in the region. Lake Saint Pierre has been part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO since 2000. Lake Saint Pierre is the only example of sustainable development, recognized by the United Nations, have a way of world-class navigation, crossing from one end to the other’s territory.

Bio

The city was founded in 1634, but the location it occupies was first known to the French in 1535, when Jacques Cartier, in a trip along the St. Lawrence, stopped to plant a cross on Saint-Quentin Island. But the Three Rivers name was used for the first time in 1599 by Sieur François Gravé Du Pont, a geographer working with explorer Samuel de Champlain, who confirmed the name in 1603. Sieur Gravé Du Pont as he sailed river towards Montreal, saw a first tributary of the river, a strip of land, a second tributary, another strip of land, and finally a third tributary he took to be a different river. He did not know then that two large islands divide the course of the Saint-Maurice River in three parts where the latter flows into the St. Lawrence River. The name Trois-Rivières has stayed through the years, and the city was incorporated as such in 1857. Location of a major fur trade during the first 25 years of its existence, Trois-Rivières remained the cradle of many travellers, explorers and trappers.

Travel To

By car

Autoroute 40 between Quebec and Montreal passes through Trois-Rivières.

By bus

  • Autobus La Québécoise, ☏ +1-418-872-5525, toll-free: +1-888-872-5525. Operates bus routes in southern Quebec. (updated May 2022) Operates bus service between Trois-Rivières and Sherbrooke including a stop in Drummondville. Travel time to Trois-Rivières from Sherbrooke is 2.25-2.5 hours and from Drummondville is 1-1.25 hours. Operates several days per week.
  • Orléans Express, ☏ +1-450-640-1477, toll-free: +1-833-449-6444. Operates bus routes within Quebec and to Ottawa. (updated Apr 2022) Operates bus route multiple times per day between Montreal and Quebec City including a stop in Trois-Rivières. Travel time to Trois-Rivières from Montreal is 1.75-2.25 hours and from Quebec City is 1.75-2 hours.
  • Transport collectif Haut St-Maurice, ☏ +1-819-523-4581, toll-free: +1-855-523-2971. Daily bus service between Trois-Rivières and La Tuque including a stop in Shawinigan. Travel time to Trois-Rivières from La Tuque is 2.5 hours and from Shawinigan is 30 minutes. (updated May 2022)

By plane

  • Trois-Rivières (YRQ IATA), toll-free: +1 819 377-4382. Private aircraft only. Trois-Rivières Airport (Q2875964) on Wikidata Trois-Rivières Airport on Wikipedia (updated Aug 2019
Get around the city

By public transit

  • The Société de transport de Trois-Rivières (STTR), ☏ +1 819 373-4533, info@sttr.qc.ca. The local public transit system operates 14 regular routes during the day and 6 during the evening. Some routes do not operate on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. $3.50 single ticket, $3.30 if using the Cité smart card, family day pass $9.80, children 5 and under free. Société de transport de Trois-Rivières (Q3488031) on Wikidata Société de transport de Trois-Rivières on Wikipedia (updated Apr 2019)

By taxi

  • Taxis Coop de la Mauricie, ☏ +1 819-378-5444. (updated Aug 2022)
  • Taxi Élite, ☏ +1 819-374-4422, toll-free: +1-855-693-4422. (updated Aug 2022)

By ride hailing

  • Uber. (updated Aug 2022)
Sights
  • Old Trois-Rivières. (updated Aug 2016)
  • Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada, 10 000, boulevard des Forges, ☏ +1 819-378-5116, toll-free: +1 888-773-8888. June 22 to September 2: 10:00-17:00. Archaeological site of the first site of the steel industry and the first industrial town in Canada (updated Aug 2015)
  • Québec Museum of Popular Culture (Musée québécois de culture populaire), 200, rue Laviolette, ☏ +1 819-372-0406. Late Jun-Aug: daily 10:00-18:00; Sep-late Jun: W-F 10:00-16:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00. The museum presents six bold and unusual exhibitions, all in a distinctly Québécois style. Visitors can also look behind the scenes as the museum opens up its storage area to reveal part of its rich ethnological collection – an innovation in Québec. Adult $13, senior $12, student (18+) $10, youth (5-17) $8, child under 5 free; joint ticket with Old Prison: adult $21, senior $19, student $16, youth $13, child free. (updated Apr 2019)
  • Old Prison of Trois-Rivières (Vieille prison de Trois-Rivières), 200, rue Laviolette, ☏ +1 819-372-0406. Late Jun-Aug: daily 10:00-18:00; Sep-Oct May-late Jun: W-F 10:00-16:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00; Nov-Apr: Sa Su 10:00-17:00. The Old Prison of Trois-Rivières, classified as an historical monument, offer the visit-experience “Go to Jail!”, where ex-inmates lead visitors on a tour that provides a real glimpse into prison life. This prison was in operation from 1822 to 1986, and closed its doors due to the unhealthy conditions. The tour of cells and places of solitary confinement is a true eye-opener! You can start the tour with a prison card that includes your photograph and fingerprints. Groups can serve a one-night sentence, upon reservation. Adult $15, senior $14, student (18+) $12, youth (5-17) $10, child under 5 free; joint ticket with of Popular Culture: see listing above. (updated Apr 2019)
  • Manoir Boucher de Niverville, 168, rue Bonaventure, ☏ +1 819-372-4531, manoirdeniverville@v3r.net. Exhibit shows the different aspects of life in New France: political, social events, manners and customs, to discover the life of the ancestors. (updated Aug 2016)
  • Moulin seigneurial de Tonnancour, 11930, Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, ☏ +1 819-377-1396. Historical site of the flour mill of the 18th century and the sawmill, both operated by hydraulic force and whose mechanisms are still functional. Art exhibitions are presented in the art gallery of the house of the miller. (updated Aug 2016)
  • Borealis, paper industry’s history center, 200, avenue des Draveurs, ☏ +1 819-372-4633. Museum on the history of the pulp and paper industry in Quebec. Housed in the old filtration plant of a paper. (updated Aug 2016)
  • Our Lady of the Cape Shrine. (updated Aug 2016)
  • Musée des Filles de Jésus. 
  • Musée des Ursulines. 
  • Centre d’exposition Raymond-Lasnier. 
  • Parc de l’île Saint-Quentin, 10 place de la Rosalie (Take Chemin de l’Ile Saint-Christophe SE from Hwy 138). 2 km of park trails are flooded with water to make ice skating trails every winter. Rent skates, sleds, helmets, and bikes by the hour (about CA$8), or bring your own. Re-opening June 2020 after renovations. (updated Jan 2020)
  • Salle J.-A.-Thompson. 
Things to do
  • Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (Circuit Trois-Rivières), toll-free: +1-866-416-9797. Two weekends in early August. ​​The largest motor racing event to be held on an urban circuit in the Americas. It has served as a springboard for several major Formula 1 drivers. It stands out for its unlimited public access to the enclosures. The first weekend features FIA Rallycross racing, and the second weekend features NASCAR racing. It began in 1967. General admission $66 per weekend, $115 for both. (updated Apr 2019)
  • Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie, ☏ +1 819 537-9221. Labour Day weekend in early September. The canoe, kayak and rabaska competition follows a route from La Tuque to Trois-Rivières. Founded in 1934. (Q17154169) on Wikidata (updated Oct 2021)
  • Trois-Rivières Lions hockey. ​​ECHL team, plays at Colisée Vidéotron. (updated Nov 2021)
  • Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine [dead link]
  • Festival International Danse Encore
  • Festival International de la Poésie
  • FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières
  • Rendez-vous des coureurs des bois de Trois-Rivières
  • Les délices d’automne
Shopping

Centre commercial Les Rivières, 4225 Boulevard des Forges. M-F 09:30-17:30, Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 10:00-17:00. 140 stores. (updated Apr 2019)

Dining
  • Bistro l’Ancêtre, 603 rue des Ursulines, ☏ +1 819-373-7077. Oddly enough, this is the only restaurant on Ursulines, tucked away in a suitably old building at the far (east) end, but it draws a local crowd in addition to tourists. The food is more Italian than French, with pizzas and pastas making up most of the menu, but all mains include soup, dessert and coffee and cost only $7-12. 
  • Binerie Chik, 1150, rue Royale, ☏ +1 819-840-6687. M-Sa 05:00-16:00, Su 05:00-15:00. A classic retro diner, for breakfast or for lunch. (updated Apr 2019)
  • Le Sacristain, 300, rue Bonaventure, ☏ +1 819-694-1344. Daily 09:00-16:00. Housed in a former Wesleyan church, Le Sacristain offers grilled sandwiches, soups, salads, stews and homemade desserts. (updated Apr 2019)
  • Le Poivre Noir, 1300 du Fleuve, ☏ +1 819-378-5772. Tu Sa from 17:30, W-F 11:30-14:00 and 17:30 to closing. 3 courses $46, 5-course tasting menu $70. (updated Apr 2019)
Nightlife

The main bar strip is located on rue des Forges between the Saint Lawrence River and rue Royale.

  • Nord-Ouest Café, 1441 rue Notre-Dame, ☏ +1 819-693-1151. 
  • Archibald Microbrasserie, 3965, Rue Bellefeuille, ☏ +1 819-519-7888. Brews their own beers, live music, food. (updated Apr 2019)
Hotels
  • Hotel Gouverneur Trois-Rivières, 975, rue Hart. Rates $95 and up. Downtown near the court house. The hotel offers 127 rooms, 77 in regular class and 50 in business class. 
  • Auberge Godefroy Hotel-Spa-Golf. Becancour. Four-star hotel 10 minutes’ drive from downtown Trois-Rivieres. Has a fine restaurant and health center. 17 575 boul. +1-800-361-1620 www.aubergegodefroy.com
  • 46-721 Rodeway Inn Trois-Rivieres (formerly L’Urbania, and Hotel du Roy), 3600, boul. Gene-H.-Kruger, toll-free: +1 819-379-3232. All rooms have a satellite TV, coffee maker, fridge, free Wi-Fi. Outdoor swimming pool, a gym, and a bar/lounge. $62-85. (updated Jan 2019)
Regional Travel
  • La Mauricie National Park – 45 km north
Routes through Trois-Rivières
Montreal ← Yamachiche ← W Quebec Autoroute 40.svg E→ Quebec City → END
END ← Shawinigan ← N Quebec Autoroute 55.svg S→ Drummondville → Sherbrooke

Area information provided by wikivoyage.org

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Address:
5e Rue, Trois-Rivières, Quebec G8Y 2W3, Canada
Areas: Grand-Mère, Bécancour, Trois-Rivières, Shawinigan, Saint-Boniface-de-Shawinigan, Pointe-du-Lac, Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, Nicolet, Louiseville, La Tuque, Champlain, Cap-de-la-Madeleine
Phone: (819) 698-8007

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