Mont-Saint-Hilaire

Mont-Saint-Hilaire is a town of about 19,000 (2020) near Montreal, east of the Richelieu River, in La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Quebec. It is distinguished by a resort on the east bank of the Richelieu River, agrotourism (orchards, vineyard, cider house, apple products, market gardening products), its three museums, its places of worship, the Center de la Nature Mont Saint-Hilaire, and its nautical infrastructure (docks, landing stages, launching ramps, boat storage) promoting pleasure boating.

Mont-Saint-Hilaire is also the name of the mountain in the town, which overlooks the entire region. It is picturesque and has numerous hiking trails.

Understand

Mont-Saint-Hilaire is an important apple-growing region. There is also a significant deposit of the semi-precious mineral sodalite near Mont-Saint-Hilaire.

History

At all times in history, the Richelieu River has proven to be a natural nerve centre and cross-border route between the St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain in the United States. This legendary valley contains vestiges of the Amerindian era, of commercial or pleasure navigation, as well as wars and skirmishes between Indigenous people, French, British and Americans.

Prehistory

Thousands of artifacts have been found in the Richelieu River Valley, dating from the Amerindian era, reaching its peak 21,000 years ago. Following the arrival of Europeans in America, the way of life of the Indigenous people was transformed, at first mainly thanks to the metal tools imported from Europe.

Colonization

The first map of the region was drawn by Samuel de Champlain in 1609. The town of Sorel was founded in 1642. In 1665, the Chambly road was laid out between the towns of Chambly and Longueuil by the troops of the Régiment de Carignan-Salières; it is the first motorable road in Canada. The construction of the Saint-Ours canal (1843) and the Chambly canal (1849) proved to be a significant lever for Canada-United States cross-border trade via the Richelieu, over more than 100 years. At the end of the 19th century, the railways supplanted river transport on the Richelieu.

Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville was granted lordship over the region in 1694. By 1745 a mountain village had been formed with the first chapel being built in 1798 near the Richelieu River. In 1822, a ferry operating between Beloeil and Mont-Saint-Hilaire came into service. A bridge, enabling Beloeil and St. Hilaire to be connected by rail, was built in 1848 by the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway. The Campbell family, owners of the mountain after that of Rouville, sold the mountain to a British officer, Brigadier-General Andrew Gault, in whose ownership it remained for 45 years. Gault then bequeathed the mountain to McGill University before his death in 1958.

In 1864, Canada's worst rail disaster occurred here when a passenger train passed a red signal and fell off an open swing bridge into the Richelieu River, killing around 99 people.

Wars and Rebellion of 1837-38

Designated the valley of the forts, the valley of the Richelieu River was the scene of military operations during the two Franco-Iroquois wars (1643-1667 and 1684-1701), the intercolonial wars (1689-1760), the American Revolution (1775-1776), the American Revolutionary War (1776-1783) and the War of 1812-1814.

The 1837-38 Patriot Rebellion followed many secret assemblies in the early 19th century aimed at establishing full democracy and French-speaking rights.

Geography

Mont-Saint-Hilaire extends over 9.2 km (5.7 mi) from the east bank of the Richelieu River from the railway bridge over the Richelieu River. The distance is 13.9 km (8.6 mi) between the summit of Mont Saint-Hilaire and that of Mont Rougement; and 11.2 km (7.0 mi) with the summit of Mont Saint-Bruno.

The limit of Mont-Saint-Hilaire stops at the foot of Mont Saint-Hilaire (east side); thus the distance between the Richelieu River (at the height of the bridge) and the eastern limit of the municipality is 5.7 km (3.5 mi).

Get in

By car

Autoroute 20, a freeway, passes along the northern side of the Mont-Saint-Hilaire. Autoroute 20 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway between Longueuil and Rivière-du-Loup.

  • From Montréal (35 km, time: 44 min. Take the Jacques-Cartier bridge (southbound); take boulevard Taschereau (westbound); take route 116 (eastbound) to the village of Saint-Hilaire.
  • From Quebec (220 km, time: 2 hr 16 min). Take Autoroute 20 (westbound) up to Saint-Hilaire; take Grande-Allée (westbound); take the 116 (westbound).

By train

Mont-Saint-Hilaire is served by the Mont-Saint-Hilaire commuter rail station on the Réseau de transport métropolitain's (RTM) Mont-Saint-Hilaire line. To get there from Montreal if you do not have a car, the easiest approach is to take the AMT commuter trains from Montreal's Gare Centrale (Central Station). Prices and timetables can be found here, and it should cost around $8 each way. As the local train station is 4-5 km from the trailhead, the most effective means to get there is to hitchhike or take a taxi.

By bus
  • EXO serves the municipalities/cities of the Richelieu valley, in particular (nearby) Otterburn Park, McMasterville, St-Hyacinthe, Beloeil, and Mont-Saint-Hilaire. See the website for schedules.

Get around

Local bus service is provided by the RTM's Vallée du Richelieu sector.

See
  • 🌍 Domaine Ozias Leduc, 272 chemin Ozias-Leduc, ☏ +1 450-536-3033, . Ozias Leduc (1864-1955) was a prolific church decorator and easel painter. This nationally renowned artist exerted a significant influence on Quebec and Canadian painting of the 20th century, notably with Paul-Émile Borduas, Jean-Paul Riopelle and many others. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 La Maison amérindienne (The First Nations House), 510, Montée des Trente, ☏ +1 450-464-2500, . The museum La Maison amérindienne is a place of exchange, sharing and rapprochement. Its mission is to make the First Nations better known (including their knowledge and know-how) through museum, environmental and gastronomic activities. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Le Musée des beaux-arts de Mont-Saint-Hilaire, 150 Rue du Centre Civique, ☏ +1 450-536-3033. General $6, seniors and students $5, children (6 to 12 years old) $4, children (0 to 5 years old) free, family (two adults and two children) $16. The major art museum on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River. It was founded in 1993 to promote the work of regional artists Jordi Bonet, Paul-Émile Borduas and Ozias Leduc. The museum includes the houses of Borduas and Leduc, which can be visited. Exhibitions are art from the area, and other Quebec artists such as Jean-Paul Lemieux and Nancy Petry. (updated Dec 2018)
  • 🌍 Eglise Saint-Hilaire (Saint-Hilaire Church), 260 Chemin des Patriotes Nord, ☏ +1 450-467-4434. Church facing the Richelieu River. (updated Dec 2018)
  • 🌍 Église de Jésus-Christ des Saints des derniers jours (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), 955, boulevard Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier, ☏ +1 450-464-5251. Place of worship. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Maison Yuan, 754, chemin des Patriotes. Place of worship. (updated Feb 2022)

Events
  • Marché public estival (Summer Public Market): , City Hall Parking (library side). Mid-Jun to mid-Sep, each Wednesday. Exclusively agri-food public market. About thirty producers offer their farm products and ready-to-go meals. The first edition took place in 2019. (date needs fixing)
  • Rallye historique (Historic rally): . The route of this historic rally is intended for people of all ages. It allows you to cycle the 7 km of the circuit, to discover the historical heritage and to visit the Domaine Ozias-Leduc. Ideal activity for photo enthusiasts and history buffs. (date needs fixing)

Do

Buy

Foods

Specialized food stores

Agrotourism
  • 🌍 Alpagas du Domaine Poissant inc (Alpacas from Domaine Poissant inc), 1235, chemin de la Montagne, ☏ +1 514-316-5975. Shop open year round.. Main activities: guided tour of the farm. Walk with alpaca(s), evening walk with alpaca(s), Zen yoga with alpacas, parent-child yoga with alpacas. Tours are by reservation only. (updated Feb 2022)

Orchards, Vineyard
  • 🌍 Au Pavillon de la Pomme, 1130, boulevard Sir Wilfrid-Laurier (at the foot of the north flank of Mont Saint-Hilaire), ☏ +1 450-464-2654, . Diversified farm offering apple and berry products. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Cidrerie Cryo (Cryo cider house), 85 Rang des Étangs, ☏ +1 450-813-7011. Artisanal ciderhouse producing ice, still or sparkling ciders. (updated Dec 2018)
  • 🌍 Cidrerie du Verger Gaston (Verger Gaston cider house), 1174, chemin de la Montagne. Orchard. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Domaine de Cavel-Verger Biologique (Domaine de Cavel-Organic Orchard), 1174, chemin de la Montagne, ☏ +1 450-464-3455. Orchard. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Domaine Vineterra, vignoble (Domaine Vineterra, vineyard), 815, chemin Pion, ☏ +1 450-584-3788, . Vineyard (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Le Flanc Nord - Verger & Cidrerie (The North Flank - Orchard & Cider House), 835, chemin Rouillard, ☏ +1 450-464-3455. Orchard. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Les 7 fruits du Château (The 7 fruits of the castle), 1172, chemin de la Montagne, ☏ +1 450-467-9965. Orchard. Activities: U-pick, tasting, exhibitions and flora observation. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Verger François Legault (Francois Legault Orchard), 111, rang des Étangs, ☏ +1 450-467-6492. Orchard. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Verger La Vieille Forge (Orchard The Old Forge), 1112, chemin de la Montagne. Orchard. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Vignoble Les Murmures, 2750, rue Noiseux, ☏ +1 450-467-1730. Vineyard. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Vergers Petit et Fils, 1020, Chemin de la Montagne, ☏ +1 450-468-9926. Daily 09:00-17:00. Apple orchard. Pick your own apples. A variety of ciders and other apple products for sale. Creperie open Sa Su 09:00-15:00. (updated Dec 2018)

Eat

Several restaurants or dining rooms in the Montérégie have transformed the mode of meals at the tables into take-out or delivery service. In general, restaurateurs have demonstrated great resilience by updating their website, integrating interactive and automated applications for remote orders, as well as the display of the menu, opening hours, their mode of operation (e.g. by reservation, drive-thru service), required health measures (e.g., vaccination record, mask, distancing), other services (e.g., caterer, shops, accommodation, access for disabled, wi-fi, take-out, delivery), contact details and often the history of the restaurant or site.

Drink

Sleep

Hotels, motels

Gîtes, chalets
  • 🌍 Diane Bourdon, 986, boulevard Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier, ☏ +1 514-617-2867. Hotel (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Gîte Bernache, 298, rue des Bernaches. Gîte. (updated Feb 2022)

Cope

Municipal services
  • 🌍 Bibliothèque Armand Cardinal (Armand Cardinal Library), 150, rue du Centre-Civique (Building located opposite the town hall.), ☏ +1 450 467-2854, , . The Armand Cardinal library has a rich and varied collection of more than 80,000 documents, including 70,000 books of all genres and for all ages, newspapers, magazines, journals, multimedia documents, read books, compact discs, DVDs, works of reference, digital books, etc. (updated Feb 2022)

Go next
Routes through Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Montreal ← Longueuil ←  W  E  → Drummondville → Quebec City
Longueuil ← Beloeil ←  O  E  → Victoriaville → Lévis
Sorel-Tracy ← Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu ←  N  S  → Richelieu → Saint-Armand
Varennes ← Sainte-Julie ←  W  E  → Mont-Saint-Hilaire → Rougemont
Downtown Montreal ← Longueuil ←  W  E  → McMasterville → END


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