Varennes

Varennes is a picturesque and modern town, in the regional county municipality (MRC) of Marguerite-D'Youville, in Montérégie, in Quebec, Canada.

Varennes is an agricultural, industrial, residential and recreational tourism destination. Its built heritage has a picturesque and modern charm depending on the area. The main attractions of this city are, in particular:

  • its 10-km shoreline on the St. Lawrence River, generating numerous nautical activities and resorts;
  • its twenty islands on the St. Lawrence River, the most important of which are Île Sainte-Thérèse (length: 4.9 km (3.0 mi)) and Grande Île (length: 3.2 km (2.0 mi));
  • its summer river shuttle (for passengers and bicycles) between Varennes, Pointe-aux-Trembles (Montreal) and Repentigny;
  • its Bois de Verchères (east side, near the limit of Saint-Amable);
  • its Vieux-Varennes, endowed with a picturesque built heritage;
  • its sports and leisure facilities, offering various recreational tourism services;
  • its sugar factories, generally established on the sugar road, near the limit of Saint-Amable (east of Highway 30).

Understand

Vieux-Varennes is located between the shore of the St. Lawrence River and the route of Route 132; the rest of the city has a generally more modern built heritage.

Boating and nautical activities are very popular on the St. Lawrence River, around the islands facing Varennes.

Geography

The largest island, Île Sainte-Thérèse, faces the village of Varennes. This island has about 75 dwellings (mainly for vacation purposes) and a peripheral road. The centre of the island is mainly used for agriculture. Pleasure boating is very popular in this archipelago.

  • 🌍 Frayère St-Charles, Varennes. 

History

Varennes was colonized under the seigneurial regime of New France. The seigneury of Varennes was located opposite the eastern end of the island of Montréal, between the seigneuries of Boucherville and Verchères.

In 2022, Varennes celebrates its 350th anniversary of foundation.

Get in

By car
  • From Montréal (29 km, time: 29 min). Take the Jacques-Cartier bridge (east); take route 132 (eastbound) to the village of Varennes.
  • From Quebec (248 km, time: 2 hr 32 min). Take Highway 20 (westbound); take highway 30 (direction nod); take Montée Picardie (westbound); take route 132 (westbound) to the village of Varennes.

Get around

See

Worship centres
  • 🌍 Church of Sainte-Anne-de-Varennes (Église de Sainte-Anne-de-Varennes), 300, rue de la Fabrique (in Old Sainte-Julie), ☏ +1 450-652-2441, , . This Catholic parish was founded in 1692, and then grouped together five seigniories: Cap de Varennes, Île Sainte-Thérèse, Grandmaison, Cap-de-la-Trinité and Cap Saint-Michel. The current church was built in 1884. (updated May 2022)

Events

Do

Equestrian centres

Municipal recreation
  • 🌍 Parc de la Commune (between the edge of the St. Lawrence River (Poulier de Varennes) and Sainte-Anne Street), ☏ +1 450-652-9888. Municipal park with a large parking lot and access to the Quai du Parc de la Commune where a boat launch has been set up. This park is connected to the Frayère St-Charles. (updated May 2022)
  • 🌍 Old quay of Varennes (Vieux quai de Varennes), 210, rue Sainte-Anne, ☏ +1 514-941-9214. Nautical access from the old quay of Varennes. Pleasure craft landing stage. Magnificent view of the river and Île Sainte-Thérèse. (updated May 2022)

Buy

Grocery stores

Specialized food stores
  • 🌍 Boucherie Brunelle, 126, rue Sainte-Anne, ☏ +1 450-652-2634. Butcher's shop. (updated May 2022)
  • 🌍 Cabane à sucre Famille Fortier, 3974, chemin du Cordon, #43410, ☏ +1 450-. Sugar factory set up in the Bois de Varennes, at the far east of the municipal territory. (updated May 2022)
  • 🌍 Cabane à sucre Famille Fortier, 3974, chemin du Cordon, #43410, ☏ +1 450-. Sugar factory set up in the Bois de Varennes, at the far east of the municipal territory. (updated May 2022)
  • 🌍 Le Château de la Grange, 4310, chemin du Cordon, ☏ +1 450-929-3462. Vineyard with shop. Catering and room rental. (updated May 2022)
  • 🌍 Vignoble Domaine du Fleuve, 1164, route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 514-796-5056. Vineyard with shop. (updated May 2022)

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, 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. It is recommended that customers inquire with each establishment by consulting their respective websites.

Dairy bars

Breakfast restaurants

Pizzerias

Asian cuisine

Drink

Sleep

Gîtes, chalets
  • 🌍 L'Oiseau Bleu, 2518, Chemin du Calvaire (Along the St. Lawrence River), ☏ +1 514-436-0710. A residence in the heart of nature. Capacity for up to six people. Two bedrooms upstairs. (updated Apr 2022)

Cope

Go next
Routes through Varennes
END ←  W  E  → Mont-Saint-Hilaire → Rougemont
Salaberry-de-Valleyfield ← Brossard ←  W  E  → Sorel-Tracy → Lévis
Vaudreuil-Dorion ← Brossard ←  W  E  → Contrecoeur → Sorel-Tracy


  • 🌍 Boucherville Islands National Park This National Park is a protected area open all year round. Its territory covers the islands: Grosbois, Sainte-Marguerite, de la Commune, Grande-Rivière, aux-Raisins, La Petite Rivière and the Grand Duc. This park includes the Île Sainte-Marguerite Discovery and Visitors Centre, the Île Sainte-Marguerite Group Pavilion and the Grosbois Visitors Centre. Users can rent equipment for recreational tourism activities in all seasons, go camping and organize group activities. In this park, the deer population is part of the scenery.
  • 🌍 Verchères Founded in 1672 along the St. Lawrence River, Old Verchères boasts a picturesque and well-restored built heritage, inspired by the times of New France. Visitors can discover two sculptures on ash trees, and great figures who have left their mark on local history, including Madeleine de Verchères (1678-1747), an ordinary mill, the islands of Verchères, the Saint-François-Xavier church, the verchere boat and the memorial to the pioneer families of Verchères.
  • 🌍 Saint-Amable Recreational tourism activities are varied, including cycling, hiking, camping, sugar shacks, municipal parks, etc.
  • 🌍 Sainte-Julie, Quebec Sainte-Julie is a city of great cultural, sporting and leisure activities. Sainte-Julie offers a pedestrian heritage circuit to discover the Old Village under the historical aspect with 26 information panels; a mobile, self-guided version is available on the city's website.
  • 🌍 Boucherville Boucherville also has 41 municipal parks, two public sports and recreation complexes, a golf club, two yacht clubs, a rowing club, the Maison des Jeunes and a Center D'Art café.
  • 🌍 Montréal Montreal is the economic, commercial and financial heart of Quebec. It is a large, diverse city, with many festivals, museums, and lively neighbourhoods that attract visitors.
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