Centre-du-Québec
What to do in Centre-du-Québec
The region everyone drives straight through — wrongly. Cranberry fields, sugar bushes, gardens, rivers and the first foothills of the Appalachians, exactly halfway between Montréal and Québec City. Discover it season by season, and the cottage to make your base.
Centre-du-Québec, right in the middle
On the south shore of the St. Lawrence, halfway between Montréal and Québec City, Centre-du-Québec brings together five RCMs — Bécancour, Nicolet-Yamaska, L'Érable, Arthabaska and Drummond — and two territories of the W8banaki Nation, Wôlinak and Odanak. To the north, farmland and the river; to the south, the land rises into the first foothills of the Appalachians.
Tourisme Centre-du-Québec sums the region up in a phrase: "cranberry capital, birthplace of poutine, maple country." Which is to say a good deal of the trip happens at the table — but there are also remarkable gardens, a period village open all four seasons, a ski hill lit for night skiing and rivers to put a canoe into. Our two cottages are at Saint-Ferdinand, on Lac William, and at St-Lucien, near Drummondville.
COTTAGES TO RENT IN CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC
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Cottages in Centre-du-Québec: explore by experience
HOLIDAYS IN CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC
Who is Centre-du-Québec for, and when should you go?
A region easily reached from both big cities, gentler than it is spectacular, and very strong on local food. The right time depends mostly on what you are after.
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With family
A family holiday in Centre-du-Québec: the Village Québécois d'Antan, the Kingsey Falls gardens and the cranberry fields.
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As a couple
A private hot tub on Lac William, and a tour of the cheese dairies and sugar shacks.
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Remote work
A proper desk, high-speed internet and an EV charger, an hour from both Montréal and Québec City.
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Food lovers
The tourist board says it itself: cranberry capital, birthplace of poutine, maple country.
When to visit Centre-du-Québec
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Spring
Sugaring-off season, taken seriously in maple country.
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Summer
Gardens in bloom, swimming in the lake, canoeing on the river and festivals in Drummondville.
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Fall
The cranberry harvest and the haunted village — the finest season here.
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Winter
Night skiing at Mont Gleason, tube sliding and the village lit up.
WHAT TO DO IN CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC
What to do in Centre-du-Québec: activities by season
Things to do in Centre-du-Québec with family, in summer as in winter. Pick a theme to see the matching activities — every place named here is real.
With family
- Village Québécois d'Antan — Drummondville A period village with costumed characters, open in all four seasons.
- Parc Marie-Victorin — Kingsey Falls Seven botanical worlds, giant plant sculptures and a carnivorous-plant greenhouse.
- Cranberry fields — Saint-Louis-de-Blandford A wagon ride through the fields and tastings, in the fall only.
- Parc régional de la Rivière Gentilly Trails and waterways at Sainte-Marie-de-Blandford, on the river side.
- Lac William — Saint-Ferdinand Swimming and boating, straight from our cottage dock.
- Odanak & Wôlinak The two territories of the W8banaki Nation, to discover in the region.
In summer
- Canoeing on the Nicolet Sud-Ouest River The canoe comes with Refuge Chez Joe; the river is about a hundred metres away.
- The plant sculptures at Parc Marie-Victorin Living sculptures made from some 60,000 annual plants.
- Swimming and a dock on Lac William A large body of water at the foot of the Appalachians, at Saint-Ferdinand.
- Hiking at Mont Gleason Walking trails in summer, on the Tingwick ski mountain.
- A tour of the cheese dairies Including the Fromagerie du Presbytère, at Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick.
- Drummondville festivals The liveliest town in the region, about thirty minutes away.
In winter
- Downhill skiing — Mont Gleason, Tingwick 28 runs and glades, with 75 % of the terrain open for night skiing.
- Tube sliding at Mont Gleason The easiest winter outing to organise with children.
- Snowshoeing On the mountain and in the region's regional parks.
- The Village Québécois d'Antan, lit up The winter version of the Drummondville village.
- Maple sugar season The sugar shacks of Beauce and Bellechasse, in spring.
- An evening at the cottage A fireplace, a long table and a frozen lake outside the window.
COTTAGE RENTALS IN CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC
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Our cottages to rent in Centre-du-Québec
Two cottages, two moods: lakeside with a private hot tub at Saint-Ferdinand, and a back-to-nature refuge on the river near Drummondville. Details come straight from our listings — click through for availability and rates.
ITINERARY
A weekend in Centre-du-Québec: our itinerary
A suggested three-day route starting from your cottage. The links lead to official sources.
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Day 1 — Drummondville
The Village Québécois d'Antan and its costumed characters — by day in summer, haunted in the fall, lit up in winter — then downtown and its restaurants.
Village Québécois d'Antan ↗ -
Day 2 — Maple and cranberry country
Head southeast: the sugar shacks and cheese dairies of the Arthabaska RCM, then, in October, a visit to the cranberry fields at Saint-Louis-de-Blandford.
Cranberry Interpretation Centre ↗ -
Day 3 — Kingsey Falls and Tingwick
The gardens and plant sculptures of Parc Marie-Victorin in the morning; Mont Gleason in the afternoon — hiking in summer, skiing or sliding in winter.
Parc Marie-Victorin ↗
WHAT TO SEE IN CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC
The essential sights of Centre-du-Québec
Places we have checked, and that keep their appeal year after year. Each card links to the official source so you can plan your visit.
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DRUMMONDVILLE
The Village Québécois d'Antan
villagequebecois.comA period village brought to life by costumed characters, open all four seasons: a daytime experience in summer, a haunted village in the fall, an illuminated village in winter.
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KINGSEY FALLS
Parc Marie-Victorin
parcmarievictorin.comSeven botanical worlds, giant plant sculptures built from some 60,000 annual plants, a carnivorous-plant greenhouse, a museum and five exhibitions.
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SAINT-LOUIS-DE-BLANDFORD
The Cranberry Interpretation Centre
canneberge.qc.caA wagon ride through the fields, an interpretation room, tastings and a cranberry pool to pose in. Open only a few weeks in the fall — check the dates.
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TINGWICK · NEAR VICTORIAVILLE
Mont Gleason
montgleason.caThe region's ski mountain: 28 runs and glades, with 75 % of the terrain open for night skiing, plus tube sliding, snowshoeing and walking trails in summer.
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SAINTE-MARIE-DE-BLANDFORD
The Parc régional de la Rivière Gentilly
tourismecentreduquebec.comA large natural area on the river side — trails, waterways and forest — one of the outdoor highlights featured by Tourisme Centre-du-Québec.
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ODANAK & WÔLINAK
The territories of the W8banaki Nation
tourismecentreduquebec.comTwo Abenaki communities at the heart of the region, presented by the tourist board on the same footing as the five RCMs. An essential part of what Centre-du-Québec is.
The 5 RCMs and the 2 W8banaki territories
Tourisme Centre-du-Québec presents the region as five RCMs and two Indigenous territories. From the river in the north to the first Appalachian foothills in the south is less than an hour's drive.
Drummond — Drummondville, the festivals and the Village Québécois d'Antan. Our St-Lucien cottage is here.
Arthabaska — Victoriaville, the sugar shacks, the cheese dairies and Mont Gleason.
L'Érable — Plessisville, Lac William and Saint-Ferdinand: our second cottage.
Bécancour — the riverside, the Gentilly River and the cranberries.
Nicolet-Yamaska — the waterways, the tidal flats and the birdwatching.
Odanak & Wôlinak — the two territories of the W8banaki Nation.
FAQ
Holidays in Centre-du-Québec: common questions
Where is Centre-du-Québec?
It is administrative region 17, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, halfway between Montréal and Québec City. Tourisme Centre-du-Québec presents it as five RCMs — Bécancour, Nicolet-Yamaska, L'Érable, Arthabaska and Drummond — and two territories of the W8banaki Nation, Wôlinak and Odanak.
When should you visit Centre-du-Québec?
All year round. Spring for sugaring-off season, summer for the gardens, the rivers and the Drummondville festivals, fall for the cranberry harvest and the haunted village, winter for night skiing at Mont Gleason and the illuminated village.
What is there to do in Centre-du-Québec in winter?
Downhill skiing at Mont Gleason in Tingwick — 28 runs and glades, 75 % of the terrain open at night — plus tube sliding, snowshoeing, and the illuminated version of the Village Québécois d'Antan in Drummondville.
What is there to do in Centre-du-Québec with family?
The Village Québécois d'Antan in Drummondville, Parc Marie-Victorin in Kingsey Falls with its giant plant sculptures, the fall wagon ride through the cranberry fields at Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, and the trails of the Parc régional de la Rivière Gentilly.
Can you rent a cottage in Centre-du-Québec with Chalets Confort?
Yes. Le Gingo Shack, at Saint-Ferdinand, has a private hot tub and direct access to Lac William with its own dock, sleeping up to 12. Le Refuge Chez Joe, at St-Lucien, is a back-to-nature cottage about a hundred metres from the Nicolet Sud-Ouest River, with a canoe, a work space and an EV charger. See available cottages →
Ready to explore Centre-du-Québec?
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