Chambly's Church St-Joseph, viewed from the Chambly Basin

Chambly is a city of about 29,000 people (2016) in the Montérégie region of Quebec about 25 km (16 mi) to the southeast of Montreal.

Understand

History

Descendants of European immigrants have lived in Chambly since the 17th century, but Chambly was not incorporated as a city until 1965.

In 1609, Samuel de Champlain passed through the area that came to be the site of the town of Chambly.

Fort Chambly

Chambly is home to the massive Fort Chambly, built with local stone between 1709 and 1711 in the style of Vauban's classic French fortifications. It was built at the mouth of a large basin, on the site of successive wooden forts dating back to 1665. Fort Chambly was the largest in a series of fortifications on the shores of what is now called the Richelieu River. It soon came to be known by the name of its first commanding officer, Jacques de Chambly, to whom the surrounding seigniory was granted in 1672. It was intended to protect New France in general (and Montreal specifically) from attack from hostile natives and the English. A small local population clustered around the fort, and the entire area eventually became known as Chambly as well.

Chambly Canal locks, viewed in winter

Chambly is also known for the Chambly Canal. It was built in 1843 to bypass several kilometers of successive Richelieu River rapids between the towns of Chambly and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Part of a series of waterways connecting the Saint Lawrence River and New York City, Chambly Canal was built to facilitate commercial traffic between Canada and the United States. Trade dwindled after World War I, and as of the 1970s, traffic has been replaced by recreational vessels. Today the canal is enjoyed by tourists and more than 7,000 pleasure boats in the summer, and ice skaters in the winter.

Get in

By car

Chambly is about 30 km from Montreal. Take Autoroute 10 E out of Montreal, turn left onto Autoroute 30 (direction Sorel-Tracy), then right on to Route 112 (Boul. Cousineau).

By bus

From Montreal's Centre-Ville terminal, take Exo bus 400 or 401 ($7), and transfer at the Stationnement incitatif Chambly to Exo bus 13 ($4). (Dec 2018)

Get around

• CIT Chambly-Richelieu-Carignan. Commuter and local bus services. (updated Dec 2018)

See

• 1 Fort Chambly, 2 rue De Richelieu, ☏ +1 450-658-1585, toll-free: +1-888-773-8888. Mid-May to mid-Jun: daily 10:00-17:00; mid-Jun to early Sep: daily 10:00-18:00; early Apr-mid May and early Sep to mid-Oct: W-Su 10:00-17:00. A French fort built in the 1700s. The fort is run by Parks Canada and is designated a National Historic Site of Canada, and houses a museum and interpretive centre. It also hosts historical re-enactments of military drills and contemporary cultural events. Adults $5.70, seniors 65+ $4.95, youth $2.95, families/groups (up to 7 people with maximum of 2 adults) $14.35. (updated Dec 2018)
• Chambly Canal. The city of Chambly is at the north end of the Chambly Canal, a national historic site. Built to bypass the rapids of the Richelieu River and facilitate trade between Canada and the United States, commercial traffic dwindled after World War I and the canal now sees more traffic from recreational boats. It's also used by ice skaters in the winter. It is a National Historic Site run by Parks Canada.  
• St-Joseph of Chambly Church, 164 Rue Martel. It was built between 1880 and 1881. The parish was founded in 1665. (updated Dec 2018)
• CAfe-Theatre de Chambly, 2447, avenue Bourgogne, ☏ +1 450-447-2953. Produces plays 12 months a year (in French). (updated Dec 2018)

Buy

• Centre Commercial Chambly, 1255 Boulevard de Périgny. M-W 09:30-18:00, Th F 09:30-21:00, Sa 09:30-17:00, Su 10:00-17:00. Small shopping centre with a Hart discount department store and Metro grocery. (updated Dec 2018)
• La Galerie de Miss Rey, 1642 av. Bourgogne, ☏ +1 514-730-7668. Summer W 11:00-17:00, Th F 11:00-21:00, Sa Su 12:00-17:00; winter F Sa 16:00-20:00, Su 12:00-17:00. Fine art gallery promoting artists from Quebec and elsewhere from abstract to figurative. Thematic events. (updated Dec 2018)

Eat

• Fourquet Fourchette and the Chasse-Galerie tavern, ☏ +1 450-447-6370. 4 Sep-1 Jan: Th 11:30-20:00, F Sa 11:30-21:00, Su 10:00-20:00; 2 Jan-21 Apr: Th 11:30-20:00, F Sa 11:30-21:00, Su 10:00-14:00; 22 Apr-23 Jun: Th 11:30-20:00, F Sa 11:30-21:00, Su 10:00-20:00; 24 Jun-2 Sep: M-Th 11:30-20:00, F Sa 11:30-21:00, Su 10:00-21:00. Gastronomic restaurant and tavern serving Unibroue beers. There is musical entertainment every weekend and during the summer, seven nights a week. (updated Dec 2018)
• La cochonne rit, 1670, Ave Bourgogne, ☏ +1 450-403-9900. M 11:30-21:00 Tu-F 11:30-22:00, Sa Su 16:00-22:00. Angus steaks, seafood, burgers, sandwiches. (updated Dec 2018)
• Garde-Manger de Francois, 2403 av. Bourgogne, ☏ +1 450-447-9991. M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa Su 07:00-17:00. Cafe, deli, pastries, breads. (updated Dec 2018)

Drink

• Bedondaine & Bedons Ronds, 255, rue Petrozza (Ostiguy), ☏ +1 450-447-5165. Tu W 15:00-00:00, Th-Sa 11:30-01:00, Su 11:30-11:00. Artisanal brewery with 16 beers on tap. (updated Dec 2018)

Sleep

• Motel Mon Repos, 1860 Avenue Bourgogne, Chambly, QC J3L 1Z3, ☏ +1 450-658-5644, toll-free: +1-888-658-5644. 20 rooms in a historic building. Single $76, double $104, quad $126. (updated Dec 2018)
• À la Claire Fontaine B&B and Spa, 2130, avenue Bourgogne, ☏ +1 450-447-7940, toll-free: +1-866-925-2912. (updated Dec 2018)

Go next

Routes through Chambly

Montreal ← Brossard ←	W  E	→ Granby → Sherbrooke
END ←	N  S	→ Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu → Burlington via
Sorel-Tracy ← Beloeil ←	N  S	→ Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu → Champlain