Saint-Jérôme is a city of 68,000 people (2011) in Laurentides region of Quebec. It is considered a gateway to the Laurentian Mountains and its resorts via the Autoroute des Laurentides (Autoroute 15).
Understand
The town is named after Saint Jerome (ca. 347 – September 30, 420), a church father best known as the translator of the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin. His translation is known as the Vulgate.
- Tourist information (Bureau d'Accueil Touristique), 160, rue de la Gare, ☏ +1 450-432-0767. Mid-May to early June: Sa Su 11:00-17:00; early Jun to mid-Aug: daily 10:00-18:00; mid-Aug to mid-Oct: Sa Su 11:00-17:00.
History
The territory where the present city of Saint-Jérôme now stands was granted in 1752 by the marquis de la Jonquière, governor of New France, as the seignory of Augmentation des Mille-Iles (literally "enlargement" of the seignory of Mille-Iles). From the 1760s to the 1840s, the seignory was owned by the Dumont and Lefebvre de Bellefeuille families, living in the town of Saint-Eustache, 25 km (16 mi) to the south. The Dumonts and the Lefebvres conceded the farmland to colonists coming mostly from the region lying north of Montreal. The emerging town was then known under the name of Dumontville. The Catholic parish of Saint-Jérôme was constituted in 1834 and the village was constituted in 1845 by Governor Metcalfe.
François-Xavier-Antoine Labelle, a Roman Catholic priest who was the great "colonizer" (promoter of settlement) of the North of Montreal, was in charge of the pastoral administration of Saint-Jérôme of 1868 until his death, in 1891. Eight years after his arrival, he had a railway built linking Saint-Jérôme and Montreal. The opening of roads and the arrival of a railway became essential with the development of the small communities in the Laurentians. These transportation routes for the movement of goods and people would ensure the establishment of trade and industry. The railway was seen as a way to meet the needs for firewood and construction materials for urban centres like Montreal and Quebec.
Get in
It is about 45 km (28 mi) northwest of Montreal on the Rivière du Nord.
By car Saint-Jérôme as accessed from Montreal along Autoroute 15 (Autoroute des Laurentides), which continues north to Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, or alternatively Route 117. Autoroute 50 connects to Gatineau.
By train Train service from Montreal is provided by the Exo [dead link] commuter rail system (formerly: Agence Metropolitain de Transport). There are 13 departures from Montreal during the week, and six departures on the weekends and holidays.
By bus The station is served by bus routes operated by Exo, the neighbouring transit agency CRT Lanaudière, and three private intercity bus companies.
Get around
See
- 1 Cathedral of Saint-Jérôme, 355 Place du Cure-Labelle. M-F 13:00-16:30, M-Sa 08:30-12:00. It was built in 1897 in neo-classical style. It is 24.6 m high, 76.9 m long and 30.7 m wide. The large atrium is below the Casavant organ. Fence pink fence is lined with windows, made in France. Delphis-Adolphe Beaulieu created the grouped windows. In 1908, he added a transversal way to church. It includes a small museum.
- Vieux-Palais, 584 Rue du Palais. Modern art museum and public library.
- Musée d'art contemporain des Laurentides, 101, Place du Cure-Labelle, ☏ +1 450-432-7171. Tu-Su 12:00-17:00.
- Statue of Antoine Labelle, 349 Labelle Street. Known as curé Labelle, he was principally responsible for the settlement of the Laurentians.
Do
- Route verte cycling path. Saint-Jérôme is an important stop on the north-south trunk of the "route verte" cycling path from Blainville on the outskirts of Montreal to the south, and Mont-Tremblant to the north. The path never shared the road with a motorized vehicle. North of Saint-Jérôme, the trail is known as the "P'tit Train du Nord" linear park (rail trail) and is also used as a cross-country ski trail in winter.
- Centre de Ski de Fond Gai-Luron, 2155, Montee Sainte-Therese. Trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing & fatbiking. Equipment rentals. Cross-country skiing daily rate (M-F/Sa Su): adult $18/$20, 13-17 years old $14/$16, 5-12 years old $5/$5; snowshoeing and fatbiking rates are less.
- Several summer festivals
- Melançon Arena, an indoor arena
Buy
- Carrefour du Nord, 900 Boulevard Grignon,. M Tu 10:00-18:00, W-F 10:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 10:00-17:00. A regional shopping mall with a Canadian Tire.
Eat
- Boeuf Cochon, 255 Martigny Ouest, ☏ +1 450-436-9008. M-W 11:00 - 22:00, Th F 11:00 - 23:00, Sa 14:00 - 23:00, Su 14:00 - 22:00. Steakhouse and bar. Pasta, seafood and chicken also available. Burgers and sandwiches $14-18, steaks $26-135.
- Restaurant Chez Johnny, 603 Rue St-Georges, ☏ +1 450-436-1339. M-Th Sa 08:00 to 01:00, F 08:00 to 02:00, Su 09:00 to 00:00. Diner since 1945. Burgers, sandwiches, omlettes.
- La Conquistadora, 549 rue Saint-Georges, ☏ +1 450-592-2660. Tu-Su 11:00-15:00; Tu-Th Su 17:00-20:00, F 17:00-21:00, Sa 17:00-22:00. Mexican and Salvadoran cuisine.
Drink
- Microbrasserie Dieu du Ciel, 259 de Villemure Street, ☏ +1 450-436-3438. M-Th 11:30 to 02:00, F 11:30 to 03:00, Sa 14:00 to 03:00, Su 14:00 to 01:00. Microbrewery pub with full menu.
Sleep
- Camping Lac Lafontaine Cottage & RV Resort, 1100 Boulevard du Grand Héron, ☏ +1 450-431-7373. 357 campsites. Serviced sites: 15-, 30- and 50-amp. Cabins. Swimming lake with beach, heated swimming pool, splash pad, children's playground, beach volleyball, shuffleboard, arcade & pool table, horseshoe pits and petanque, pedalo & kayak, Wi-Fi. Cyclists welcome. Community centre, restaurant and convenience store. Planned events & activities throughout the season. Late Jun to early Sep: tent $37, serviced sites $42-58.
- Motel La Cheminee, 2374 Boulevard du Curé-Labelle, ☏ +1 450-438-4175. Breakfast included, landscaped gardens, walking trails. $98-160.
- Best Western Hotel St. Jerome, 420 Monseigneur-Dubois Boulevard, ☏ +1 450-438-1155, toll-free: +1-800-780-7234. Breakfast included, Wi-Fi, pool, fitness centre, fridge in room, wheelchair accessible rooms. From $136.
Connect
Go next
Routes through Saint-Jérôme |
Mont-Tremblant ← Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs ← | N S | → Laval → Montreal |
Gatineau ← Montebello ← | W E | → ENDS |
Mont-Tremblant ← Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs ← | N S | → Laval → Montreal |
ENDS ← | N S | → Rosemère → Downtown Montreal |