Trois-Rivières (historically and rarely Three Rivers) is the second-oldest city in Quebec, founded in 1634. It lies almost half-way between Montreal and Quebec City and can make a nice stopover on travel between those two cities. Trois-Rivières is the regional capital of the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, a vast area of 39,748 km². Located at the junction of two economic regions, Trois-Rivières has a population of 137,000 (2016), and radiates through a pool of almost 475,000 people. It is 130 km from Montreal and 120 km from Quebec City on ​​the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River.

Understand

The Saint-Maurice River

Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada

The Saint-Maurice river, with its watershed with a length of 587 km, is the main river of the Mauricie administrative region. The waters of four rivers bathe his magnificent Laurentian plain. St. Anne, Batiscan, Du Loup river and Maskinongé river are also important for economic and recreational tourism development in the region. Lake Saint Pierre has been part, since November 2000, of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO. Lake Saint Pierre is the only example of sustainable development, recognized by the United Nations, have a way of world-class navigation, crossing from one end to the other's territory.

History

Rue des Ursulines

It was founded in 1634, but the city occupies a location known to the French since 1535 when Jacques Cartier, in a trip along the St. Lawrence, stopped to plant a cross on Saint-Quentin island. But the Three Rivers name was used for the first time in 1599 by Sieur François Gravé Du Pont, a geographer working with explorer Samuel de Champlain, who confirmed the name in 1603. Sieur Gravé Du Pont as he sailed river towards Montreal, saw little intervals a first tributary of the river, a strip of land, a second tributary, another strip of land, and finally a third tributary it took even to a different river. He did not know then that two large islands divide the course of the Saint-Maurice River in three parts where the latter flows into the St. Lawrence river. The name Trois-Rivières has stayed through the years and the city was incorporated in 1857. Location of a major fur trade during the first 25 years of its existence, Trois-Rivières remained the cradle of many "travellers", explorers and trappers, the most famous of which were Nicolet, Hertel, Godefroy, Radisson, des Groseilliers, Boucher and Lavérendrye.

Get in

By car

Autoroute 40 between Quebec and Montreal passes through Trois-Rivières.

By bus

An Orléans Express bus travels to Trois-Rivières about every two hours from the central bus stations in Montreal and Quebec. Cost for students is $45.32 for a round trip. Cost for adults is $53.28 for a round trip.

By plane

• 1 Trois-Rivières (YRQ  ^IATA), toll-free: +1 819 377-4382. Private aircraft only. (updated Aug 2019)

Get around

• The Société de transport de Trois-Rivières (STTR). The local public transit system operates 14 regular routes during the day and 6 during the evening. Some routes do not operate on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. $3.50 single ticket, $3.30 if using the Cité smart card, family day pass $9.80, children 5 and under free. (updated Apr 2019)

See

Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape

• 1 Old Trois-Rivières. (updated Aug 2016)
• 2 Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada, 10 000, boulevard des Forges, ☏ +1 819-378-5116, toll-free: +1 888-773-8888. June 22 to September 2: 10:00-17:00. Archaeological site of the first site of the steel industry and the first industrial town in Canada (updated Aug 2015)

Old Prison of Trois-Rivières

• Québec Museum of Popular Culture (Musée québécois de culture populaire), 200, rue Laviolette, ☏ +1 819-372-0406. Late Jun-Aug: daily 10:00-18:00; Sep-late Jun: W-F 10:00-16:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00. The museum presents six bold and unusual exhibitions, all in a distinctly Québécois style. Visitors can also look behind the scenes as the museum opens up its storage area to reveal part of its rich ethnological collection - an innovation in Québec. Adult $13, senior $12, student (18+) $10, youth (5-17) $8, child under 5 free; joint ticket with Old Prison: adult $21, senior $19, student $16, youth $13, child free. (updated Apr 2019)
• Old Prison of Trois-Rivières (Vieille prison de Trois-Rivières), 200, rue Laviolette, ☏ +1 819-372-0406. Late Jun-Aug: daily 10:00-18:00; Sep-Oct May-late Jun: W-F 10:00-16:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00; Nov-Apr: Sa Su 10:00-17:00. The Old Prison of Trois-Rivières, classified as an historical monument, offer the visit-experience "Go to Jail!", where ex-inmates lead visitors on a tour that provides a real glimpse into prison life. This prison was in operation from 1822 to 1986, and closed its doors due to the unhealthy conditions. The tour of cells and places of solitary confinement is a true eye-opener! You can start the tour with a prison card that includes your photograph and fingerprints. Groups can serve a one-night sentence, upon reservation. Adult $15, senior $14, student (18+) $12, youth (5-17) $10, child under 5 free; joint ticket with of Popular Culture: see listing above. (updated Apr 2019)
• 3 Manoir Boucher de Niverville, 168, rue Bonaventure, ☏ +1 819-372-4531, manoirdeniverville@v3r.net. Exhibit shows the different aspects of life in New France: political, social events, manners and customs, to discover the life of the ancestors. (updated Aug 2016)
• 4 Moulin seigneurial de Tonnancour, 11930, Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, ☏ +1 819-377-1396. Historical site of the flour mill of the 18th century and the sawmill, both operated by hydraulic force and whose mechanisms are still functional. Art exhibitions are presented in the art gallery of the house of the miller. (updated Aug 2016)
• 5 Borealis, paper industry's history center, 200, avenue des Draveurs, ☏ +1 819-372-4633. Museum on the history of the pulp and paper industry in Quebec. Housed in the old filtration plant of a paper. (updated Aug 2016)
• 6 Our Lady of the Cape Shrine. (updated Aug 2016)
• Musée des Filles de Jésus. 
• Musée des Ursulines. 
• Centre d'exposition Raymond-Lasnier. 
• 7 Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin, 10 place de la Rosalie (Take Chemin de l'Ile Saint-Christophe SE from Hwy 138). 2 km of park trails are flooded with water to make ice skating trails every winter. Rent skates, sleds, helmets, and bikes by the hour (about CA$8), or bring your own. Re-opening June 2020 after renovations. (updated Jan 2020)
• Salle J.-A.-Thompson. 

Nearby

• Centre de la Biodiversité du Québec, 1800 avenue des Jasmins, Bécancour (just outside of Trois-Rivières). Summer: daily 10:00-17:00. A science museum that educates about and promotes the conservation of Quebec's native species with exhibitions and walking trails. Adult $12, senior (65+) or student (18+) $10, child (3-17) $7, family (2 adults, 2 children) $35. (updated Aug 2019)

Do

• Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, toll-free: +1-866-416-9797. Two weekends in early August. ​​The largest motor racing event to be held on an urban circuit in the Americas. It has served as a springboard for several major Formula 1 drivers. It stands out for its unlimited public access to the enclosures. The first weekend features FIA Rallycross racing, and the second weekend features NASCAR racing. General admission $66 per weekend, $115 for both. (updated Apr 2019)
• Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine
• Festival International Danse Encore
• Festival International de la Poésie
• FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières
• Rendez-vous des coureurs des bois de Trois-Rivières
• Les délices d’automne

Buy

• Centre commercial Les Rivières, 4225 Boulevard des Forges. M-F 09:30-17:30, Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 10:00-17:00. 140 stores. (updated Apr 2019)

Eat

Bistro L'Ancêtre

• Bistro l'Ancêtre, 603 rue des Ursulines, ☏ +1 819-373-7077. Oddly enough, this is the only restaurant on Ursulines, tucked away in a suitably old building at the far (east) end, but it draws a local crowd in addition to tourists. The food is more Italian than French, with pizzas and pastas making up most of the menu, but all mains include soup, dessert and coffee and cost only $7-12. 
• Binerie Chik, 1150, rue Royale, ☏ +1 819-840-6687. M-Sa 05:00-16:00, Su 05:00-15:00. A classic retro diner, for breakfast or for lunch. (updated Apr 2019)
• Le Sacristain, 300, rue Bonaventure, ☏ +1 819-694-1344. Daily 09:00-16:00. Housed in a former Wesleyan church, Le Sacristain offers grilled sandwiches, soups, salads, stews and homemade desserts. (updated Apr 2019)
• Le Poivre Noir, 1300 du Fleuve, ☏ +1 819-378-5772. Tu Sa from 17:30, W-F 11:30-14:00 and 17:30 to closing. 3 courses $46, 5-course tasting menu $70. (updated Apr 2019)

Drink

The main bar strip is located on rue des Forges between the Saint Lawrence River and rue Royale.

• Nord-Ouest Café, 1441 rue Notre-Dame, ☏ +1 819-693-1151. 
• Archibald Microbrasserie, 3965, Rue Bellefeuille, ☏ +1 819-519-7888. Brews their own beers, live music, food. (updated Apr 2019)

Sleep

• Hotel Gouverneur Trois-Rivières, 975, rue Hart. Rates $95 and up. Downtown near the court house. The hotel offers 127 rooms, 77 in regular class and 50 in business class. 
• Auberge Godefroy Hotel-Spa-Golf. Becancour. Four-star hotel 10 minutes' drive from downtown Trois-Rivieres. Has a fine restaurant and health center. 17 575 boul. +1-800-361-1620 www.aubergegodefroy.com
• 1 Rodeway Inn Trois-Rivieres (formerly L'Urbania, and Hotel du Roy), 3600, boul. Gene-H.-Kruger, toll-free: +1 819-379-3232. All rooms have a satellite TV, coffee maker, fridge, free Wi-Fi. Outdoor swimming pool, a gym, and a bar/lounge. $62-85. (updated Jan 2019)

Go next

• La Mauricie National Park - 45 km north

Routes through Trois-Rivières

Montreal ← Yamachiche ←	W  E	→ Quebec City → END
END ← Shawinigan ←	N  S	→ Drummondville → Sherbrooke