Contrecoeur is a municipality with a riverside, forest and rural landscape, in the regional county municipality (RCM) of Marguerite-D'Youville, in Montérégie, in Quebec.

Contrecoeur is a recreational tourism destination facing Saint-Sulpice, Lavaltrie and Lanoraie, on the opposite bank of the river. The main attractions of Contrecoeur are, in particular:

• its shore of 23.9 km (14.9 mi) on the St. Lawrence River (South Channel) and its 18 islands grouped together in an archipelago called "Îles de Contrecoeur";
• its infrastructures and services aimed at serving pleasure boating on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River;
• its infrastructure and its recreational tourism services, in particular its municipal parks, campgrounds, its summer camps and Des Grèves Regional Park;
• its built heritage, of which several buildings display a rustic and well-renovated character, in particular the resort buildings along the St. Lawrence River;
• its countryside, forest and riverside landscape, which bears witness to the activities of citizens in this part of the St. Lawrence plain;
• its gourmet circuits (eg: beer and maple gourmet circuit, or edible circuit that visits community gardens or urban gardens);
• its documented historical discovery Balado circuit offering 17 points of interest (e.g., windmill, summer camps, patriots, factories...).

Understand

Geography

The territory of Contrecoeur had a primary vocation in terms of agriculture, forestry, river and recreational tourism. Its port and industrial vocation gradually gained importance in the 20th century. It has a riparian zone of 23.9 km (14.9 mi) on the St. Lawrence River; the vast majority of the inhabitants live in this last zone which has three villages: Contrecoeur, Saint-Laurent-du-Fleuve and Saint-Arsène.

History

Lighthouse at Contrecoeur

On June 19, 1610, French soldiers led by Samuel de Champlain, supported by Montagnais and Algonquins, engaged in battle at Cap de la Victoire against a hundred Iroquois who had erected a strategic fort there. This former cape de sable is now part of the grounds of the Grèves summer camp, at the northern limit of the parish of Contrecoeur. This cape was approximately 8.0 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Downtown Sorel-Tracy, on the borders of the Seigneurie de Saint-Ours. This course was undone over twenty years at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century by the operation of a sandpit.

The first establishment dates from 1667, under the aegis of Antoine Pécaudy de Contrecoeur, captain of the regiment of Carignan-Salières. In 1672, he received the concession of this seigniory.

The canonical erection of the Catholic parish of Sainte-Trinité de Contrecoeur was proclaimed in November 1832. The civil erection of the parish took place in 1845 by adopting the same toponymic designation as the religious parish. On April 20, 1902, the sector of the village of Contrecoeur was civilly erected as a municipality, detaching itself from the territory of the parish. The MRC of Marguerite-D'Youville came into effect on May 1, 1982. In May 1997, Contrecoeur became a city.

Get in

By car

• From Montréal (57 km, time: 47 mins). Take the Jacques-Cartier bridge (east); take route 132 (eastbound) to Varennes; take Chemin du Pays-Brûlé (eastbound); take Autoroute 30 (northbound) to Contrecoeur; take rue Saint-Antoine (to the west); take route 132 (east).
• From Quebec (236 km, time: 2 hr 42 min). Take Autoroute 20 (westbound) until after passing Drummondville; take route 122 (northbound); take Route 132 (west) to Contrecoeur.

Get around

• Suggested cycle route with 17 points of interest (Circuit historique Balado Découverte (17 points d'intérêt)). Suggested cycle route with 17 points of interest. The support document is accessible by cell phone both online (streaming) and offline (without Internet in the field) with the Preload option of the BaladoDiscovery mobile application. The main points of interest are: Maison Lenoblet-du-Plessis, Auberge La Pomme d'or and church of Contrecoeur, The islands and the ice bridge of Contrecoeur, Tribute to the Pioneers of Contrecoeur, Domain of the seigneury, Moulin Pécaudy / Jumonville affair, Trade of yesteryear in Contrecoeur, Shoe factories, Schools of Contrecoeur, Historic heart of Contrecoeur, Rang de la Petite misère, summer camps, Saint-Laurent-du-Fleuve, Father Anne de Noüe, Contrecoeur Cemetery, The place called 4 paths, Quai Fiset/Former Radio-Canada transmitter. (updated Jun 2022)

See

Chaput wind mill in Contrecoeur

• 1 Chaput Mill Park (Parc du moulin Chaput), 6060, route 132 (by the river). Banal mill built in 1742. It is one of the last windmills in Quebec. Today, its mechanism is absent and its structure is well maintained. (updated Jun 2022)

Churches

• 2 Holy Trinity Church (Église Sainte-Trinité), 4932, route Marie-Victorin (presbytère), ☏ +1 450-587-2420, paroise-ste-trinite@videotron.ca. Church of Catholic denomination. (updated Jun 2022)
• 3 Church of Saint-Laurent-du-Fleuve (Église Saint-Laurent-du-Fleuve), 8749, route Marie-Victorin (presbytery), ☏ +1 450-587-2420, paroise-ste-trinite@videotron.ca. Catholic church. (updated Jun 2022)

Do

• 1 Summer camp of Les Grèves (Colonie de vacances des Grèves), 10350, route Marie-Victorin (route 132), ☏ +1 450-742-4767. Established in 1912, this family and children's summer camp is the oldest summer camp still in operation in Quebec and French-Canada. It is reputed to be the largest French-speaking summer camp still in operation in North America. This summer camp welcomes all children. (updated Jun 2022)
• 2 Des Grèves Regional Park (Parc régional des Grèves), 3100, chemin du Golf, Sorel-Tracy, QC, J3R 0E9, ☏ +1 450-780-5731. This regional park has two reception stations: chalet Jean-Paul Dubois (Sorel-Tracy sector) and colony des Grèves (Contrecoeur sector). The trail map can be downloaded from the website. (updated Jun 2022)
• 3 Îles-de-Contrecoeur National Reserve (Réserve nationale des Îles-de-Contrecoeur), Contrecoeur (opposite the main village and separated by the South Channel), toll-free: +1-800-668-6767. This wildlife reserve, created in 1981, has an area of 3.12 kilometres (1.94 mi). Its mission is to protect emergent and submerged grass beds, as well as waterfowl nesting sites. This wildlife reserve is adjacent to the Saint-Ours Island Bird Sanctuary. It straddles several islands: Île aux Rats, Île à McNicoll, Île Devant l'Eglise, Île Chipeau, Grande Île, Île Ronde, Île aux Boeufs and Île de la Little Colony. (updated Jun 2022)
• Hiking trails and cross-country ski trails. The walking trails are accessible at 1500 rue des Saules; 6773 rue des Peonies; 10350 route Marie-Victorin and 4650 rue des Ormes. There is also the multi-use trail at Antoine-Pécaudy Park, at 1141, rue des Chênes. (updated Jun 2022)

Buy

Specialized food stores

• 1 La Maraîchère, 6560, route 132, ☏ +1 450-587-2264, lamaraichere@videotron.ca. Fruit and vegetable store, pastry shop, delicatessen, grocery store, etc. (updated Jun 2022)
• 2 Contrecoeur greenhouses (Serres Contrecoeur), 6962, route 132, ☏ +1 450-587-2264. Vegetable products. (updated Jun 2022)
• 3 Farmer's Thursdays in Contrecoeur (Les jeudis fermiers de Contrecoeur), Parc Antoine-Pécaudy, 1500, rue des Saules (near the Youth Centre), fermiers.contrecoeur@gmail.com. Public market bringing together several producers and traders; they offer various seasonal products (vegetables, fruits, local products, etc.). (updated Jun 2022)

Others

• 4 La Perle Marine, 7983, route Marie-Victorin (route 132), ☏ +1 450-746-0058, info@laperlemarine.ca. Mechanical service, storage/winterization, transport and aesthetics for pleasure craft. (updated Jun 2022)
• 5 L'artisan Composite, 7814, route Marie-Victorin (route 132) (Along the St. Lawrence River), ☏ +1 514-773-4042, lartisancomposite@gmail.com. 8h00-18h00. Boat repair service. (updated Jun 2022)
• 6 Suzanne Godbout, 8362, route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 514-773-4042, sgodbout@vif.com. Artist's workshop. (updated Jun 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.

• 1 Buffet chinois chez Song, 5505, route 132, ☏ +1 450-587-5967. Asian cuisine. (updated Jun 2022)
• 2 Buffet Michel, 5091, rue Hurteau, ☏ +1 450-587-2465. Restaurant offering mainly the buffet. (updated Jun 2022)
• 3 Patate attack, 1141, rue des Chênes, ☏ +1 450-587-5577. Restaurant. (updated Jun 2022)
• 4 Roosters BBQ, 299, rue Ducharme, ☏ +1 450-401-1122. Restaurant specializing in chicken. (updated Jun 2022)
• 5 Restaurant Le Relais 117, 2100 montée de la Pomme-d'Or (Exit 117 from the A30), ☏ +1 450-587-2676. (updated Jun 2022)
• 6 YETI Dairy Bar (YÉTI Bar laitier), 4999, rue l'Heureux, ☏ +1 450-573-9384. Ice cream counter. (updated Jun 2022)

Sleep

Gîtes, chalets

• 1 Luc Bruneau, ☏ +1 514-742-3665, toll-free: +1-888-658-5644. (updated Jun 2022)
• 2 Jean-Noël Sirois, 7750, route Marie-Victorin (route 132). (updated Jun 2022)

Cope

• 4 Regional Sports Centre of Contrecoeur 2004 (Centre Sportif Régional de Contrecoeur 2004), 1555, rue des Saules (in the Parc Antoine-Pécaudy), ☏ +1 450-587-8007. Arena offering ice rental services, resto bar, restaurants, and various events. (updated Jun 2022)
• 5 Contrecoeur Water Park (Parc nautique de Contrecoeur), 5280, route Marie Victorin (in Joseph-Étienne-Duhamel Park), ☏ +1 450-587-5495. (updated Jun 2022)

Go next

• 1 Des Grèves Regional Park This park is a Canadian protected area straddling the towns of Contrecoeur and Sorel-Tracy. It is managed with the aim of ensuring the conservation of landscapes at the same time as organizing recreational activities. This park offers various outdoor activities, in all seasons.
• 2 Sorel-Tracy A city of major events, art, and culture.
• 3 Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu Renowned for its ferry (which is replaced in winter by an ice road) linking Saint-Ours, its Deschaillons island, and its picturesque built heritage.
• 4 Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu A picturesque village with a municipal wharf, a ferry, and the Maison de la Eulalie-Durocher culture. Visitors can take a heritage tour, a bike tour, take part in the Chants de Veille festival, and follow the arts and flavors route.
• 5 Verchères Apicturesque and well-restored built heritage, inspired by the times of New France. Visitors can discover two sculptures on ash trees, an ordinary mill, the islands of Verchères, the Saint-François-Xavier church, the verchere boat and the memorial to the pioneer families of Verchères.

Routes through Contrecoeur

Vaudreuil-Dorion ← Calixa-Lavallée ←	W  E	→ Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu → Sorel-Tracy
Longueuil ← Verchères ←	W  E	→ Des Grèves Regional Park → Sorel-Tracy