Hérouxville is a picturesque locality of the Moyen-Mauricie at the southeastern limit of the Laurentian shield, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, in the regional county municipality of Mékinac, in Mauricie. This municipality comprises a territory of 53 km² (20 sq mi) where about 1,300 inhabitants reside.

As you travel through the rural roads and through the village, visitors can admire many old houses dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries that are generally well restored, as well as old buildings from closed.

Understand

Economy

The main economic activities in history have been mainly forestry, agriculture, recreational and tourist activities (vacation, Tavibois, Val Notre-Dame family camp), certain public services (primary school) and local businesses.

Route 153 linking Grand-Mère to Saint-Tite generates significant traffic, especially during the Saint-Tite Western Festival. The village of Hérouxville is centered around the old railway station.

History

The Catholic service of Hérouxville was founded in 1897. The registers of civil acts (baptisms, marriages and deaths) immediately began under the charge of Father Joseph-Euchariste Héroux following the erection of the chapel on the Butte-à-Veillet, at the intersection of the Lefebvre roads and the railway line. Civil erection occurred in 1904.

Geography

Most of the territory of Hérouxville is part of the Batiscanie (hydrographic basin), being crossed by the rivière des Envies, a tributary of the Batiscan River. Residents of this municipality have the advantage of being near Shawinigan to receive services and the Saint-Maurice River which was a vector of economic development at the end of the 19th century.

Taking its source at Lac de la Traverse in Sainte-Thècle, the rivière des Envies flows on 74 km (46 mi) while crossing Sainte-Thècle, Saint-Tite, Hérouxville, Saint-Séverin and Saint-Stanislas. It flows into the Batiscan River at Saint-Stanislas. The Rivière des Envies passes through the northwestern part of the territory of Saint-Séverin. This river has been a vector of regional economic development, in particular through its ice roads in winter, transport in light boats, mills (flour, saw and card) and for fishing activities. The great floods have washed away many bridges and created great floods throughout history.

The rivière à la Tortue has its source at Lac à la Tortue in Hérouxville. It flows over 20 km (12 mi) especially in agricultural area crossing Hérouxville, Saint-Séverin and Saint-Stanislas. Finally, it flows into the Rivière des Envies in Saint-Stanislas.

The Noire River has its source north of the village of Hérouxville, in a marsh area. It flows over 8 km (5.0 mi) especially in agricultural or forest areas. Finally, it empties into a long bay which forms an appendix to the artificial reservoir generated by the hydroelectric dam erected on the Saint-Maurice River near Grand-Mère.

Get in

The village of Hérouxville is accessible by road, snowmobile, all terrain vehicles.

By car

• From Montreal (184 km (114 mi). Time: 2 hr 18 min. Take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Trois-Rivières; take highway 55 (northbound) to Grand-Mère, which becomes route 155 and cross the Saint-Maurice river bridge; take route 153 to the village of Hérouxville.
• From Quebec City (145 km (90 mi). Time: 1 hr 36 min. Take highway 40 west; take road 359 (northbound) passing through the village of Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes, then Lac-à-la-Tortue; then take route 153 (eastbound) to the village of Hérouxville.

Trails

• The Quad trail (www.quadmekinac2011.com) passes through Hérouxville.
• The equestrian trail (www.tourismemauricie.com) passes to the Val Notre-Dame d'Hérouxville family camp.

Get around

Gas station

• 1 Gaz Max (Charging stations - Municipality of Grandes-Piles), 271, route 153, ☏ +1 418-365-4044. (updated Oct 2021)

Charging station for electric vehicle

• 2 Borne véhicule électrique - Municipalité d'Hérouxville (Electric vehicle terminal - Municipality of Hérouxville), 1060 rang St-Pierre. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Borne véhicule électrique - Domaine Tavibois (Electric vehicle terminal - Domaine Tavibois), 14 chemin du Domaine Tavibois. (updated Oct 2021)

See

• 1 Église d'Hérouxville (Church of Hérouxville), 821 rang St-Pierre. Catholic church in Hérouxville. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Cimetière d'Hérouxville (Cemetery of Hérouxville), 821 rang St-Pierre. Local cemetery located behind the church. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Bordeleau covered bridge, route Dessureault. Covered bridge spanning the Rivière des Envies, between Hérouxville and Saint-Tite (at the limit of Saint-Séverin), or on the Dessureault de Saint-Tite road. (updated Oct 2021)

Do

• 1 Centre de loisirs d'Hérouxville (Hérouxville Recreation Center), 122, rue Gagnon, ☏ +1 418-365-5844, herouxville@regionmekinac.com. Leisure centre including: water games, indoor skating rink, reception room (capacity of 40 people). (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Camp familial Val Notre-Dame (Val Notre-Dame family camp), 100, chemin Val-Notre-Dame (from the village of Hérouxville, take Chemin du Rang St-Pierre (northbound)), ☏ +1 418-365-5554, campvalnotre-dame@globetrotter.net. Located on the banks of the South Mékinac River, this summer camp was established in 1957 in the South Range of the Mékinac River under the aegis of the community of the Saint-Gabriel brothers. This camp was acquired in 1971 by the organization "Rendez-vous familial Pointe St-Charles inc"; their mission was to facilitate access to outdoor vacations for low-income families, people with disabilities, immigrants and groups working with vulnerable clienteles. This camp is set up on the north shore of Lake Ayotte which is formed by the dam erected in 1982. In addition to group camps, this vacation colony offers accommodation in cabins for families and supervised activities. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities in summer (swimming in the pool, water sports on the lake such as canoeing, cycling, hebertism, nature hikes, wild camping, archery, soccer, volleyball, softball, etc.) and in winter (cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tube sliding, skating rink). free. (updated Oct 2021)

Chapel of Tavibois in 2014

• 3 Domaine Tavibois (Tavibois Domain), 14, chemin Domaine-Tavibois (from the village of Hérouxville, take Chemin du Rang St-Pierre (northbound)), ☏ +1 418-365-6913, domainetavibois@gmail.com. This recreation and rest centre has 21 cabins open all year round. Located in the wilderness. It was established under the aegis of the community of the Daughters of Jesus. Main activities: walking on the trails, swimming in a pool with running water, water sports on the lake, pétanque game, iron game, etc. Services: toilets, loan of equipment, accommodation, group meetings. The area is crossed by the Petite rivière Mékinac du Sud which crosses a series of small lakes. Visitors can take the marked trails of the estate. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Scenic routes

• Route de la rivière Mékinac du Sud (South Mékinac River Route) (from the intersection of route 153 and chemin du rang St-Pierre in Hérouxville). From the intersection of route 153 at Hérouxville, take chemin du rang St-Pierre (north-west). Visitors pass through the northwestern part of the village where house styles date back to several eras since the early 19th century. Turn right at Chemin Val Notre-Dame to visit the Camp Val Notre-Dame which was established in 1957 by the community of the Brothers of Saint-Gabriel. Then continue on Chemin du Rang St-Pierre, passing Castor Lake; this area has many chalets in the Lac du Castor and Tavibois area. The resort is favored by the meandering course of the rivière Mékinac du Sud. Turn right on Chemin du Domaine Tavibois, to visit the Domaine Tavibois which is an all-season holiday area in chalet or inn mode; visitors can visit the site on foot, in particular the chapel and take the hiking trails.
  
  From there, retrace your steps on the chemin du rang St-Pierre, and take the chemin des Petites Forges (north-east direction). The road spans the Mékinac du Sud river, passes close to Le Chaudron mountain (252 m.) Then after crossing the forest, the road arrives at Chemin du Haut du Lac Sud in Saint-Tite; the confluence of the South Mékinac River and the North Mékinac River is 0.3 km to the northeast. This range is so designated, because of the old Kapibouska lake which flooded the area to the west and south of the village of Saint-Tite. Visitors can make a stop (by appointment at +1 418-365-6728) at the Musée Souvenirs d'autrefois (Souvenir museum of yesteryear), 240, route 159 (Haut du Lac Sud), Saint-Tite. free. (updated Oct 2021)
• Tour du Lac à la Tortues (Turtle Lake Tour) (from the intersection of route 153 and chemin du rang St-Pierre in Hérouxville). From the intersection of route 153 at Hérouxville, take rang St-Pierre road (south-east direction). Visitors cross the main part of the village where the architecture of the houses testify to various eras since the beginning of the 19th century. The road crosses the agricultural zone which is characterized by its plank character and its forest islands identifying hills or areas less suitable for agriculture. The road spans the rivière à la Tortue which begins at Lac à la Tortue and will flow into the rivière des Envies at Saint-Stanislas. At Chemin St-Timothée, turn right. Before arriving at the Chemin de la Grande Ligne (marking the separation of the two seigneuries), visitors notice the snowmobile trails laid out on the foundations of the old railway line linking the Lac à la Tortue to Saint-Stanislas. Arriving at Chemin du Tour du Lac, visitors set out on a tour of an important resort lake in Mauricie. This lake is the oldest civilian seaplane base in Canada. Visitors can practise many recreational tourism activities there: vacationing, camping, lodgings, aquatic activities (swimming, boating, seaplanes). In the 19th century, a quarry was exploited in the eastern part of the lake which is part of the territory of Hérouxville. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Buy

• 1 Dépanneur Vaugeois, 341, route 153, ☏ +1 418-365-5277. Dépanneur (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Ferme apicole Mékinac, 601 route Paquin, ☏ +1 418-365-7126. A family farm run by bee hive enthusiasts! This farm offers various beekeeping products including: liquid honey, creamy honey, honey candies, etc. This company is the very first in North America to produce honey from milkweed, a white honey with a mild and slightly spicy taste. The products of this beekeeping farm are present in more than 25 shops in the region. The shop on the farm opens by reservation. The honey produced by this farm is a component of certain beers from Trou du Diable, a renowned microbrewery in Shawinigan. (updated Oct 2021)
• C'est chic et Recycle, ☏ +1 418-365-0026. Workshop-boutique for creating articles made from recycled materials, in particular: reusable bags, mittens, placemats and quilts. On reservation. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Lapointe V.R. multi-services mobiles, 3239 ave. Tour du Lac, ☏ +1 819-538-4504. Mobile repair service for RVs. (updated Oct 2021)

Eat

• 1 Casse-Croûte au Pierrot, route 153, ☏ +1 418-365-3322. Snack bar. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Casse-Croûte Meme Patate, 441, route 153, ☏ +1 418-365-3322. Snack bar. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Resto Gare, 800 St-Pierre, ☏ +1 418-365-1357. Restaurant in the old station in the village of Hérouxville. (updated Oct 2021)

Sleep

Chalet, gîte, inn

• 1 Camp familial Val Notre-Dame, 100, chemin Val-Notre-Dame (from the village of Hérouxville, take the chemin du rang St-Pierre (northbound)), ☏ +1 418-365-5554, campvalnotre-dame@globetrotter.net. Located on the banks of the South Mékinac River, this summer camp was established in 1957 in the South Range of the Mékinac River under the aegis of the community of the Saint-Gabriel brothers. This camp was acquired in 1971 by the organization "Rendez-vous familial Pointe St-Charles inc"; their mission was to facilitate access to outdoor vacations for low-income families, people with disabilities, immigrants and groups working with vulnerable clienteles. This camp is set up on the north shore of Lake Ayotte which is formed by the dam erected in 1982. In addition to group camps, this vacation colony offers accommodation in cabins for families and supervised activities. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Domaine Tavibois, 14, chemin Domaine-Tavibois (from the village of Hérouxville, take Chemin du Rang St-Pierre (northbound)), ☏ +1 418-365-6913, domainetavibois@gmail.com. This recreation and rest centre has 21 cabins open all year round. Located in the wilderness. It was established under the aegis of the community of the Daughters of Jesus. Main activities: walking on the trails, swimming in a pool with running water, water sports on the lake, pétanque game, iron game, etc. Services: toilets, loan of equipment, accommodation, group meetings. The area is crossed by the Petite rivière Mékinac du Sud which crosses a series of small lakes. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Chalet du petit Lac Castor, 75, rang St-Pierre Nord, ☏ +1 819-475-9397, chantalebu@outlook.com. Open all year. Type of Swiss chalet located on the edge of Petit Lac Castor. Boat and bicycle rental service. Main characteristics: hiking, beach, snowshoeing, and nautical activities. (updated Oct 2021)
• 4 Maison Trudel, 1031, rang St-Pierre-Sud (in the heart of the village of Hérouxville), ☏ +1 418-365-7624, maison-trudel@cgocable.ca. Lodging in operation since 1990, in a family atmosphere, in order to discover Quebec traditions. This ancestral house dating from 1883 has retained its cachet of yesteryear. (updated Oct 2021)

Connect

• Bibliothèque municipale d'Hérouxville (Hérouxville municipal library), ☏ +1 418-365-5844, herouxville@regionmekinac.com. Loans of books, audio books, magazines etc. The library accepts special requests through access to the Regional Center for Public Library Services. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Go next

• 1 Festival Western de Saint-Tite Western-style festival that takes place annually over ten days, from the second weekend to the third weekend in September. He has international fame.
• 2 Saint-Tite The city of Saint-Tite is the capital of the MRC de Mékinac. Its economic vocation is focused on public services, on the leather industry, agriculture, forestry. and recreational tourism activities (vacation, Western festival, hunting & fishing, swimming, etc.) Its Western festival is internationally renowned.
• 3 Grandes-Piles Located in the canton of Radnor, this village is located on a cliff overlooking the Saint-Maurice river, facing the village of Saint-Jean-des-Piles which is on the west side. Grande-Piles was an important center for collecting wood transported on the Saint-Maurice River by flotation. In 1878, the first sawmill was established in the village, leading to an industrial boom leading to the construction of the Piles railway. Today, recreational tourism activities (vacationing, water sports, boating, hunting & fishing) are dominant thanks to the magnificent body of water formed upstream of the Grand-Mère hydroelectric dam.
• 4 Lac-à-la-Tortue The community of Lac-à-la-Tortue has been amalgamated with Shawinigan since 2002, thus becoming one of the seven sectors of the new city. Recreational tourism activities (vacationing, boating, nautical activities, seaplanes) are the main economic activity in the sector. This lake is the oldest civilian seaplane base in Canada; the licensed airmen having arrived there in 1919, that is to say immediately after the First World War. A mine was in operation there from 1879; mining deposits are now exhausted.
• 5 Saint-Séverin Located in the MRC de Mékinac, the municipality of Saint-Séverin mainly has an agricultural economy and a few recreational tourism activities. This municipality has 846 inhabitants. Its territory is crossed by the Rivière des Envies and its tributary the Rivière à la Tortue (flowing in the rang Saint-Paul and the rang Saint-Louis).
• 6 Saint-Narcisse Located in the MRC de Mékinac, the municipality of Saint-Séverin mainly has an agricultural economy and a few recreational tourism activities. This municipality has 846 inhabitants. Its territory is crossed by the Rivière des Envies and its tributary the Rivière à la Tortue (flowing in the rang Saint-Paul and the rang Saint-Louis).