Saint-Maurice is a welcoming Quebec locality with both a modern and old character and an important agricultural activity. It is located near the shops and services of Trois-Rivières and Shawinigan in Lower-Mauricie, in the plain on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, in the regional municipality county of Les Chenaux, in Mauricie.

The village developed at the junction of rang St-Jean and rue Notre-Dame. Its built heritage includes ancestral and well-renovated buildings that blend with modern architecture.

Understand

History

In New France, the first period of colonization of the north shore of the St. Lawrence River focused on the first row along the river. A vast strip of marsh extending over approximately 18 km (11 mi) (and a maximum width of 2 km (1.2 mi)) between Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap and the Champlain River (today in the zone along Highway 40), slowed down the colonization of the second and third rows. The center of the village of Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes is located 10.0 km (6.2 mi) from the shore of the St. Lawrence River, on the north side of this marsh area and at 0.7 km (0.43 mi) north of the course of the rivière de la Fourche.

Economy

During the colonization period of the 19th century, the local economy was based on forestry and agriculture. In the 21st Century, its economy is based on agriculture, partly forestry (in the northern part of the territory and along waterways), certain public services (e.g., primary school, municipality), accommodation centers for seniors, a few shops and certain recreational and tourist activities (vacation, mountain biking, snowmobiling).

This locality of 91 km² (35 sq mi) has 3286 inhabitants. Many residents will be working in the surrounding municipalities/towns (notably Trois-Rivières and Shawinigan) because of the proximity (i.e., 5.3 km (3.3 mi)) to highway 40, via Route 352. In addition, Route 359 connects the Lac-à-la-Tortue and Grand-Mère sectors to the north.

Geography

The hydrographic slope of Saint-Maurice is centred on the Brûlée river, the rivière de la Fourche, the Gagnon stream and the Champlain River; the latter will flow onto the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.

The rivière Champlain mainly drains the territory of Saint-Maurice, Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes, Saint-Narcisse and Champlain . It flows over 50 km (31 mi). In its course first to the northeast, then the southeast, this river is often meandering.

Taking its source at Plé de Saint-Narcisse, the rivière de la Fourche flows over 27 km (17 mi) crossing Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, Saint-Narcisse, Saint-Maurice and Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes. It flows on the northwest shore of the Champlain River in the municipality of Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes.

Flowing mainly in agricultural areas, the Brûlée river flows over 14.1 km (8.8 mi) in Saint-Maurice. It flows onto the northwest shore of the Champlain River.

Get in

The village of Saint-Maurice is accessible by road, snowmobile and all terrain vehicles.

By car

• From Montreal (160 km (99 mi). Time: 1 hr 48 min. From Montreal, take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, crossing Trois-Rivières (including the Cap-de-la-Madeleine sector); take route 352 (northbound) to the village of Saint-Maurice.
• From Quebec City (120 km (75 mi). Time: 1 hr 17 min. From Quebec City, take highway 40 westbound; take route 352 (northbound) to the village of Saint-Maurice.

Get around

Charging station for electric vehicles

• 1 Station-service Harnois, 951, rue Notre-Dame, ☏ +1 819-376-7886. (updated Oct 2021)

Buy

• 1 Marché Bonichoix - Marché Masson, 1580, rue Notre-Dame. General grocery store. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Breuvages Radnor Ltée, 2910, rang Ste-Marguerite. Bottled water supplier (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Le Groupe Cantrak & Mandrak Inc, 1000, Notre-Dame. Pharmacy (updated Oct 2021)
• 4 Dépanneur Proxi Extra, 1054, rue Toupin-Montplaisir. (updated Oct 2021)

Eat

• 1 Casse-Croûte La Grondinoise (La Grondinoise Snack), 2350, rang St-Jean, ☏ +1 819-370-3037. Meals on site. Take-out orders. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 La Tribu - Café Gourmet, 2350, rang St-Jean, ☏ +1 819-370-3037. Meals on site. Take-out orders. (updated Oct 2021)

Sleep

Chalet, gîte, inn

• 1 Casse-Croûte La Grondinoise (La Grondinoise Snack), 2350, rang St-Jean. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Résidence Havre Saint-Maurice (Residence Havre Saint-Maurice), 1550, Thomas-Caron, ☏ +1 (819) 693-7779. Retirement home. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Residence Rayon d'Or, 1550, Thomas-Caron, ☏ +1 (819) 378-0666. Retirement home. (updated Oct 2021)

Cope

• 1 Salles communautaires (Community halls), 2431, rang Saint-Jean (in the heart of the village (corner of rue Notre-Dame)), ☏ +1 819-374-4525, infocitoyens@st-maurice.ca. free. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Chalet des loisirs (Leisure chalet), 1885, rue Notre-Dame, ☏ +1 819-374-4525, servicedesloisirs@hotmail.com. Tuesday:. This chalet has a small room, with access to the leisure area (skating rink, playground, water games, ball field). free. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Bibliothèque municipale, 1544, rue Notre-Dame, ☏ +1 819-378-7315, biblio026@reseaubibliocqlm.qc.ca. Tuesday 18:30 to 20:30. Municipal library administered by volunteers. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Go next

• 1 Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes
• 2 Saint-Narcisse A municipality of the MRC des Chenaux with seven ranges. A mountain line crosses the municipal territory over its entire length, separating the Moyen-Mauricie plateau with the Basse-Mauricie plain. Its economic vocation is mainly agricultural, partly forestry, with a significant increase in recreational and tourism activities (maple groves in the moraine, resort, Batiscan River Park).
• 3 Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel On the edge of the Saint-Maurice River (west side), this municipality offers many tourist and natural attractions including campgrounds, a municipal recreation centre, and a mountain (with ski centre).
• 4 Saint-Louis-de-France This urban sector of Trois-Rivières has the Parc de la Terre des Loisirs, the Moulin golf club and an airport.
• 5 Cap-de-la-Madeleine The Sanctuary of Notre-Dame-du-Cap is the emblem of this city. This sector offers many shops and services. On the banks of the Saint-Maurice and Saint-Laurent rivers, this urban sector is a must.
• 6 Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap This urban sector includes the magnificent Parc des Pionniers crossed by Montée Sainte-Marthe. This park, bounded to the northwest by Rang Saint-Malo, has four small lakes. In addition, Roger-Guilbault Park is located near the Saint-Pierre stream, along Route 138.
• 7 Champlain (Quebec) Located in the MRC des Chenaux, Champlain includes agricultural land in the Saint-Laurent plain. The economic vocation is mainly agricultural, partly forestry, with a significant increase in recreational and tourism activities (vacationing and boating on the St. Lawrence River).