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City Hall of Sorel-Tracy

Sorel-Tracy is a city in Montérégie, Quebec, Canada. It is also the economic, industrial and cultural capital of the regional county municipality of Pierre-De Saurel.

In terms of recreational tourism, the main attractions of Sorel-Tracy are:

  • its great Indigenous history following the melting of the glaciers, which began nearly 12,000 years ago in the valley of the St. Lawrence River;
  • its great history since the passage of Jacques-Cartier in 1535; the Pierre-de-Saurel Historical Society contributes to historical research and disseminates it to the public; the main museums and educational places for visitors are the House of Governors and the Biophare;
  • its particular geographical location, at the confluence of the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence River, and facing the Îles-de-Sorel, thus offering boaters a magnificent riparian and river landscape, as well as an exceptional environment for navigation boating through the islands, the channels, Lake Saint-Pierre, the St. Lawrence River and the Richelieu River; the passage of migratory birds (spring and autumn) offers quite a fluvial spectacle;
  • its recreational infrastructure: Parc régional des Grèves, Club de Golf Sorel-Tracy Les Dunes, Parc Nautique Regard sur le Fleuve, marinas, boat launches, bike paths, municipal parks, Carré Royal; and
  • its picturesque and modern built heritage, which testifies to various eras and various vocations of the city (industrial, maritime, commercial, institutional, religious, residential).

Understand[edit]

Port de Sorel-Tracy en 1967

History[edit]

Jacques Cartier passed by the site of the present city in 1535, as did and Samuel de Champlain in 1608 and he led the battle of Cap de la Victoire on June 19, 1610 at Contrecoeur.

In 1642, Charles Huault de Montmagny, governor of New France, erected a fort at the confluence of the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence River. This fort was abandoned in 1647, for lack of resources. In 1665, following the decision of King Louis XIV to take over New France after the dissolution of the Compagnie des cent associés, the sustainable exploitation of the lands of Sorel began.

The city of Sorel was built on the site of Fort Richelieu, at the mouth of the Richelieu River in the 17th century. Formerly this river was designated river of the Iroquois. This toponym evokes the life work of Cardinal de Richelieu (1585-1642), minister of Louis XIII. The toponym of the city evokes Captain Pierre de Saurel, who chose to leave the military career to settle in New France with his friends: Antoine Pécaudy de Contrecoeur, Pierre de Saint-Ours, Jacques de Chambly, Alexandre Berthier, René Gaultier de Varennes and François Jarret de Vercheres. Each of them was assigned a seigneury, in accordance with the rules of the seigneurial system in New France. The seigneury of Pierre de Saurel was granted to him in 1672.

In 1781, the first illuminated Christmas tree was presented at the Governors' House in Sorel-Tracy; this custom quickly took root in Canada.

Throughout the 18th century, shipbuilding proved to be the city's main economic vocation. Related industries begin their operation. In 1740, a first factory, a tar factory was established there. The seigniory then had 800 inhabitants.

After the Conquest of New France by the English army, the de Ramezay family sold the seigneury of Sorel to John Bondfield, an Englishman. In 1780, the British Crown acquired the seigneury of Sorel. Subsequently, the city continued to expand, except during the Great Depression which began in 1929.

History[edit]

Get in[edit]

By car[edit]

  • From Montréal (80 km, time: 60 min). Take the Jacques-Cartier bridge (east); take route 132 (eastbound) to Varennes; take Chemin du Pays-Brûlé (eastbound); take Autoroute 30 (northbound) to Sorel-Tracy.
  • From Quebec (197 km, time: 2 hr 30 min). Take Autoroute 40 (westbound) to Berthier; take Highway 158 (east); take the Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola-Sorel ferry.

Get around[edit]

Map
Map of Sorel-Tracy

See[edit]

  • Old Railway Station, rue du Roi (Located opposite the old railway route transformed into a cycle path). This railway station was erected in 1898. This one-and-a-half-storey wooden building is cited as a heritage building. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 1 Azimut diffusion, 28, rue du Roi, ☏ +1 450-780-1118. Azimut diffusion is a non-profit organization recognized as a major broadcaster by the Ministry of Culture and Communications. It has been offering the Bas-Richelieu public professional, diversified and original programming since 1989. The city of Sorel-Tracy has mandated Azimut diffusion to manage the Marché des arts Desjardins and the George-Codling hall. Varied programming in a performance hall located in a heritage building. Azimut diffusion (Q104708982) on Wikidata (updated Jun 2022)
  • 2 Biophare, 6, rue Saint-Pierre. Museum presenting different exhibition themes. With shop offering: books, publications, and craftsmen's creations. Biophare (Q2904203) on Wikidata (updated Jun 2022)
Governors' House in Sorel-Tracy
  • 3 Governors' House (Maison des Gouverneurs), 90 chemin des Patriotes. (ramp for disables at the back of the building). For the record, it is here that for the first time in North America, on December 25, 1871, a Christmas tree was lit. Governors' Cottage (Q18219959) on Wikidata (updated Jun 2022)
  • 4 Sorel-Tracy Music Center (Maison de la Musique de Sorel-Tracy), 124, rue George, ☏ +1 450-855-3886. The mission of this non-profit organization is to provide a place conducive to musical initiation and development among young people, as well as to promote and produce classical events. Maison de la musique de Sorel-Tracy (Q104708984) on Wikidata (updated Jun 2022)
  • 5 Pierre-de-Saurel Historical Society (Société historique Pierre-de-Saurel), 6A, rue Saint-Pierre (near the Nautical Park Regard Sur le Fleuve), ☏ +1 450-780-5739, . Founded in 1970 with the mission of promoting local history, the Société historique Pierre-de-Saurel serves the MRC Pierre-de-Saurel and Marguerite-d'Youville. Its mandate is to acquire archival documents concerning these two MRCs, in order to make them accessible to the public, to process them so that they are easily identifiable, and to preserve them. (updated Jun 2022)
Monument erected on the site of old fort Richelieu
  • Monument of Fort Richelieu (near Richelieu river). Old Fort Richelieu site. (updated Jun 2022)

Worship centres[edit]

Saint-Pierre de Sorel Church

Events[edit]

Do[edit]

Buy[edit]

Old Saurel public market
  • 1 Old Saurel public market (Marché public du Vieux-Saurel), 80, rue George (at Carré Royal in Sorel-Tracy, parallel to rue du Prince), ☏ +1 450-551-2991, . Public market open to producers, processors, and artisans. Member of the Association des Marchés Publics du Québec. The Marché du Vieux-Saurel is a non-profit organization. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 2 French bakery (Boulangerie française), 127, avenue de l'Hôtel-Dieu, ☏ +1 450-743-6919. Bakery. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 3 Aveline Pastry (Pâtisserie Aveline), 88, rue du Roi, ☏ +1 450-743-6925. Dessert store. On site: seats on the terrace. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 4 Christopher's Pastry (Pâtisserie Christophe), 88, rue Augusta, ☏ +1 450-556-0800. Bakery pastry. (updated Jun 2022)

Eat[edit]

Several restaurants or dining rooms in the Montérégie have transformed the mode of meals at the tables into take-out or delivery service. In general, restaurateurs have demonstrated great resilience by updating their website, integrating interactive and automated applications for remote orders, as well as the display of the menu, opening hours, their mode of operation (e.g. by reservation, drive-thru service), required health measures, other services (e.g., caterer, shops, accommodation, access for disabled, wi-fi, take-out, delivery), contact details and often the history of the restaurant or site. It is recommended that customers inquire with each establishment by consulting their respective websites.

Drink[edit]

  • 1 Baboche, 4305, chemin Saint-Roch (facing the Richelieu River), ☏ +1 450-743-4525. Lounge bar. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 2 Bar Le 525 - Restaurant, 525, boulevard Fiset, ☏ +1 450-742-3342. Restaurant-bar, reception room, video lottery and sporting events. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 3 St. Louis Brewery (Brasserie St-Louis), 2925, route Marie-Victorin (facing the St. Lawrence River), ☏ +1 450-743-2826. Lounge bar. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 4 Taverne Du Pont, 283, chemin des Patriotes, ☏ +1 450-908-1673. (updated Jun 2022)

Sleep[edit]

Hotels, motels[edit]

  • 1 Motel Tracy, 3330 Route Marie-Victorin, toll-free: +1-844-742-4565, . Double and quadruple rooms. Packed lunch service. Whirlpool bath and jacuzzi (at an additional cost). Free parking. Animals accepted on request. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 2 Motel le Charentais, 13325 route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 450-746-5650, . Double, quadruple and en suite rooms and 1 chalet for 4 people by the river. Vending machine for snacks and drinks. In a wooded area. Outdoor swimming pool, playground for young children. Free parking. Animals accepted on request. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 3 Hôtel de la Rive, ☏ +1 450-742-5691, toll-free: +1-800-369-0059, . Double and quadruple rooms, all with balcony. Bar and restaurant with terrace. Fitness room and Nordic spa. Free parking, Electrical terminal (3 terminals). (updated Jun 2022)

Connect[edit]

Cope[edit]

Le Survenant Municipal Library
Cardin Coliseum
  • 11 Cardin Coliseum (Colisée Cardin), 200, rue Victoria, ☏ +1 450-780-5600, . Sports infrastructure with an indoor ice rink. Capacity: 2500 seats. This largest amphitheater in the Sorel-Tracy region is home to the Sorel-Tracy Hawks of the North American Hockey League, as well as the Rebelles team, the Cégep de Sorel-Tracy collegiate team. (updated Jun 2022)
Carré Royal in the Sorel sector
  • 12 Carré Royal, 75, rue du Roi. Located in the heart of the Sorel sector of Sorel-Tracy, the Carré Royal is classified as a heritage building. This park served as a place of arms from 1780 to 1860. The site was redeveloped into an urban park at the end of the 19th century. Today, this park has many tree-lined paths. All the aisles form a radiant plane representing the British flag, the Union Jack. This park is close to various restaurants and shops. (updated Jun 2022)

Go next[edit]

Routes through Sorel-Tracy
Salaberry-de-Valleyfield ← Brossard ←  W  E  → Bécancour → Lévis
END ← Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu ←  N  S  → Richelieu → Saint-Armand
END ← Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu ←  N  S  → Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu → Lacolle
Vaudreuil-Dorion ← Brossard ←  W  E  → Saint-Grégoire → Bécancour


  • 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 Saint-Joseph-de-Sorel Industrial and recreational tourist town. Recreational and commercial navigation is intense on the St. Lawrence River, facing Saint-Joseph-de-Sorel, as well as on the Richelieu River. Visitors naturally mingle with local events, particularly in the summer season.
  • 3 Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel is a popular recreational tourism destination, in particular thanks to its shore, on the south side of the St. Lawrence River, and to the Sorel Islands, many of which are on its territory, notably Île de Grâce and Île of the Monk. Recreational boating is popular in the channels between the islands, heading east towards Lac Saint-Pierre.
  • 4 Saint-Robert Saint-Robert, Quebec on Wikipedia Located in the middle of the land, in the heart of the MRC de Pierre-De Saurel, Saint-Robert is renowned for its rural landscape, its agrotourism, its picturesque residences, its airfield, its Petite rivière Pot au Beurre and its river Saint Louis. Its cycle and pedestrian path on the old railway line along Route 132 is worth the detour.
  • 5 Sainte-Victoire-de-Sorel Municipality bordering the Richelieu River. Its offer of recreational tourism services is focused on pleasure boating, agrotourism, camping and golf.
  • 6 Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu Municipality on the west bank of the Richelieu River renowned for its ferry (which is replaced in winter by an ice road) linking Saint-Ours, its Deschaillons island, its picturesque built heritage and its offer of recreational and tourist activities (e.g., boating yachting, agritourism, campgrounds,).
  • 7 Contrecoeur Riverside municipality of the St. Lawrence River, Contrecoeur is renowned as a site to admire the shows offered by the river and the magnificent sunsets. Visitors can admire the countryside and river landscapes, while participating in recreational tourism activities in the great outdoors, including hunting, fishing, boating, relaxation, vacationing, as well as the observation of flora and fauna. Contrecoeur has a great history to discover.
  • 8 Sainte-Geneviève-de-Berthier Sainte-Geneviève-de-Berthier, Quebec on Wikipedia town with a great history. Its main attractions are boating and hunting migratory birds in the fall on the flats of the river. Visitors can visit the Forest and Wood Discovery Center, practise at the Berthier Golf Club, stop at the Domaine Féodal cheese dairy or at the Chemin Grande Côte roadside rest area, visit the old Sainte-Geneviève church or stop at the Rang Sainte-Philomène plantation.
  • 9 Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola, Quebec on Wikipedia Municipality formed by a deltaic archipelago composed of 17 islands, the largest of which is Saint-Ignace Island. This locality is a river paradise for vacationing, pleasure boating, observation of flora, avifauna and riparian habitats. These channels attract tens of thousands of boaters in the summer. Its wetlands (eg, the Girodeau Islands) are ideal for protecting birds, nesting and hunting migratory birds in the fall.


This city travel guide to Sorel-Tracy is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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