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), with almost 475,000 people in its metropolitan area. It is 130 km from Montreal and 120 km from Quebec City on ​​the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River.

Understand

Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada

The Saint-Maurice River, 587 km long, is the main river of the Mauricie administrative region. The waters of four rivers bathe the 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 of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO since 2000. Lake Saint Pierre is a rare example of sustainable development alongside a major international shipping route, as the lake forms part of the busy St. Lawrence Seaway.

History

Rue des Ursulines

The city was founded in 1634, but the location it occupies was first known to the French in 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 a first tributary of the river, a strip of land, a second tributary, another strip of land, and finally a third tributary he took to be 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 as such 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.

Get in

By car

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

By bus

• Autobus La Québécoise, ☏ +1-418-872-5525, toll-free: +1-888-872-5525. Operates bus routes in southern Quebec. (updated May 2022) Operates bus service between Trois-Rivières and Sherbrooke including a stop in Drummondville. Travel time to Trois-Rivières from Sherbrooke is 2.25-2.5 hours and from Drummondville is 1-1.25 hours. Operates several days per week.
• Orléans Express, ☏ +1-450-640-1477, toll-free: +1-833-449-6444. Operates bus routes within Quebec and to Ottawa. (updated Apr 2022) Operates bus route multiple times per day between Montreal and Quebec City including a stop in Trois-Rivières. Travel time to Trois-Rivières from Montreal is 1.75-2.25 hours and from Quebec City is 1.75-2 hours.
• Transport collectif Haut St-Maurice, ☏ +1-819-523-4581, toll-free: +1-855-523-2971. Daily bus service between Trois-Rivières and La Tuque including a stop in Shawinigan. Travel time to Trois-Rivières from La Tuque is 2.5 hours and from Shawinigan is 30 minutes. (updated May 2022)

By plane

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

Get around

By public transit

• The Société de transport de Trois-Rivières (STTR), ☏ +1 819 373-4533, info@sttr.qc.ca. 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)

By taxi

• Taxis Coop de la Mauricie, ☏ +1 819-378-5444. (updated Aug 2022)
• Taxi Élite, ☏ +1 819-374-4422, toll-free: +1-855-693-4422. (updated Aug 2022)

By ride hailing

• Uber. (updated Aug 2022)

See

Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape

• 1 Old Trois-Rivières. The small old quarter, centered around Rue des Ursulines, is what was saved from the fire that destroyed much of the city in 1908. It has well maintained buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries and makes for a pleasant stroll. (updated Oct 2023)
• 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)

• 3 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)
• 4 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)
• 5 Manoir Boucher de Niverville, 168, rue Bonaventure, ☏ +1 819-372-4531, manoirdeniverville@v3r.net. This is the oldest building in Trois-Rivières, dating from around 1668. 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)
• 6 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)
• 7 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)
• 8 Our Lady of the Cape Shrine. (updated Aug 2016)
• Musée des Filles de Jésus. 
• 9 Musée des Ursulines. (updated Oct 2023)
• Centre d'exposition Raymond-Lasnier. 
• 10 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 (Circuit 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. It began in 1967. General admission $66 per weekend, $115 for both. (updated Apr 2019)
• Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie, ☏ +1 819 537-9221. Labour Day weekend in early September. The canoe, kayak and rabaska competition follows a route from La Tuque to Trois-Rivières. Founded in 1934. (updated Oct 2021)
• Trois-Rivières Lions hockey. ​​ECHL team, plays at Colisée Vidéotron. (updated Nov 2021)
• 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	→ Champlain → Quebec City
END ← Shawinigan ←	N  S	→ Bécancour → Drummondville
Montreal ← Yamachiche ←	W  E	→ Champlain → Quebec City
Shawinigan ← Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel ←	N  S	→ END

Routes through Bécancour

Shawinigan ← Trois-Rivières ←	N  S	→ Sainte-Eulalie → Drummondville
Sorel-Tracy ← Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel ←	W  E	→ Lévis → Rivière-du-Loup