Year-round outdoor recreation, spectacular scenery, nature centers and a lively arts scene make Sherbrooke an enjoyable, family-friendly destination. Sherbrooke is the biggest city of Quebec’s Eastern Townships.
Visit Sherbrooke’s historical center, Vieux Sherbrooke. Spot important landmarks such as the 19th-century Saint Michel Basilica Cathedral. Discover impressive street art on the Mural Tour, an open-air gallery of 14 murals. Have fun with the interactive science and nature exhibits of the Musée de la Nature et des Sciences. Visit the Frontenac Power Plant, one of Quebec’s oldest operational hydroelectricity plants.
Enjoy free summer concerts at Place de la Cité. Browse the market stalls of Marché de la Gare for fresh produce and artisanal food. Cross the Magog River and admire the fine arts exhibitions at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Sherbrooke. Afterward, learn about Sherbrooke’s ethnological history at the Société d’histoire de Sherbrooke.
Sherbrooke is a popular spot for nature and outdoor activities. Follow the waterfront promenade that circles Lac des Nations. Relax amid the picturesque confines of Parc Jacques-Cartier, the host of annual events such as La Fête du Lac des Nations music festival. Find a beach, watersports, walking trails and La Maison de l’Eau nature center at Parc Lucien-Blanchard. Spot British-style architecture in the leafy Parc du Domaine-Howard.
For more outdoor fun, explore the Grandes-Fourches, a 78-mile (125-kilometer) network of cycling trails crisscrossing Sherbrooke’s various districts. Play a round of golf at one of four well-kept courses or fish for bass, perch and trout on the city’s rivers. Mount Bellevue is a delight for walking and mountain biking in summer or cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing in winter.
Sherbrooke is less than a 2-hour drive east of Montreal and well-connected by intercity buses. Rent a car and explore the Townships Trail. Visit the towns and villages of the Eastern Townships to discover its Anglo-American history, spectacular natural beauty, wine-making culture and gourmet dining.