Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is a city of almost 100,000 people (2021) in Montérégie, Southwestern Quebec. Agrotourism is one of the region's biggest draws, boasting orchards and cider-houses, vineyards and wineries, and maple sugar shacks (sucreries).
Understand
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It is about 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Montreal on the shores of the Richelieu River and about 30 km from the Canada-US border. Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ranks eleventh among cities in the province. Regional capital of Haut-Richelieu in Montérégie, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu enjoys a strategic location and offers its citizens an exceptional quality of life.
The city is in an area rich with fertile soil. St-Jean is a manufacturing centre for textiles, food and wood products. It hosts an Area Support Unit (ASU) of the Canadian Forces, which functions as a primary recruit and officer training establishment.
History
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The city has been an important transportation hub. The first railway line in British North America connected it with La Prairie in 1836.
The French built Fort Saint-Jean in the 17th century. Known to early English settlers as St. Johns, it provided an important communication link during the French and Indian Wars. During the American Revolutionary War control of the town changed hands several times as British and American forces moved through the area.
Local information
[edit]Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]The city is split in two by Autoroute de la Vallée-des-Forts (Autoroute 35) which goes north-south.
By bus
[edit]- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Route 96. Service from Montreal.
By plane
[edit]- 1 Saint-Jean Municipal Airport (YJN IATA), 22, chemin de l'Aéroport (southwest of downtown), ☏ +1 450-359-2010, . Municipal airport for general aviation at 41 m (altitude).
It is close to Montreal's Pierre-Elliot Trudeau International Airport (YUL IATA).
Get around
[edit]The Ville de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu public transit system provides commuter and local bus services.
- If you have a smartphone, you can enjoy walking around the city with free audio tours, published on izi.travel platform.
See
[edit]Museums and heritage buildings
[edit]- 1 Fort Saint-Jean Museum (Musée du Fort Saint-Jean), 15 rue Jacques-Cartier nord (on Vieux-Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, on the west bank of the Richelieu River), ☏ +1 450-358-6500. Mid May-early Sep: W-Su 10:00-17:00; rest of year only by appointment. This National Historic Site of Canada is located on the site of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. This site constitutes the passage of Indigenous warriors, French, English, American troops and several Canadian units. This National Historic Site of Canada traces the history of its various occupants. This museum notably exhibits thematic maps, models, uniforms, weapons, artefacts and archival documents. $4 adults, $3 seniors 65+, $2 children 6-12, $10 families, free for children under 6.
- 2 Musee du Haut-Richelieu, 182 Rue Jacques-Cartier N (on Old-Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu), ☏ +1 450-347-0649. Sep-Jun: Tu-Sa 11:00-17:00, Su 13:00-17:00; Jul Aug: Su-F 11:00-17:00, Sa 09:00-17:00. A museum of regional history and of ancient and contemporary Quebec ceramics. The ceramics component occupies a place of importance in the history of the region since, starting in 1840, ceramics was one of the dominant sectors of the Haut-Richelieu economy. From 1840 to 1940, the region of Saint-Jean and Iberville was identified as the Canadian pottery capital. Under 6 years free, children from 6-17 years old $4, students $5, adults $10, seniors (65 years old and over) $9, family (2 adults and 2 children) $22.
- 3 Fort Lennox National Historic Site, 1, 61e avenue, Île-aux-Noix (22 km S of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu on Route 223), ☏ +1 450-291-5700. Closed for restoration until 2021. Built between 1819 and 1829, the fort was designed to protect the colony from possible American invasion. Guided tours are given of the grounds and buildings, which include an ordnance magazine and artillery magazine, a guardhouse, officers' quarters, barracks and casemates. During summer weekends, living history demonstrations focus on fort life in the mid-19th century. Admission to the site includes the ferry ride to the island. The parking lot and visitor reception area are located on the west shore of the river. Boaters can visit the island directly and pay a separate fee to enter the fort.
Do
[edit]Outdoor activities
[edit]- 1 The Chambly Canal, Avenue Bourgogne, Chambly (south shore of the Chambly Basin), ☏ +1 450-658-4381. The Chambly Canal is a 19-km waterway along the west bank of the Richelieu River. This canal connects Lake Champlain (USA) to the Chambly Basin. Its construction began in 1831; it was opened in 1843. It is a National Historic Site of Canada. The free height is 8.84 m. The canal has one lock near the downtown core of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. In the winter, the city builds a skating rink on the canal near the lock. In the summer, the embankment on the east side of the canal has a 20-km (12-mi) cycling path.
- 2 Club de Golf St-Jean Ltée, 320, rue Jacques-Cartier Sud, ☏ +1 450-346-6814. Golf club in operation for a hundred years. This club hosts tournaments and group meetings in its modern facilities with a capacity of up to 250 people: corporate meetings (office parties, congresses), presentations, weddings, family meetings.
- 3 Club de Golf Les Légendes, 115, chemin Saint-André, ☏ +1 450-349-2915. It was built in 1976 and has an 18-hole course with a par of 72. The building complex includes a chalet housing the boutique, the terrace and the administrative offices.
- 4 Club de Golf de la Vallée Des Forts Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, 1145, chemin du Petit-Bernier, ☏ +1 450-346-6090. This golf club offers 18 holes, par 72, with 6,641 yards of play. Capacity to host tournaments with more than 180 golfers, with three different reception rooms for various group meetings: events, corporate meetings, weddings.
- 5 Pumptrack (BMX Iberville), 345, avenue Lareau (Iberville Sector). BMX track.
Events
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- 6 International de Montgolfières de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu), 5, chemin de l’Aéroport, ☏ +1 450 346-6000. The International Hot Air Balloon is one of the eight biggest festivals in Quebec. It is the largest gathering of hot air balloons in Canada. Each year, the nine-day festivities attract more than 250,000 festival-goers. The program includes two balloon flights per day (morning and evening, depending on weather conditions) and various shows by Quebec, Canadian and international artists. All activities are offered on the 20 hectares (49 acres) site. The program offers in particular the Magic Nights, the festive and lively culinary offer and rides.
Indoor swimming pools
[edit]- 7 Indoor swimming pools, 955, rue Choquette, ☏ +1 450-357-2111. Four indoor swimming pools are available:Piscine Complexe sportif Claude Raymond, 955, rue Choquette;Piscine École Marie-Rivier, 511, rue Pierre-Caisse;Piscine Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu - 30 boulevard du Séminaire Nord;Piscine du centre sportif du Fort Saint-Jean - 15, rue Jacques-Cartier Nord.
Arena
[edit]- 8 Aréna Marcel-Larocque, 370, avenue Lareau (Iberville sector), ☏ +1 450-347-6700. Indoor skating rink.
Parks and outdoor centres
[edit]- 9 Centre-de-plein-air-Ronald-Bauregard (Outdoor-Centre-Ronald-Beauregard), 93, rue Towner (along the Richelieu River, south of the main village), ☏ +1 450-357-2111. This centre offers activities in all seasons. Main services/activities in summer: hammocks and lounge chairs, slackline, kayak, paddle board, canoe, water games, volleyball, picnic area. In winter: icy path adorned with garlands of lights and a luminous arch, with a fire pit area for warming up. Rental of boats, water taxis, equipment (Frisbee, spikeball and volleyball net), skates, snowshoes and snow scooters.
- 10 Club de golf Saint-Jean (en hiver), 320, rue Jacques-Cartier Sud, ☏ +1 450-357-2111. Winter sports enthusiasts can practise walking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for free on This site.
Buy
[edit]Specialized foods
[edit]- 1 Au Petit Verger (At the Little Orchard), 1049, chemin du Petit-Bernier, ☏ +1 514-967-0308. Kiosk open on weekends and holidays, starting on Labour Day. Orchard offering U-pick apples and pears. The apple varieties offered are: Honney Crisp, Royal Gala, McIntosh, Paulared, Lobo, Spartan, Belmac, Redcort, Cortland, Delicious red, Empire, and Flamanse Beauty pears. Fruit and by-products kiosk: fresh juice, pies, muffins, apple caramel, apple jelly.
- 2 Fraisière Hébert (Strawberry Hebert), 870, rue Jacques-Cartier Sud, ☏ +1 450-347-6290. Establishment serving fruit and fruit-based desserts.
- 3 Fromagerie Au Gre Des Champs, 400, rang Saint-Edouard, ☏ +1 450-346-8732. Tu-F 10:30-17:30, Sa Su 10:00-17:00. Their own organic cheeses, other farmhouse or artisan cheeses from Quebec, and veal, beef and pork from their farm. A showcase allows you to see some of their cheese refining, while another opens on the manufacturing workshop.
- 4 Kiosque de la Ferme Reid (Reid Farm Kiosk), 2125, chemin des Patriotes Est, ☏ +1 450-346-6867. Family business. Vegetable store. Farm specializing in sweet corn and pumpkin.
- 5 Les Fermes d'Isabelle (Isabelle's Farms), 2234, route 133 (Iberville sector), ☏ +1 450-542-9026. Producer of chickens fed 100% with feed produced from grains grown on the farm.
Others stores
[edit]- 6 Bellerive Marine inc, 875, rue Bellerive. Recreational boat repair service.
- 7 Boutique d'antiquité l'empreinte du temps (Antique shop the imprint of time), 845 Bellerive, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Iberville). For lovers of Quebec history and heritage. Antique shop in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu exhibits pieces mostly in Quebec pine or popular art from the seigneurial regime of New France until the last century (vintage).
- 8 La Brocante du coin, 2371, route 133 (secteur Iberville), ☏ +1 450-272-5952. Store that buys and sells antiques.
Shopping centres
[edit]- 9 Carrefour Laplante, 420, 2e avenue (Iberville sector), ☏ +1 450-346-1420. Sector shopping centre.
- 10 Carrefour Richelieu, 600 Rue Pierre-Caisse, ☏ +1 450-348-6169. M-F 10:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-17:00. A regional shopping mall with 115 stores.
- 11 Galerie du Vieux St-Jean, 208, rue Richelieu (near the Gouin bridge in Vieux-Saint-Jean), ☏ +1 450-741-3939. W Sa Su 11:00-16:00, Th F 11:00-20:00. A gallery that sells the work of national and international painters and sculptors.
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-through service), required health measures (e.g., vaccination record, mask, distancing), 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.
- 1 Bastos, 242 Rue Richelieu, ☏ +1 450-346-7890. Su-Tu 11:00-21:00, W Th 11:00-22:00, F Sa 11:00-23:00. Portuguese grilled chicken, seafood, poutine. Mains $11-28.
- 2 Ferme & Cuisine Bika, 900, chemin du Grand-Bernier, ☏ +1 450-346-7890, info@bika.farm. Agritourism concept with locally grown market garden produce. Farm and kitchen offering a rustic table and culinary workshop around the kitchen island, in an ancestral house dating from 1858. By reservation.
- 3 Manneken-Pis, 320 Rue Champlain, ☏ +1 450-348-3254. M-Th 08:00-22:00, F Sa 08:00-23:00, Su 08:00-16:00. Belgian café-bistro and shop. A varied menu of fully-prepared specialties on-site — waffles, crêpes, grilled sandwiches, soups, salads, Belgian gratins and gourmet cakes.
- 4 La Plank, 268 Rue Richelieu, ☏ +1 579-362-3332. Tu-Th 11:30 - 22:00, F Sa 11:30 - 23:00, Su 11:30 - 21:00. Pub style food — poutine galore.
- 5 Restaurant chez Makaaf, 2454, chemin des Patriotes Est (east sector of the Richelieu River), ☏ +1 450-741-3754. Italian foods.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Lagabiere, 135 Rue Richelieu, ☏ +1 450-376-6343. Su-W 11:30-00:00, Th-Sa 11:30-01:30. Craft brewery offering up to 20 beers, brewed and served on site. A varied menu of local products served in the summer on their deck with a view of the Richelieu River.
Sleep
[edit]You can look for a place to stay at the Government of Québec's official tourist site.[dead link]
- 1 Quality Hotel Centre de Congres, 725, boul. Séminaire Nord (near Highway 35 exit), toll-free: +1-800-667-3815. 113 rooms and 11 multifunctional boardrooms. From $112.
- 2 Motel Montgolfière JP, 425, rue Jacques-Cartier Sud, ☏ +1-450-347-9010, motelmontgolfierejp@live.com. 2-star hotel.
Cope
[edit]Libraries
[edit]- 11 Bibliothèque Adélard-Berger (Adélard-Berger Library), 180, rue Laurier, ☏ +1 450-357-2111.
- 12 Bibliothèque Saint-Luc (Saint-Luc Library), 347, boulevard Saint-Luc, ☏ +1 450-357-2111.
- 13 Bibliothèque L'Acadie (L'Acadie Library), 484, chemin du Grand-Pré, ☏ +1 450-357-2111.
Communication
[edit]In terms of watercourse safety, the Quebec government's Public Security displays the results of flood water monitoring, particularly for the Richelieu River: HERE
Go next
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- 1 Carignan — There are many recreational activities there: hiking (via the green trail that joins Saint-Hubert), cycling, nautical activities (on the Acadie or Richelieu rivers), its municipal parks, etc.
- 2 Chambly —Chambly is a major recreational tourism destination, thanks to its historical heritage, the Chambly Basin, the Chambly Canal, its enchanting site along the west bank of the Richelieu River, and its leisure facilities (bike paths, parks, landing stages, etc.).
- 3 Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu
— The rustic and the modern blend well here. It is renowned for nautical activities and its vacation resort on the east bank of the Richelieu River.
- 4 Mont-Saint-Grégoire —Municipality overlooked by the magnificent mountain of Mont Saint-Grégoire which includes hiking trails to reach the summit where the panorama on the plain of the Saint-Laurent is bucolic. The northwest side of the mountain is the sugar bush capital of Quebec and Canada. The dining rooms of the seven largest maple groves offer various other attractions around maple products: catering service, maple products shop, horse-drawn carriage rides, mountain, playgrounds for children, and mini farm. Mont-Saint-Grégoire also has five orchards and agrotourism.
- 5 Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur
- 6 Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville
- 7 Saint-Blaise-sur-Richelieu
- 8 Saint-Alexandre
- 9 Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois — Municipality on the east bank of the Richelieu River. The main economic activities are centred on boating (marinas, beach, boating services) and agriculture. The municipality offers a leisure infrastructure and a variety of leisure activities.
| Routes through Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu |
Montreal via  ← Chambly/Carignan ← |
N  S |
→ Merges with  |
| END ← La Prairie ← | W  E |
→ Cowansville → Lac-Brome |
| Mont-Saint-Hilaire ← Richelieu ← | N  S |
→  → becomes  → St. Albans → Burlington |
| Beloeil ← Chambly ← | N  S |
→ → becomes  → Rouses Point/Champlain → Watertown |