Senneterre travel guide

Senneterre (population 2950, as of 2011) is a small forestry town in Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.

Understand

(Photo: Vintotal, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Established on the Bell River in 1919, Senneterre is 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Val-d'Or. It is the third-largest incorporated municipality in Québec (by area), covering 14,887 km², which means that it is larger than Montenegro. Most of that space is covered by forest. There are cycling and snowmobile trails; hunting and fishing outfitters use the town as a point of departure.

The town centre is at the intersection of the Canadian National Railway and Quebec Route 113. This town centre is mainly surrounded by Parent Lake and Tiblemont Lake.

The economy of this city is mainly based on wood exploitation.

• Tourist Information Office, 549, Avenue 10e, ☏ +1 819-737-2694, toll-free: +1-888-437-2694. in summer (in winter, require at the town hall).

History

While the site first served as a trading post, colonization began in 1904 when the first permanent settlers arrived. It was first identified as Rivière-Nottaway, then Rivière-Bell. Over the next 10 years, there were only a few residents who were joined by people fleeing conscription. Between 1911 and 1913 when the National Transcontinental Railway was being constructed, the area was surveyed and the geographic township of Senneterre was formed, named in honour of a captain of the Languedoc Regiment that fought in the Battle of Sainte-Foy.

The completion of the railway accelerated the development of the place. In 1914, the Parish of Saint-Paul-de-Senneterre was founded. It developed into a center for forestry, commerce and tourism.

In 1948, it shortened its name to Senneterre. In 1953, CFS Senneterre opened, home to the No. 34 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron and part of the Pinetree Line chain of radar stations. After the closure of CFS Val-d'Or in 1976, the base also served as the search and rescue centre for north-western Quebec. In 1988, CFS Senneterre was closed.

Get in

By car

Quebec Route 113 leads from Chibougamau through Senneterre to Route 117 just east of Val-d'Or.

By train

VIA Rail operates a round trip once per week between Senneterre and Montreal including stops in La Tuque, Hervey-Jonction, Shawinigan, Saint-Paulin, Saint-Justin, and Joliette. Travel time Seneterre from La Tuque is 6.25 hours, from Shawinigan is 9 hours, and from Montreal is 11.5 hours. Route operates as a wilderness service: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.

• Senneterre railway station (Gare de Senneterre), 171, 4ième rue ouest.

By bus

• Autobus Maheux, toll-free: +1-866-863-6066. Operates bus routes within Quebec with some connections to Ontario. Operates a route two days per week between Chibougamau and Val d'Or including a stop in Senneterre. Travel time to Senneterre from Chibougamau is 4.5 hours and from Val d'Or is 1 hour.

See

• Senneterre's history by rail, ☏ +1 819 737-2296 (ext 233). Five trips per summer from May to September. The trip runs from Senneterre Station to Press Station, where passengers will be invited to attend a 1913 reconstruction of the railway junction. The excursion will continue to the Lac Faillon Outfitter for a brunch. Reserve by phone or by email.

Do

• Centre Aqua-Spec, 73, rue des Érables, ☏ +1 819-737-2296. Indoor municipal pool and theatre/cultural centre (salle de spectacles).
• Club du golf ARCN, 160 chemin du 9e Rang, ☏ +1 819-737-8949.
• Club de ski de fond Senneterre, ☏ +1 819-355-9298. end-Nov to end-Mar, weather permitting. Cross-country ski centre (six trails range from beginner to expert), showshoe trail, heated chalet, forests and splendid mountaintop view. Equipment rentals.
• La Bell en Kayak, ☏ +1 819-737-2694, toll-free: +1-888-437-2694. Kayak on the Bell River; rentals ($18-25/hr) require credit card and identification.
• Plage du Lac Parent. Beach.
• Festival Forestier. Annual, late June. Lumberjack competition.
• Grandmaison Falls walking trail. The trail winds for nearly 1 km along the Bell River while giving magnificent views of the fast Grandmaison Falls, named in honour of the Grandmaison family. They were the first owners of the land leading to the rapid in 1923. The trail offers picnic tables, toilets, and benches. Interpretation posters of the flora will be of interest to the lovers of the nature.

Buy

There are shops along the main street, Avenue 10e.

Eat

• Restaurant Le Matéo, 282, 4ième rue ouest, ☏ +1 819-737-2389. Mon-Fri 06:00-21:00. Varied menu including pizza, pasta, crepes, chicken, poutine.... $15/meal (menu du jour).
• Resto Centre-Ville, 630, 10e Avenue, ☏ +1 819 737-3066. 05:00-22:00. Poutine, smoked meat.
• l'Arrêt 113, 110, route 113 S, ☏ +1 819-737-8868. Snack bar on main highway.

Drink

• Bar aux Deux Frérots, 682 10e avenue, ☏ +1 819-737-2940. 8AM-3AM. Bar with disk jockey.
• Mel's Café-Bar, 231, 3ème rue ouest, ☏ +1 819-737-2980. Bowling alley, café, bar, live entertainment venue.

Sleep

• Motel La Bell’Villa, 550 10ième avenue, ☏ +1 819-737-2331. Smoke-free, refrigerator, microwave, flatscreen TV, kids' play area.
• Motel Renéco, 591 6e Ave Ouest, ☏ +1 819-737-2225. 12 rooms, refrigerators, TV, telephone.
• Motel Senabi, 840, 7e Ave, ☏ +1 819-737-2327, fax: +1 819-737-2327. Wi-Fi, fridge, microwave, some rooms have air-conditioning. Established in 1955 and renovated in 1998. $98.

Camp

• Auberge du lac Tiblemont, Obaska (48° 12.898' N, 77° 20.997’ W), ☏ +1 819-736-3636. Outfitter, fishing/hunting, snowmobiling.
• Camping Charles du Lac Parent, 90 rue Martin, ☏ +1 819-737-4226. $22/day unserviced tent site, $30/day serviced campsite, $253/two days (cottage), plus taxes.

Go next

• Abitibi-Témiscamingue

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