Varennes travel guide

Varennes is a picturesque and modern town, in the regional county municipality (MRC) of Marguerite-D'Youville, in Montérégie, in Quebec, Canada.

Varennes is an agricultural, industrial, residential and recreational tourism destination. Its built heritage has a picturesque and modern charm depending on the area. The main attractions of this city are, in particular:

• its 10-km shoreline on the St. Lawrence River, generating numerous nautical activities and resorts;
• its twenty islands on the St. Lawrence River, the most important of which are Île Sainte-Thérèse (length: 4.9 km (3.0 mi)) and Grande Île (length: 3.2 km (2.0 mi));
• its summer river shuttle (for passengers and bicycles) between Varennes, Pointe-aux-Trembles (Montreal) and Repentigny;
• its Bois de Verchères (east side, near the limit of Saint-Amable);
• its Vieux-Varennes, endowed with a picturesque built heritage;
• its sports and leisure facilities, offering various recreational tourism services;
• its sugar factories, generally established on the sugar road, near the limit of Saint-Amable (east of Highway 30).

Understand

Vieux-Varennes is located between the shore of the St. Lawrence River and the route of Route 132; the rest of the city has a generally more modern built heritage.

Boating and nautical activities are very popular on the St. Lawrence River, around the islands facing Varennes.

Geography

The largest island, Île Sainte-Thérèse, faces the village of Varennes. This island has about 75 dwellings (mainly for vacation purposes) and a peripheral road. The centre of the island is mainly used for agriculture. Pleasure boating is very popular in this archipelago.

• Frayère St-Charles, Varennes. The rehabilitation of the Saint-Charles spawning ground (at the confluence of the Pays-Brûlé stream) was carried out in the fall of 2007, in particular for the restoration of the migratory pass, the continuous water supply in the fish ponds, and the restoration of the initial state of the ponds in terms of depth and amount of vegetation. This spawning ground is a breeding habitat for several species of fish. A road bypasses this breeding pond, which is 346 m long. This spawning ground has an educational vocation for visitors.

History

Varennes was colonized under the seigneurial regime of New France. The seigneury of Varennes was located opposite the eastern end of the island of Montréal, between the seigneuries of Boucherville and Verchères.

In 2022, Varennes celebrates its 350th anniversary of foundation.

Get in

By car

• From Montréal (29 km, time: 29 min). Take the Jacques-Cartier bridge (east); take route 132 (eastbound) to the village of Varennes.
• From Quebec (248 km, time: 2 hr 32 min). Take Highway 20 (westbound); take highway 30 (direction nod); take Montée Picardie (westbound); take route 132 (westbound) to the village of Varennes.

See

Worship centres

• Church of Sainte-Anne-de-Varennes (Église de Sainte-Anne-de-Varennes), 300, rue de la Fabrique (in Old Sainte-Julie), ☏ +1 450-652-2441 ext 0. This Catholic parish was founded in 1692, and then grouped together five seigniories: Cap de Varennes, Île Sainte-Thérèse, Grandmaison, Cap-de-la-Trinité and Cap Saint-Michel. The current church was built in 1884.

Events

• Festivities for the 350th anniversary of Varennes (Festivités du 350e anniversaire de Varennes). Exhibitions and activities for the 350th anniversary continue until the end of 2022.
• Saint-Paul College Performing Arts Pavilion - Evenko (Pavillon des arts de la scène du Collège Saint-Paul - Evenko), 9, rue Saint-Charles, ☏ +1 514-755-7569. Consult the website for the schedule of events.

Do

Equestrian centres

• Écurie Maurice Houle, 2931, rang de Picardie. Stable.
• Équitation CG, 3808, chemin de la Côte-Bissonnette, ☏ +1 514-941-9214. Equestrian centre with a racecourse.
• Centre Équestre Belle Rivière, 1463, rang de la Belle Rivière, ☏ +1 450-922-2714. Equestrian centre offering riding lessons.
• Les Écuries Bréard, 3528 chemin de la Butte aux Renards, ☏ +1 450-652-3720. Racetrack.

Municipal recreation

Pano Parc de la Commune, on the shore of the St. Lawrence River, in Varennes (Photo: Bgag, CC BY-SA 3.0)

• Parc de la Commune (between the edge of the St. Lawrence River (Poulier de Varennes) and Sainte-Anne Street), ☏ +1 450-652-9888. Municipal park with a large parking lot and access to the Quai du Parc de la Commune where a boat launch has been set up. This park is connected to the Frayère St-Charles.
• Old quay of Varennes (Vieux quai de Varennes), 210, rue Sainte-Anne, ☏ +1 514-941-9214. Nautical access from the old quay of Varennes. Pleasure craft landing stage. Magnificent view of the river and Île Sainte-Thérèse.

Buy

Grocery stores

• IGA Extra Varennes, 1777, route 132, ☏ +1 450-929-0405. General grocery store.
• Super C, 59, rue de l'Aqueduc, ☏ +1 450-929-0159. General grocery store.
• Épicerie CanperQC, 2069, route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 450-929-9999. General grocery store.
• Provigo, 2020, boulevard René-Gaultier, ☏ +1 450-642-9809. General grocery store.

Specialized food stores

• Boucherie Brunelle, 126, rue Sainte-Anne, ☏ +1 450-652-2634. Butcher's shop.
• Cabane à sucre Famille Fortier, 3974, chemin du Cordon, #43410, ☏ +1 450-. Sugar factory set up in the Bois de Varennes, at the far east of the municipal territory.
• Cabane à sucre Famille Fortier, 3974, chemin du Cordon, #43410, ☏ +1 450-. Sugar factory set up in the Bois de Varennes, at the far east of the municipal territory.
• Le Château de la Grange, 4310, chemin du Cordon, ☏ +1 450-929-3462. Vineyard with shop. Catering and room rental.
• Vignoble Domaine du Fleuve, 1164, route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 514-796-5056. Vineyard with shop.

Eat

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.

• Benny & Co., 540, boulevard Lionel-Boulet, ☏ +1 450-985-4442. Chicken restaurant.
• HUGO cuisine du marché, 2208, route Marie-Victorin, local 102, ☏ +1 450-985-1336.
• Restaurant La Belle Province, 1721, route 132, ☏ +1 450-260-1000. Quick service restaurant.
• Restaurant Le P'tit Réveil - La P'tite Soirée, 311, boulevard de la Marine, ☏ +1 450-985-1269. Family restaurant.
• Restaurant Le Taouk, 50, rue de la Gabelle, ☏ +1 450-985-0999. Lebanese cuisine.
• Restaurant M Patate, 1607, route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 450-652-5528. Fast food.
• Restaurant Petit Québec Varennes, 344, boulevard de la marine, ☏ +1 450-985-5559. Quick service restaurant.

Dairy bars

• Le Glacé, 2562, route Marie-Victorin, local 107, ☏ +1 450-. Healthy restaurant.
• Monsieur Cornet, 1671, route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 450-985-1244.

Breakfast restaurants

• L'Oeufrier Varennes, 1627, route 132, ☏ +1 450-985-1062. Breakfast restaurant.
• Cibo Déjeuner, 316, boulevard de la Marine, ☏ +1 450-929-4499. Breakfast restaurant.

Pizzerias

• Varennes Pizzeria, 2182, route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 450-652-2991. Pizzeria.}
• Pizza Welat, 2562, route Marie-Victorin, local 107, ☏ +1 450-929-4929. Pizzeria.

Asian cuisine

• Azie restaurant, 2444, boulevard René-Gaultier, ☏ +1 450-929-3222. Restaurant offering Asian dishes.
• Maki Maki Sushi, 2071, route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 450-985-4985. Sushi and maki restaurant. Japanese cuisine.
• Restaurant Baguettes Chinoises, 2140, boulevard René-Gaultier, ☏ +1 450-929-2888. Asian cuisine.
• Sushi, 1777, route 132, ☏ +1 514-336-8885. Restaurant specializing in sushi.
• Thai Express - Varennes, Pétro-Canada, 536 boulevard Lionel-Boulet, ☏ +1 450-985-1220. Thai restaurant.

Drink

• Bar Buck Peanut, 2452, route Marie-Victorin, ☏ +1 450-929-4419. Sports bar.

Sleep

Gîtes, chalets

• L'Oiseau Bleu, 2518, Chemin du Calvaire (Along the St. Lawrence River), ☏ +1 514-436-0710. A residence in the heart of nature. Capacity for up to six people. Two bedrooms upstairs.

Cope

• Jacques-Lemoyne-de-Sainte-Marie Library (Bibliothèque Jacques-Lemoyne-de-Sainte-Marie), 2221, boulevard René-Gaultier, ☏ +1 450-652-3949 ext 5050. Public library.
• Aquatic complex (Complexe aquatique), 111, rue de la Rivière, ☏ +1 450-929-2783. Aquatic complex offering various activities and training in swimming, as well as free swimming.
• Outdoor swimming pool at Parc Pré-Vert (Piscine extérieure au Parc Pré-Vert), boulevard René-Gaultier, ☏ +1 450-929-2783.
• Sliding slope in Parc Saint-Charles (Pente à glisser), 107, 131, rue Jules-Phaneuf.
• Polydôme Varennes, 2003, rue Jacques-Lemoyne. Outdoor skating rink with a roof.

Go next

• Boucherville Islands National Park This National Park is a protected area open all year round. This park includes the Île Sainte-Marguerite Discovery and Visitors Centre, and the Grosbois Visitors Centre. Users can rent equipment for recreational tourism activities in all seasons, go camping and organize group activities. In this park, the deer population is part of the scenery.
• Verchères Old Verchères boasts a picturesque and well-restored built heritage, inspired by the times of New France. Visitors can discover two sculptures on ash trees, an ordinary mill, the islands of Verchères, the Saint-François-Xavier church, the verchere boat and the memorial to the pioneer families of Verchères.
• Saint-Amable Recreational tourism activities are varied, including cycling, hiking, camping, sugar shacks, municipal parks, etc.
• Sainte-Julie Sainte-Julie is a city of great cultural, sporting and leisure activities. Sainte-Julie offers a pedestrian heritage circuit to discover the Old Village under the historical aspect with 26 information panels; a mobile, self-guided version is available on the city's website.
• Boucherville Boucherville also has 41 municipal parks, two public sports and recreation complexes, a golf club, two yacht clubs, a rowing club, the Maison des Jeunes and a Center D'Art café.
• Montréal Montreal is the economic, commercial and financial heart of Quebec. It is a large, diverse city, with many festivals, museums, and lively neighbourhoods that attract visitors.

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