Sainte-Thècle travel guide

Aerial view of the village of Sainte-Thècle (Photo: Raynald St-Amand (Sainte-Thècle, QC), Public domain)

Sainte-Thècle is a picturesque and recreational tourism locality in the Middle-Mauricie. It sits at the southeastern limit of the Laurentian Shield, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, in the regional municipality of Mékinac Regional County Municipality (MRC), in Quebec, in Canada.

Understand

Its economy is based on recreational tourism activities (vacationing, camping, hunting and fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiles, boating, observations of flora and fauna), forestry, agriculture and certain paragovernmental services (education in elementary school, Mékinac family helpers, etc.).

Founded canonically in 1873, Sainte-Thècle is a popular destination for recreational and tourist activities. The festivities for the centenary of Sainte-Thècle were celebrated over ten months from 1973 to 1974.

Geography

View of the southern part of Lac du Jésuite, from Chemin du Lac du Jésuite (Photo: Veillg1, CC BY-SA 4.0)

This locality has an area of 213.5 km2 (82.4 sq mi) with a population of 2484. The village of Sainte-Thècle is located at the junction of routes 153 and 352.

The locality of Sainte-Thècle is mainly part of the Batiscania hydrographic basin; the northern part is part of the Saint-Maurice River watershed, via the hydrographic slope of the Mékinac river.

The Rivière des Envies has its source at Lac de la Traverse and is the most important hydrographic basin. Its course crosses rang Saint-Joseph to the southwest to the limit of Saint-Tite; then, its course crosses this last municipality subsequently, Saint-Séverin and Saint-Stanislas. It flows onto the west bank of the Batiscan River in Saint-Stanislas.

The Tawachiche River flows on 25 km (16 mi) entirely within the municipality of Lac-aux-Sables, almost the limit of Sainte-Thècle. The northeast zone of Rang Saint-Thomas and Rang Saint-Georges is part of the hydrographic slope of this river.

The Batiscan River flows north to south over 196 km (122 mi) starting at lac Édouard in Mauricie. It drains into the St. Lawrence River at Batiscan. A short segment of the course of this river turns out to be the eastern limit of the municipality of Sainte-Thècle.

The Pierre-Paul river takes its source at Pierre-Paul Lake of Saint-Tite. Its course on 14 km (8.7 mi) describes a large Z by crossing a mainly agricultural territory (a forest part at the beginning of the route) of Saint-Tite, Sainte-Thècle and Saint-Adelphe. In Sainte-Thècle, its course crosses the Saint-Thomas and Saint-Georges ranges. It flows into the Batiscan River near the village of Saint-Adelphe.

History

Presbytery of Sainte-Thècle (Photo: Veillg1, CC BY-SA 4.0)

View (north) of the cemetery from above (Photo: Veillg1, CC BY-SA 4.0)

View (north) of the upper cemetery (behind the church) (Photo: Veillg1, CC BY-SA 4.0)

View towards the northwest of rue Notre-Dame (route 153), in Sainte-Thècle. (Photo: Veillg1, CC0)

Founded in 1873, the municipality has a great agricultural, forestry and religious history. The Catholic Church of Sainte-Thècle was erected from 1903 to 1905. The Stations of the Cross in the sacristy were made in 1907 and 1908. The great organ of the church was acquired in 1914. The interior finish of the church was carried out in 1932 under the aegis of the famous painter Louis-Édouard Monty. The legendary cement lion was erected on a plinth on the northeast side of the church by the priest Maxime Masson in 1938. On August 3, 1938, a hurricane knocked down the two bell towers of the church of Sainte-Thècle. Several buildings and houses were damaged. The 52-year-old parish priest Maxime Masson ended on July 1, 1955; according to the presbytery register, the latter baptized 2497 children between 1903 and 1955. The high altar was reconstructed in 1987 in the choir of the church.

Get in

The territory of Sainte-Thècle is accessible by road vehicle, ATV or snowmobile.

By car

• From Montreal (202 km (126 mi). Time: 2 hr 10 min. Take Autoroute 40 eastbound to Trois-Rivières; Highway 55 North, to the Saint-Maurice River, Route 153 North to the village of Sainte-Thècle.
• From Quebec City. (134 km (83 mi). Time: 1 hr 35 min. Take highway 40 westbound to Grondines then take route 363 to Lac-aux-Sables then route 153 North to the village of Sainte-Thècle.
• From Trois-Rivières. (78 km (48 mi). Time: 55 min. Take highway 55 north to the Saint-Maurice river then take route 153 north to the village of Sainte-Thècle.

Trails
The Quad trail (Quad trail) passes through the forest north of Sainte-Thècle.

Get around

• Station-service Esso, 739, rue Saint-Jacques (from the Sainte-Thècle church, take rue St-Jacques (northbound)), ☏ +1 418-365-5038.
• Borne véhicule électrique - Caisse Desjardins Sainte-Thècle (Electric vehicle terminal), 250 rue Masson (from the Sainte-Thècle church, go down rue Masson), ☏ +1 418-365-7591.

See

View of the floral arrangement at the start of the Promenade Laurent Naud along rue Lacordaire and Lac Croche in 2021 (Photo: Veillg1, CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Église catholique de Sainte-Thècle (Church of Sainte-Thècle), 331, rue Saint-Jacques, ☏ +1 418-365-6594. Place of worship. Erected from 1903 to 1905, the church of Sainte-Thècle is one of the most beautiful in the Mauricie, particularly for its interior layout (numerous religious paintings, lots of woodwork in the choir and a well-decorated vault) and its exterior fittings. This church has been administered since June 2018 by the Catholic parish of Saint-Coeur-de-Marie (formerly Fabrique of the Catholic parish of Sainte-Thècle).
• Presbytère de Sainte-Thècle (Presbytery of Sainte-Thècle), 331, rue Saint-Jacques, ☏ +1 418-365-6594.
• Cimetière de Sainte-Thècle (Sainte-Thècle cemetery), 331, rue Saint-Jacques (behind the church), ☏ +1 418-365-6594. Site of the Sainte-Thècle cemetery, located next to and behind the church. It features a magnificent Calvary, a Stations of the Cross carved in granite stone, a cement lion on a plinth and rustic funerary monuments. This cemetery has been administered since June 2018 by the Catholic parish of Saint-Coeur-de-Marie (formerly Fabrique of the Catholic parish of Sainte-Thècle).
• Parc Saint-Jean Optimiste, 140, rue Saint-Jean (from the Sainte-Thècle church, go down rue Masson; turn right at rue St-Jean, in the village below), ☏ +1 418-365-6728, + 1 418-365-7342. Parc Saint-Jean Optimiste located on the shores of Lac Croche. Boat launch, beach, water games, playground, picnic area, kayak rental, recreation center, volleyball court. Ice available for free skating in winter. The Laurent Naud promenade runs along Lac Croche to rue Du Pont.

Scenic tours

• Tour vers le Lac du Jésuite (Tour to the Jesuit Lake), chemin du Lac-du-Jésuite (take Chemin Saint-Michel Nord, Route Marcotte, northbound, Chemin du Lac du Jésuite, northbound). The Jesuit Lake offers a backdrop of mountains with steep cliffs and boreal forest. This area is a paradise for recreational and tourist activities including resorting, hunting and fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiling, rock climbing, etc. From the church of Sainte-Thècle, the 22 km (14 mi) (to the northern end of the lake) takes approximately 32 minutes, bypassing the lac de la Traverse and lake Aylwin. After about ten minutes (8 km (5.0 mi)), visitors first arrive at the dam at the mouth of the lake, ie at the southern end of the lake. Then the road bypasses the Jesuit lake to reach its northern end. The car tour can continue towards Saint-Joseph-de-Mékinac or go south by Chemin Joseph Saint-Amant to Route 159, connecting Saint-Tite and Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac. Free.

Do

• Club Quad Mékinac, Lac-aux-Sables, ☏ +1 418-365-2100. This Quad club covers most of the municipalities of the MRC Mékinac: Notre-Dame-de-Montauban, Lac-aux-Sables, Sainte-Thècle, Saint-Adelphe, Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac and Trois-Rives. This club organizes several quad excursions for its members.
• Parc St-Jean Optimist, 140, rue St-Jean (from the Sainte-Thècle church, go down rue Masson; turn right at rue St-Jean, in the village below), ☏ +1 418-289-2070. Nautical activities (swimming, boat launching), children's play areas, picnic area, kiosk on the peninsula, and a community room. Free.

Le Jay Bleu Cross-Country Ski Club, Rang St-Michel-Nord, Sainte-Thècle (Quebec) (Photo: Veillg1, CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Club de ski de fond Le Geai Bleu (Le Geai Bleu cross-country ski club), 2501, chemin St-Michel Nord, ☏ +1 418-507-4138. 5 marked trails for cross-country skiing from 1.4 km to 11.7 km) and two trails for snow-shoeing.

Buy

Interior view of 2024 of the Cinq Soeurs Café and boutique, rue Masson. (Photo: Veillg1, CC0)

Food

• Marché Tradition Baril & Frères inc, 171, rue Lacordaire (in the village below, near the Saint-Jean Optimiste park), ☏ +1 418 289-2240. General grocery store.
• Boulangerie Germain (Germain bakery), 2570, rue Notre-Dame (in the village of the station, at the southern entrance to the village), ☏ +1 418 289-3145. Bakery with a great local history. The Germain bakery offers a variety of breads including white bread, wheat bread, flax seed bread, raisin bread, nine-grain bread, rye bread, bacon cheese bread, bagel and a variety of special breads. The breads are entirely hand-shaped and produced locally. The shop is at the front of the building. Catering service for group events.
• Épicerie Éco & Bio grano Vrac (Eco & Organic Grano Bulk Grocery), 221, rue Saint-Jacques, ☏ +1 418 289-2922. Advisory service in health food and therapeutic consultations in naturopathy and aromatherapy. Grano-delights and prepared meals. Eco & bulk grocery store in natural foods. Catering service for healthy, vegetarian and nutritious meals. Grocery store on site or online. Delivery services in 13 municipalities in the region.
• Dépanneur Voisin-Famille Moreau (Famille Moreau's convenience store), 320, rue Saint-Jacques (opposite the Sainte-Thècle presbytery. Ex-Boni-Soir - Le Comptoir Escompte Moreau), ☏ +1 418 289-2833. Convenience store and gas station.

Flowers and market garden products

• Boutique Fleur de Mai (May Flower Shop), 350, rue St-Jacques (Located in the village, opposite the church), ☏ +1 418 289-2110. Florist and gift shop.
• Centre Jardin Multi-Fleurs (Multi-Flower Garden Center), 2061, chemin St-Thomas (section nord) (from the village of Sainte-Thècle, take road 352 (south towards Saint-Adelphe); then turn left to take Chemin St-Thomas Nord), ☏ +1 418 289-2121. Garden centre in the spring. Flowers and vegetables grown in greenhouses by owner Luc Gravel. On

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