Boucherville: History and Nature on the Islands

In Boucherville, a historic town centre and nature experiences on the islands of the St. Lawrence River come together. Vieux-Boucherville, a designated heritage site and the historic and tourist heart of the city, invites you to take in its houses and history. In Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville, meanwhile, the focus is on trails for walking, cycling and exploring by water. Which of these sides of the area you choose to discover on your trip may also shape your choice of a vacation rental in Boucherville.

Historic Houses and Culture in Vieux-Boucherville

Vieux-Boucherville is characterised by narrow streets and numerous historic houses. On request, the Société d’histoire des Îles-Percées arranges custom guided tours of Vieux-Boucherville and Place de l’Église. This lets you focus your visit on the historic town centre and the square. Another distinctive stop is Maison Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine: it is the only surviving evidence of Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine’s time in Boucherville.

Église Sainte-Famille also tells a layered story of construction. It was built in 1801 to plans by parish priest Pierre Conefroy and was classified as a historic monument in 1964. After a fire in 1843, the church was substantially rebuilt by Louis-Thomas-Berlinguet. Restorations followed in 1969 and between 2006 and 2016. If you are interested in the area’s history and historic architecture, this offers a distinct focus alongside nature experiences.

Maison dite Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine offers three tours for adults, teenagers and young children. This provides a specific cultural point of interest for a visit with children, too. At Café centre d’art, visual arts, performing arts and media arts take centre stage. The cultural venue also serves as a meeting place for artists and audiences, offering a different perspective on Boucherville’s cultural life.

Island Nature on Foot, by Bike and on the Water

Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville consists of five small islands in the St. Lawrence River. There are various ways to explore: the park’s cycling network is 21 km long, while Boucherville also has almost 45 km of multi-use trails. These figures refer to separate networks and can help you plan a stay with outdoor activities.

On the water, an 8 km marked water trail leads through canals and an exceptional marshland. You can rent kayaks and canoes on site or bring your own boat. This lets you explore the islands from the water rather than focusing your trip exclusively on land trails. Which option suits your day of travel better depends on whether you would rather cycle or paddle.

There are also marked loop trails for hiking in winter: the trail on Île Sainte-Marguerite is 7 km long, and the one on Île de la Commune is 5 km. Both trails are accessible by sled. Their different lengths can help you choose between the two routes; each trail remains clearly associated with its respective island.

A Seasonal Connection to Île Grosbois

During the summer season, Navark operates a river ferry from Boucherville to Île Grosbois in Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville. You can board on foot or with a bicycle. This seasonal service differs from the park’s trails and may be relevant when planning a summer stay.

If culture and architectural history are what matter most to you, Boucherville offers several specific points of interest, including Vieux-Boucherville, Église Sainte-Famille and the Maison attractions. For active days, you can choose from cycling and walking trails as well as the marked water route. Tailor your search for a vacation rental to whichever side of the area interests you most during your stay.

Discover More Places

You can also discover Contrecœur, Verchères and Varennes as other destinations.

For the broader travel overview: Lajemmerais.