Routhierville: Historic Buildings and the Matapédia Valley

Routhierville brings together two distinctive buildings with riverside experiences and a regional cycling route. The Ancienne gare de Routhierville tells the story of the town’s railway history; the covered bridge spans the Matapédia. Those choosing between culture, cycling and fishing for their trip will find different themes here: architectural history in the town and activities in the surrounding area.

A train station with distinctive architecture

The Ancienne gare de Routhierville was built in 1878 and is no longer in operation. It is the oldest train station in the MRC de La Matapédia. Its design also sets it apart from other stations: the building has two storeys and an imposing overall volume. This makes Routhierville a tangible point of interest for anyone interested in historic railway-station architecture. When planning a trip, this focus can be clearly distinguished from the riverside attractions or the cycling route.

The covered bridge over the Matapédia

Another defining structure is Routhierville’s covered bridge. Dating from 1931, it spans the Matapédia River. It has been classified as a historic monument since 2009. Together with the former train station, it offers another way to explore the town’s history, although the two structures need not share the same historical background: the bridge is defined by its construction date, its location over the river and its classification; the station by its age and architectural style. Those particularly interested in buildings can make these differences the focus of their visit.

Cycling in the Matapédia Valley

The Véloroute Desjardins de La Matapédia is a 110 km cycling route from Saint-Moïse to Routhierville. Its consistent signage is intended to help cyclists follow the route more easily. Along the way, they can experience the landscapes of the Matapédia Valley, including Lake Matapedia, hills and waterways. As a travel focus, the route offers a different perspective from the historic buildings: it runs between two named places and provides a regional setting for a cycling trip. Families planning a visit can decide together whether the history of the station and bridge or cycling appeals to them more.

Fishing along the public stretch of river

Fishing is another regional activity. The public stretch of the Matapédia River between Causapscal and Routhierville has 33 fishing spots, including Salmon Hole, Heppell and Les Fourches. There is no quota for this stretch, and the number of fishing rods is not limited. Sectors 1 and 3 offer another point of reference: together, they make up the nearly 25 km public stretch of the Matapédia River. Sector 3 lies between Causapscal and Routhierville. This information helps position fishing as a focus in its own right, alongside cycling and the historic buildings, without combining the different experiences into a single outing.

More destinations

More destinations: Val-Brillant, Amqui, Causapscal, Sayabec.

Back to the regional travel overview: La Matapédia.