Montebello: ONIRO at night, cheese and art

Montebello offers a wide range of reasons to visit: a nighttime sensory forest trail, the chance to watch cheese being made during production, artworks by member artists, as well as gardens, picnic areas and views of the Ottawa River. When planning, it’s worth keeping the different times of day and types of visits in mind.

Nighttime forest trail and wildlife viewing at Parc Omega

ONIRO is a year-round nighttime walking trail through the forest at Parc Omega. Projections, light and sound blend with nature, engaging several senses along the way. Before Parc Omega opens, exclusive immersive bus tours with a nature guide are also offered. Visitors get especially close to the animals on these tours.

The two experiences differ in time of day and format: ONIRO takes you through the forest on foot at night, while the bus tour takes place before opening and is accompanied by a nature guide. If you’re planning to take the bus tour, check its availability separately for each day. ONIRO combines the forest with audiovisual elements; the bus tour puts the animals at the centre of the experience.

Cheese making and tastings

At Fromagerie Montebello, large viewing windows are accessible from the parking lot. When production is underway, you can watch the team carefully and precisely turn milk into cheese while following strict food safety standards. The opportunity to watch therefore depends on production being underway.

In addition to its own cheeses, the Fromagerie boutique carries charcuterie, jams, fresh bread and other local products. Tastings are available on request for groups of eight or more; contact them in advance to arrange one.

Art and gardens

The La Fouinerie boutique at the Centre d’exposition Napoléon-Bourassa offers works by member artists. These include jewellery, ceramics, books and original works in small formats. The range of formats makes the selection tangible: it spans everything from useful items to small original works.

The grounds of Manoir-Papineau offer gardens, picnic areas and views of the Ottawa River. You can also add gardens and a picnic to your travel plans; the river view is another feature of the grounds.

Experiences to help plan your trip

If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Montebello, you can start by considering which experiences you’d like to shape your stay: a nighttime trail, a tour before opening, cheese making and tasting, or art and gardens. This helps you tailor your trip to your interests without combining all the activities into a set itinerary. Each has its own planning requirements: check the bus tour’s availability for each day, the chance to watch cheese being made depends on production, and tastings require a request for groups of eight or more.

Discover more destinations: Saint-André-Avellin, Montpellier, Papineauville, Boileau.

For the regional travel overview: Papineau.