Nicknamed “La belle d’à côté” (the pretty one next door) due to its geographical location, the region will melt the visitor’s heart with its natural attractions, the diversity of its leisure activities and the warmth and friendliness of its inhabitants. The Mauricie territory, 90% of which consists of forest and open water, extends from the St. Lawrence River northward to the boreal forest. Hunting and fishing, motorized leisure activities, museums, golf clubs, spa and relaxation centres, historical culture and outdoor activities—you’ll find them all in this county of a thousand landscapes. Nature lovers, put your knapsack on your back. The Mauricie is the place where you may well decide to make your nest!
Situated along the north shore of the St. Lawrence, this region is nestled among its neighbours: the Lanaudière, Capitale-Nationale, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions. It was named for the south-flowing Saint-Maurice River, the region’s widest and longest at 587 kilometres.
Some 70% of the Mauricie’s inhabitants are concentrated in the municipalities of Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières, where most of the economic activity takes place. The region comprises 42 towns and villages organized into regional county municipalities. In addition to these RCMs, the region also includes three native reserves: Coucoucache, Obedjiwan and Wemotaci, each of which is home to an Attikamek community.
One salient attribute of this region is its “Maurician” legends. As a side order for visitors to the Mauricie, a number of eerie local legends add a little spice to your sojourn in this seemingly tranquil region. There’s the devil’s hole on Melville island park in Shawinigan, the rock outcrop in Grand-Mère, the hanged man’s wall on the St. James church in Trois-Rivières or the marine monster of Lac des Piles just north of Shawinigan. These myths and legends are an interesting aside to any tour of the area.
You’d better have room in your agenda, because the Mauricie has all manner of camping and outdoor activities, as well as fishing, family fun, dogsledding and waterside pursuits. The region’s must-see features include Lac Sacacomie in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, reputed for the crystal blue of its waters—unseen anywhere else in Quebec. Have you ever heard of the Western Festival that is held every year in Saint-Tite? This country music festival is actually well known across North America. Every year, some 600,000 visitors crowd the municipality of Saint-Tite, a small town of 4,000.
Considered one of Canada’s most affordable regions due to the sheer vastness of land surface available, the Mauricie is one of today’s hotspots for real estate developers and investors. If you’re thinking about a luxury home, by the water or in the woods, but never far from an urban centre, it would be difficult to find a better spot to build your future.