Discover Joliette: Art, City History and Trails

The Musée d’art de Joliette, Cathédrale Saint-Charles-Borromée and the historical walking tour offer cultural points of interest. Trails, seasonal events and markets round out the picture.

Art, Culture and Architecture

The Musée d’art de Joliette has a collection of 8,300 works of art and presents permanent and temporary exhibitions. Guided tours and educational and cultural programs offer further ways to engage with art. This means you can tailor a museum visit in different ways: focus on the exhibitions or include a program with more interpretation in your plans. The Centre culturel Desjardins presents and promotes cultural and artistic activities across the greater Joliette area. It offers more than 200 performances a year; the program may change.

The Cathédrale Saint-Charles-Borromée is also a striking cultural destination. This Catholic place of worship was built between 1887 and 1892. Its design is particularly eclectic on the façade, and it also has three turrets topped with bell towers. If you would like to see the cathedral’s interior, you can plan a visit for Wednesday or Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Check opening hours before your visit.

Discover Joliette’s History

The historical walking tour presents the history of Joliette and the Village d’Industrie across 39 stops. Information panels accompany the tour and provide historical context for each stop. This offers a different way to explore the city’s history than an exhibition: you encounter the subject along a walking route through Joliette. If you would also like to consult historical records, you can visit the archives of the Société d’histoire de Joliette-De Lanaudière by appointment.

Cycling Routes, Nature and River Activities

Joliette’s cycling network is nearly 50 kilometres long, including 10 kilometres away from road traffic. These figures give you an idea of the network’s extent without specifying a particular route or ride time. For a shorter walk, the Réserve naturelle Marie-France-Pelletier offers a large 2-kilometre loop. In winter, the trails are not mechanically maintained. Île Vessot also has a footbridge and trails.

Seasonally, single and tandem kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards for adults and children are available to rent at Pavillon Gilles-Beaudry. There is a clear restriction on rented watercraft on the L’Assomption River: they may be used only upstream from the rental location. Seasonal rentals and this direction of travel are useful details to consider when planning river activities for your trip.

Events and Markets

Several three-day festivals offer a range of themes. Festi-Glace de Joliette is a winter festival on the banks of the L’Assomption River and has been part of the regional tradition there for several years. Festival du Rire de Joliette features comedy shows, outdoor performances and interactive activities. The festival takes place downtown under a large tent at Place Bourget. Check the latest information for event dates and programs.

Bastringue brings circus into the urban setting: under the artistic direction of the Le Cirque Alfonse family troupe, the festival takes place in the heart of Joliette and spreads from the large circus tent across downtown. If you prefer to experience art and culture through performances, this approach is quite different from visiting museums or taking the historical walking tour.

The markets have their own distinct character, too. At Marché de Noël de Joliette, regional producers and artisans sell their goods from decorated wooden stalls. At Marché public de Joliette, located at Place Bourget, producers and artisans offer fresh, high-quality food. The Christmas market pairs crafts with a seasonal atmosphere, while the public market puts food in the spotlight.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Ambroise-De-Kildare.

Return to the main travel overview: Joliette.