Laval: Space, Nature and Heritage

Laval encompasses the entire Île Jésus. This clearly defined area brings together space and health education, natural areas and historic routes. When planning a stay, it helps to first choose a focus: interactive science, green spaces or the history of older neighbourhoods? The different themes can be combined to suit your travel interests.

Explore space and health

Opened in 1994, the Cosmodôme de Laval is Canada’s only institution devoted entirely to comprehensive space science education. Three interactive virtual missions are also part of the offer. Space science is therefore not just a topic presented in theory, but is also explored interactively through virtual missions.

Health is a second scientific focus. The Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier is for the general public, especially young people. Exhibitions, science workshops and educational activities present health sciences in a fun and interactive way. The permanent exhibition “4,3,2,1... Santé!” spans four levels: from molecules and cells to individuals and populations, and then the planet. This progression connects processes at the smallest scale with questions affecting people and wider contexts.

Urban forest, wildlife and water

Those looking to include landscapes as well as exhibitions will find a range of nature experiences in Laval. Bois de l’Équerre is one of Laval’s last large urban forests and includes trees and wetlands. Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles is the largest protected wildlife area in the metropolitan region. These sites offer two distinct perspectives: an urban forest with its trees and wetlands, and wildlife conservation on a metropolitan scale.

The Centre de la Nature de Laval includes gardens, a pond, a farm, a tropical plant greenhouse and an observatory. In summer, it also offers five kilometres of walking paths. These seasonal paths complement the site’s other features.

In the Sainte-Rose neighbourhood, the Centre d’interprétation de l’eau (C.I.EAU) focuses on water. Its offerings include interactive content, virtual reality and challenges for visitors. The permanent exhibition “Le chemin de l’eau: de la rivière à la rivière” invites visitors to explore ten themes tracing the path of water in an urban setting. Along with the natural areas, these insights broaden the landscape perspective by examining the role of water in an urban environment.

History and routes through Laval

The Maison André-Benjamin-Papineau was built of stone in 1820 and is associated with André-Benjamin Papineau and his influential family. The house offers an immersive exploration of Laval and Quebec heritage. Information panels, artefacts, and video and audio presentations let visitors explore various aspects of everyday life in the 19th century. The building’s history is thus brought together with depictions of everyday life.

The Route du patrimoine presents the history and architecture of the Vieux-Sainte-Rose, Vieux-Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Vieux-Saint-Martin neighbourhoods. It can be explored using the Parcourir Laval mobile app or on guided historical and theatrical Virées patrimoniales. The Rallye des Rivières route takes a different approach: it circles Île de Laval and includes stops at historic sites and river access points. While the Route du patrimoine explores the history of three neighbourhoods, the Rallye combines historic stops with river access points.

Choose a hotel location based on your travel interests

These themes can help guide your choice of a hotel in Laval without presupposing a particular location. Those most interested in science and exhibitions can make the Cosmodôme and the Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier the focus of their plans. Nature enthusiasts can look to the urban forest, protected area and Centre de la Nature; for history, the Route du patrimoine and Maison André-Benjamin-Papineau offer concrete points of interest.

Discover more destinations: Laval, Nicolet-Yamaska, Communauté-Urbaine-De-Montréal, Maskinongé, La Vallée-De-La-Gatineau, Montmagny, Nord-Du-Québec, Thérèse-De Blainville

For the full travel overview: Quebec.