Eastman: Trails, Literature and Culture

In Eastman, historic walking tours, literary sites and trails through natural areas sit side by side. When choosing a hotel for a trip to Eastman, your priorities can make the difference: Would you like to explore local history, discover several literary stops, or include a longer trail in your plans? The offerings differ in theme, scope and activity, each giving your stay a different focus.

Trails and landscapes

Eastman has more than 17 kilometres of cycling paths along Route Verte and the Trans Canada Trail, 11 kilometres of which are car-free. La Montagnarde is a section of Route Verte No. 1 and the Trans Canada Trail. As a cycling, walking and cross-country ski trail, it connects Waterloo, Eastman, Orford, Magog and Deauville over just under 50 kilometres. The two distances refer to different offerings: the more than 17 kilometres describe the cycling paths in Eastman, while just under 50 kilometres is the length of La Montagnarde.

The Circuit de l’Abbaye offers a different kind of route: This 149-kilometre long-distance hiking and pilgrimage trail forms a loop, starts at Saint-Benoît-du-Lac Abbey and passes through the municipality of Eastman. In both length and layout, it differs from La Montagnarde, which connects several towns. This comparison can help with planning by distinguishing the shorter route, which accommodates several activities, from the long pilgrimage loop.

Parc Missisquoi-Nord covers 50 hectares and offers several trails through wooded and open areas with a rich variety of wildlife and plant life. In the Eastman area, the rustic Sentier Riverain begins there and ends three kilometres downstream at Pont Durocher. Seasonal restrictions apply to this trail, so keep them in mind when planning. The Michel-Fréchette footbridge crosses the Missisquoi-Nord River. It is also possible to launch a watercraft at this spot; if water levels are low, check conditions before setting out.

Local history and literature

The historic walking tour brings more than 125 years of history to life through old buildings, stories and archival images. For a literary experience, take the walk at Lac d’Argent, which passes panels featuring texts by local authors. The Portage des mots trail is near Théâtre La Marjolaine and presents installations, sculptures and tapestries inspired by novels, comics, poems and children’s books in a woodland setting. The two literary trails differ in format: The lakeside trail focuses on texts displayed on panels, while Portage des mots combines literary content with various art forms.

Théâtre La Marjolaine was founded in 1960 by actress Marjolaine Hébert and is Québec’s oldest still-operating summer theatre. Saint-Édouard d’Eastman Church also dates from 1960: It was built for the parish of Saint-Édouard and is the village’s only surviving church. Eastman therefore has two distinct cultural landmarks from that year: a theatre with its own founding story and a preserved church building.

Since 2002, Correspondances d’Eastman has held an annual literary festival every September, bringing together thousands of people interested in literature, writing and culture. You can include this cultural event in your plans, while the trails and walking tours offer a different focus for your stay.

Discover more destinations

Magog, Bolton-Est, Ayer's Cliff, Sainte-Catherine-De-Hatley, Austin, Saint-Étienne-de-Bolton, North Hatley, Stanstead

For the regional travel overview: Memphrémagog.