Deschambault: History, Art and Trails Along the St. Lawrence River

Deschambault’s historic village center developed on Cap Lauzon, a headland overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The river is also part of the setting at the wharf. Deschambault offers several distinct themes for a stay: local history at the Vieux Presbytère, crafts and art at the Moulin de la Chevrotière, hiking and snowshoeing trails in the Jardins du Cap Lauzon and at the mill, and the statue ensemble at Église Saint-Joseph. If you’re looking for a hotel, these interests can help you decide which aspects of the area you’d like to explore more closely.

Local History at the Presbytery and Mill

The Vieux Presbytère was built in 1816. Its permanent exhibition, “Vous êtes ici au Vieux Presbytère,” tells the story of the area and the people who have left their mark there. The year it was built and the exhibition offer different ways into local history: one dates the building, while the other focuses on the place and its people. In summer, the Vieux Presbytère presents exhibitions of contemporary art; this seasonal program may vary. If you’re particularly interested in these art exhibitions, check what’s on this summer before your visit.

The Moulin de la Chevrotière was built in 1802 by Seigneur Joseph Chavigny de la Chevrotière. Its permanent exhibition focuses on traditional crafts. The upper floors also display a collection of old doors and several works of art. The mill also hosts visual art exhibitions. One area invites visitors to try their hand at creative activities. By comparison, the Vieux Presbytère was built later, in 1816. The two buildings thus mark different moments in history; at the mill, crafts, exhibits and hands-on creative activities come together.

Hiking and Snowshoeing Trails

The Sentiers du moulin de la Chevrotière offer hiking and snowshoeing trails. Heritage buildings are also among the attractions there. The Jardins du Cap Lauzon also offer hiking and snowshoeing trails. So these two named places offer the same basic types of trails; at the mill, heritage is an additional focus. If you’d like to include both outdoor activity and history in your travel plans, these are two specific places to consider, without treating their trails as a single offering.

The Statue Ensemble and River Access

At Église Saint-Joseph de Deschambault, a guide explains Baillairgé’s significant statue ensemble. This provides a distinct focus for viewing sculpture, alongside local history at the presbytery and the craft and art exhibitions at the mill. At the Quai de Deschambault, a ramp and the wharf provide access to the river. This makes it possible to understand the area’s connection to the river both through the historic village center’s location on Cap Lauzon and through this specifically named access point.

When choosing a theme for your stay, you can consider whether you’re more interested in local history, traditional crafts, art, walking and snowshoeing trails, sculpture or river access. The themes described here range from the historic village center to exhibition venues, trails and the wharf. They can help guide your search for a hotel in Deschambault, without presupposing a particular itinerary or a connection between the individual places.

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