Treat yourself to massages, body treatments, Nordic baths and other sensory delights.
THINGS TO DO
Your Townships adventure starts here.
Spa & Wellness
Treat yourself to massages, body treatments, Nordic baths and other sensory delights.
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Let your imagination run free at galleries, theatres, museums and workshops.
Shopping
Scour our markets, boutiques and other hidden gems to score incredible finds.
Restaurants
All are sure to please even the most discerning of palates. Bon appétit!
Events
Discover our cultural vitality with a wide range of special events.
Skiing
To each mountain its experience! Skiing or snowboarding, you will love hitting the slopes, whichever the ski resort you will vote for!
Snowshoeing
Explore our great outdoor spaces at your own beat. Let yourself be charmed by our landscapes. And breathe!
Cross-country Skiing
Cross-country skiing in the Townships … at your pace and your level!
Fatbike
Discover our numerous trails as you enjoy pedalling on the snow.
Where to stay
Lodging options to suit any taste and budget.
Hotels & Country Inns
Stunning locations and outstanding service come together for a bliss-inducing stay.
Bed & Breakfasts
Get up close and personal with life in the Townships.
Off the Beaten Path
Think outside the box with out of the ordinary accommodations.
Cottages & Condos
Custom comfort near the city or in nature.
Campgrounds
Abundant amenities in the heart of nature.
Vacation Centres
Kick back and relax as a family with all-inclusive vacation options.
Other Types of Lodging
Experience something different by choosing unique lodging.
Lodgings with Spa Options
Plan a stay in an accommodation with a private spa or a treatment center. Relaxation guaranteed!
Hikers Welcome
If you, like thousands of visitors annually, plan on hiking in the region, know that your efforts will be rewarded by our world-class hospitality.
Pet Friendly
Don’t want to leave your four-legged friend behind? Book a stay in some of the region’s many dog-friendly digs and you won’t have to.
The Townships
The Townships possess a rich heritage that you will discover everywhere on its nine territories, in its towns and villages, its Coeurs villageois, etc.
Not to be missed
What is it that draws visitors to the region, year after year? Find out here :
Cœurs villageois
Visit our Cœurs villageois – charming communities that truly characterize the spirit of our region.
Towns and villages
Explore our lively, welcoming towns and villages with their heritage architecture and fascinating histories.
Nine territories to discover
Each territory has a distinct personality and a wealth of hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered!
The Townships at a glance
Here’s a glimpse of the region, a few historical notions, and numbers.
Tourist routes
Hit the road! The region has several tourist routes designed around different themes – heritage, scenic landscapes, wine….
National and regional parks
Four national and two regional parks – an outdoor paradise in the fresh air, each and every one!
Taste the townships
Here, in so many ways, you’ll enjoy all kinds of gastronomical experiences! When you discover our unique products and our highly renowned tables, you’ll love us forever!
Restaurants
Every time you sit down at one of our tables, you’ll experience a truly special moment. Savour it!
Cafés de village
Visit our Cafés de Village and discover each one’s specialties while meeting the most welcoming and friendly people.
Créateurs de Saveurs Products
You can rely on our food producers who put as much love as delicious flavours into everything they plant and produce.
Vineyards
The Route des vins de Brome-Missisquoi, the Route des vins de l’Estrie, and about twenty other vineyards… The Townships region proudly honours its title of being the first wine region of Quebec.
Microbreweries
The region counts more than twenty microbreweries! Just like the people who run them, each one has established their own strong, unique personality and … extremely inviting character!
Cheese Factories & Dairy Producers
goat’s milk… Here you’ll savour rich artisanal cheeses. Some you already know, many others you’ll enjoy discovering.
Restaurants Saveurs Cantons-de-l’Est
These restaurants prioritize local producers and offer dishes made with regional ingredients, providing an authentic experience of the Eastern Township terroir.
Foodie’s Maps
Brasseurs des Cantons and Têtes fromagères are two gastronomical circuits highlighting our microbreweries and cheese factories.
Gourmet Itineraries
Plan your stay by offering yourself a wealth of flavours. Consult our getaway ideas.
Weekend and Trip Ideas
Discover our activities suggestions, getaway ideas and itineraries in the Townships.
Family Outings
Find loads of ideas for memorable family outings!
Romantic Getaways
Outings, restaurants, spas, weekend ideas… Suggestions for spending some precious moments together.
Outdoor Activities
Snowshoeing, skiing, fatbiking, tube sliding... Without a doubt, all outdoor enthusiasts are sure to find something to do here!
Wellness Experiences and Spas
Let us help you take care of yourself.
Slow Travel
Take the time to take your time in the Townships
Itineraries
Whether for two, with your family or with friends, here you will find a ton of suggestions for planning perfect getaways!
Experiences to Try
Our collaborators have tested several different adventures … and have approved!
Coeur villageois
Visit our Cœurs villageois – charming communities that truly characterize the spirit of our region.
Towns and Villages
Explore our lively, welcoming towns and villages with their heritage architecture and fascinating histories.
Guide and Maps
View our guide and maps online or order your free copies.
Updated on Aug 9, 2023
The start of the school year marks the beginning of a favourite family activity; we’re talking, of course, about our famous apple picking season which lasts until the first days of October. Head out to one of the many orchards in the Eastern Townships to discover all the different varieties of this exquisite fruit. Let’s go find both the most classic ones and the newest arrivals!
By Marie-Claude Masse
This one gets the self-picking season started in September. Did you know that it’s named after its discoverer’s sweetheart? Very firm, acidulated and sweet, it is truly an excellent apple to bite into. (In most orchards.)
Quite firm and delicious to bite into, this variety can produce enormous fruits! The Lobo variety is an excellent choice for pies because it keeps its shape even when it’s cooked. (In most orchards.)
Very sweet and very juicy, McIntosh apples are often our children’s favourite. Should we wonder why? As juice or as apple puree, it’s exquisite, and there’s no need to add maple syrup or cinnamon to enhance its taste. (In most orchards.)
This pretty, crunchy, yellow apple offers subtle aromas and very low acidity.
People prefer to bite into one than to cook with it. It will, however, bring a lot of sunshine to your autumn! (at Verger le Gros Pierre)
A savoury apple you can use for everything! Firm and juicy, it’s delicious for biting into or for cooking. What makes it stand out from other varieties is its flesh which keeps its white colour even cooked; so, your purees will have a pretty pink hue when you prepare it, leaving the skin on, of course. (In most orchards)
Firm, low acidity, very sweet and excellent for biting into, the Spartan offers a taste similar to that of a pear. It’s a perfect accomplice for your lunches! (In most orchards)
With its beautiful dark red colouring, the Empire is a hybrid variety resulting from crossing McIntosh and Red Delicious varieties. Because it’s very firm, it’s less vulnerable to bruising so it’s the ideal apple for your kids’ lunchboxes! (In most orchards)
Like the name suggests, a Honeycrisp apple has a delicious honey flavour, besides being exceptionally crunchy and juicy. It’s no surprise that the popularity of this variety, introduced in 1991, is constantly growing. (Among other places, at Pommalbonne in Compton, Verger Le Gros Pierre and Ferme Ste-Catherine in Sherbrooke.)
Its white flesh can present a slight pink hue when it reaches maturity. It can be conserved over a long period of time and is a 100% local product, created in 2014 by the collective La Pomme de demain. This Quebec fellowship works to diversify apple varieties and to create new ones. (At Verger Le Gros Pierre.)
With its yellow slightly orange colour on its sunny face, the Passionata is the most original among our apples because of its taste, a blend of Muscat grapes and … passion fruit! Excellent for biting into, delicious to cook … epicureans will be delighted! Another amazing 100% Quebec variety created in 2015 thanks to La Pomme de demain. (At Verger Le Gros Pierre.)
Taste the Townships
7 Orchards Hope to Become The Apple Of Your Eye!Taste the Townships
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