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Published on Jun 11, 2024
Happy, very friendly and grateful contest winners, amazing tasting stops and clear blue skies; all these ingredients came together perfectly, making our Véloroute Gourmande outing a truly exceptional experience.
By Yvan Martineau
There’s a saying that goes “cyclo-tourists don’t waste their time, they take their time.” That’s exactly the spirit in which the twenty or so happy cyclists, winners of this VIP initiative by Tourisme Montérégie and Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est, rode off on their bikes last May. The aim was to raise awareness about the charming features of this 235 km route linking Montréal to Sherbrooke, and its 130 attractions for sampling local products. That’s right: 130! Plus 81 lodging options.
On the menu that day: 50 km, at a happy-go-lucky pace, on the Granby-Farnham-St-Jean-sur-Richelieu section, four gourmet stops as well as a private visit to a craft beer microbrewery.
“I loved my day. We don’t often visit the Montérégie region or the Eastern Townships. It was a wonderful discovery, turnkey, well organized... it was marvellous,” commented Anik Savoie from Vaudreuil.
“We took the time to stop and savour the flavours of the region. I was truly delighted,” said Myriam Billette from Chambly.
“We’re going to talk about the fun we had, meeting all these friendly people while enjoying the shaded bike paths,” pointed out young fathers Simon Lemieux and Jean-François Renaud. “And we enjoyed the impeccable support, which, we must say, we really appreciated.”
Before we even set out, we were treated to a selection of locally roasted espressos, juices, mimosas, fruit and croissants at the Café de la Brûlerie in Granby, conveniently located right next to Boivin Lake and L’Estriade bike path. Their beautifully designed terrace provided the perfect setting for a relaxed ambiance.
After the logistics and safety instructions, we got on our bikes and headed out on the Montérégiade, which also happens to be part of the Route Verte and Trans Canada Trail networks. With no elevation changes, it’s accessible to all cycling levels.
Arriving in Farnham is always a treat for me. Once we crossed the footbridge over the Yamaska, we followed the river for a few hundred metres, bordering a green area always full of flowers and featuring a public piano. I usually enjoy a picnic here. But just a short walk away is a hidden treasure that I didn’t know about: the Yamaska Café, and our second stop. Its large outdoor terrace and the huge mural on the side of the building are well worth a closer look. In fact, it’s the kind of place where you’d want to linger a while longer.
Esther Fortier, from Drummondville, “…loved the venue, the fine products they sell here, and the tasty snacks we were served.”
Back on our bikes, skydivers were livening up the sky and landed right in front of us. So cool! We had less than twenty kilometres to pedal before reaching our third stop. Oh, but what delightful kilometres they were! Passing under canopies of trees... mesmerizing! We then reached the Lagabière artisanal brewery, which is just 200 metres from the Montérégiade, easily accessible and safe. This taproom and boutique, established on the 3e rang (in the Iberville sector of Saint-Jean-sur Richelieu), are well worth a detour: a modern, spacious building, with much more room than we usually find in microbreweries, a warm and friendly interior, an inviting terrace, and… a corn hole toss game!
“I’d never visited a microbrewery’s installations and it was quite impressive,” admits Stéphanie Gendron. “I really recommend Lagabière. The outdoor site is just beautiful, with its terrace, parasols and flowers,” adds her sister Annick.
We got back on our bikes, this time heading towards Treize Chocolats, on Rue Richelieu, a major street in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, 30 seconds from the river and the bike path. This is a family-run business where Karine Bérault greets the public with a friendly smile, a pastry chef concocts macaroons and chocolatier Pascal Daoust, Mrs. Bérault’s partner, is in charge of the cocoa and gelato creations. Access to their pretty terrace allowed us to fully savour the delicacies we’d just bought for ourselves.
From here, the shuttle service took everyone back to Granby. Finally, everyone went home with a jersey bearing the colours of the Véloroute Gourmande; the idea was to offer something to remember this sublime outing for a long time to come.
“It was a great day,” concluded Caroline Nadeau from St-Hyacinthe. “I really enjoyed the Véloroute, with its shady areas and everything there is to see. The stops along the way to sample local products transformed the excursion into a unique experience.”
Christian Cameron, from Chambly, agreed, “It’s not a complicated bike route, and there’s always something to discover. The route is safe, and I loved the very beautiful locations where we could stop and enjoy a bite to eat.”
Also, the key to all successful ventures is an impeccable organization. These responsibilities were entrusted to Karine and Alexi, the cool owners of Ravito gîte et café, who put together all-inclusive packages (with luggage transfers) to discover the Véloroute gourmande, as well as the Eastern Townships and Vermont, on both paved and gravel roads. Ekilib also offers hassle-free excursions.
So, epicureans and cyclo-tourists, the invitation has been extended! Now it’s your turn to explore the Véloroute gourmande between Montréal, the Montérégie and the Eastern Townships, at your own personal pace and enjoying every moment as you go.
