”CHEMIN DU ROI”. THE ROAD 138

Andreu Ródenas

I would like to tell you about a route I took on my second trip to Canada, specifically for a specific area of Quebec. From the south-west of the province of Ontario in Canada and following inland we have the San Lorenzo River with about 3,000 kms in length, it is born in the great lakes and empties into an estuary in the Atlantic Ocean. As it passes through the province of Quebec, the river is a source of life for many cities, as well as for many small rural communities that surely go unnoticed by the great majority of Quebec’s tourism. Parallel to the river there is a road called 138 which was formerly the first route or road where the carts circulated, due to which they called it the way of the king (in French Chemin du Roi). In the middle of this route is the city of TROIS-RIVIERE where you can visit the oldest prison in Canada and in fact of all Americans what we naturally did.

Sainte Anne de la Perade

Champlain

As this blog does not have at any time the pretense of being a tourist guide, I will not expand in giving you geographic details, data or precise descriptions, I will leave you some link so that those who interest you more awaken in you can expand their information and knowledge.

I have only thought it interesting to note that on many occasions, from my point of view, the alternative routes, the hidden corners … what goes beyond tourist standards ends up being the most pleasant surprise of a trip and I can assure you that the “chemin du roi” was one of those surprises.

Saint Lawrence river. Biertherville

The day we arrived we arrived in the early afternoon at BIERTHERVILLE, which is next to the San Lorenzo river, here the river widens and becomes a kind of lake (ST. PIERRE) that is full of small islands (ISLANDS OF BIERTHERVILLE), in this area which is a reserve of wildlife declared a natural heritage by UNESCO, thousands of migratory birds live in the spring, such as snow geese and different types of ducks. They are counted in thousands and are in all fields of water-logged crops.

St, Barthelemy

We visited some small towns like ST. IGNACE DE LOYOLA and also Duplessis where we could enjoy in situ the poultry and domestic fauna present in the area.

All the rural communities next to the river are joined by this small road (la 138) which was the first official road of the QUEBEC. We passed through ST.CUTHBERT, ST. BARTHELEMY, YAMACHICHE, LUISEVILLE, MASKINONGÉ (http://www.lecheminduroy.com/pdf/MAP-Chemin-du-Roy_En_2011-2013.pdf) until we reach the capital of the region that is TROIS RIVIERES, where we stop to pick up information.

Yamachiche

Old Prison. Trois-Riviere

We visited the center of the city and as a place to highlight we made a small tour of the oldest prison in Canada: the OLD PRISON of Trois Rivieres, here a former inmate who spent 7 years in different prisons in the state guided us and explained us in detail how life was hard for prisoners in this prison until they closed in 1986.

Trois-Riviere.

Duplessis

Once we said goodbye to our “guide-inmate” we left Trois Rivieres in the direction of CAP SANTE where we visited the NOTRE DAME DU CAP Basilica, right here we took advantage of to make our daily picnic to recover strength.

Saint Anne de la Perade

Absolutely recommended for lovers of quiet places, for those who do not just visit the big cities or the large national parks. The simple, lovely people, always trying to help you in everything. I leave the link (in English) to have detailed information of the place and more photographs.

Once the visit to the Basilica was made, we went north towards the National Park of Mauricie.