# Notre-Dame-de-Montauban

Notre-Dame-de-Montauban is a charming locality in Middle Batiscanie on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, in the regional county municipality of Mékinac. This municipality, split by the course of the Batiscan River, includes the main village of Notre-Dame-des-Anges and the village of Montauban-les-Mines.
This locality has a territory of 174 km$^2$ (67 sq mi) with 800 full-time inhabitants (2021) and some seasonal residents. This municipality has several campgrounds and rental cabins. The main village of Notre-Dame-des-Anges is located at the junction of the route de La Traverse (coming from Lac-aux-Sables) and route 367 (rue Principale).

## Understand

The Batiscan River flows north to south over 196 km (122 mi) starting at Édouard Lake in Mauricie. It flows into the St. Lawrence River at Batiscan. The main village of Notre-Dame-de-Montauban is located on the east side of a segment of this river. From 1852, the Price Brothers and Company began to harvest the forest in the Batiscan Valley. The transport of wood by flotation on the Batiscan River was abandoned in 1963.

### Economy

At the end of 19th century, logging was the main driver of economic development; the course of the Batiscan river then made it possible to transport logs by flotation, following the current to the mills downstream. In the 21st century, the main economic vocations of the territory of Notre-Dame-de-Montauban are recreational and tourist activities (vacation, camping, hunting and fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiles), forestry, agriculture and certain businesses. local. Resort hamlets have developed around Lake Charest (near the village of Montauban) and Lake Georges.

### History

The colonization of the territory of Notre-Dame-des-Anges began around 1870. At the end of the 19th century, its territory straddled the cantons of Chavigny (north bank of the Batiscan) and Montauban (south bank). In 1871, the settlers built a first wooden bridge. In 1872, Father Narcisse Bellenger, missionary-colonizer, designated the emerging community "colony of Notre-Dame de la Batiscan". He built the Bellenger establishment with a two-storey barn serving respectively as a reception for the settlers and a warehouse. The Bellenger-Goulet mill has been established. In 1877, the colony was renamed "Notre-Dame-des-Anges de la rivière Batiscan" at the inauguration of the first chapel which burned down twenty years later. In 1879, the parish will be designated Notre-Dame-des-Anges de Montauban. In 1880, the Bellenger-Goulet flour mill began operations. In 1908, the first chapel was burnt down.
The iron bridge spanning the Batiscan River was erected in 1909 on the same site as the first bridge; the latter had been rebuilt and renovated several times. The railway line was inaugurated in 1897.

### Read

F. Chateauvert et J. Bertrand, Notre-Dame-de-Montauban a cent ans (Notre-Dame-de-Montauban is one hundred years old): 1879-1979 éditions du Centenaire, 1979.

## Get in

The territory of Notre-Dame-des-Anges is accessible by road vehicle, ATV, snowmobile and even with light boats (via the Batiscan river).

### By car

* From Montreal (230 km (140 mi). Time: 2 hr 33 min. Take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Trois-Rivières; Highway 55 North, to the Saint-Maurice River; Route 153 North, passing through Saint-Tite, Sainte-Thècle, Hervey-Jonction and Lac-aux-Sables, where you have to take the Chemin de la Traverse to the village of Notre-Dame-des-Anges.
* From Quebec City. (118 km (73 mi). Time: 1 hr 25 min. Take highway 40 westbound to Grondines; then take route 363 to Rang 1 Price in Lac-aux-Sables; then rue Principale (route 367) crossing the village of Montauban-les-Mines, to the village of Notre-Dame-des-Anges.

### Trails

The Quad trail (Quad trail$^{[deadlink]}$) passes through the forest north of Lac-aux-Sables.

## Get around

* 46.87631-72.308331 Sonic Station-Service, 487, avenue des Loisirs, ☏ +1 418-336-2041. Service station for motor vehicles. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.87752-72.308232 Borne véhicule électrique - municipalité Notre-Dame-de-Montauban, Centre sportif Jules-Paquin - 505, avenue des Loisirs. Charging stations for electric vehicle batteries. (updated Oct 2021)

## See

* 46.87857-72.309111 Église catholique de Notre-Dame-des-Anges (Catholique church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges), 422, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-336-2016. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.87748-72.307152 Cimetière de Notre-Dame-des-Anges (Cemetery of Notre-Dame-des-Anges), 100-110, rue du Puit, ☏ +1 418-336-2016. (updated Oct 2021)
* La Pointe du Canotier (The tip of the boater). (updated Oct 2021)

### Scenic tours

* Parcours historique Notre-Dame-de-Montauban (Notre-Dame-de-Montauban historical route), ☏ +1 418-336-2640, loisirs.ndm@regionmekinac.com. Historical route with 13 historical interpretation panels in the village of Notre-Dame-de-Montauban. (updated Oct 2021)

## Do

* 46.88698-72.302311 Parc des Chutes-de-Montauban (Chutes-de-Montauban Park), Route du Moulin, ☏ +1 418-336-2640, info@audomainefamilial.com. Park established in 1979 as part of the centenary celebrations of the municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Montauban. This park runs along the west bank of the Batiscan River for about a kilometer. Visitors can admire several falls and waterfalls (elevation). The municipality has built a raised walkway leading visitors to a belvedere in order to observe more closely the Falls of the Nine (also called "fall of the five dollars" inadvertently because of the resemblance of the image affixed on a five-dollar bill issued in 1954). It is designated "fall of the Nine" because it is the ninth portage going up the Batiscan river. The Chutes-de-Montauban Park hiking trail is integrated into the Montauban trail, a 17-km section of the Trans Canada Trail, which crosses the country. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.90396-72.285022 Exit Nature, 429, route Rousseau, info@exitnature.com. (updated Oct 2021)
* Sentier national (National trail). The 17.4 km (10.8 mi) national trail begins on the east bank of the Batiscan River (intersection of route 367 and Rang du Soleil), downstream from the “Neuf” falls (formerly referred to as similar to the falls of the “Five Canadian Dollars”), in Notre-Dame-de-Montauban. The path follows the river for more than a kilometer, in order to enter the boreal forest in order to move towards Mont Otis (summit culminating at 325 m.). Formerly designated “Mont Saint-Amand”, this toponym was replaced in 1979 by “Mont Otis” (also nicknamed “Cap à Ti-Fred”), as part of the town's centenary celebrations; this new toponymic designation evokes the memory of the first pioneer to settle. At the top, the 180 degree panorama is splendid. The path stretches to the regional natural park of Portneuf; its route passes near Lac des Pins and crosses Chemin du Lac-du-Castor. A shorter option of the trail is a 3.4 km (2.1 mi) loop, starting from the Cohabitat Mont Otis campsite. Finally, a linear segment of one km in the Parc des Chutes de Montauban allows access to the fall of Neuf, which shows a drop of about ten meters on the Batiscan river. Free. (updated Oct 2021)

### Hiking in the National Trail (section Notre-Dame-de-Montauban)

| | Walking path | Length | Elevation | Type | Grade |
| 1 | Sentier des Mélodies | 1.0 km (0.62 mi) | | Linear | Beginer |
| 2 | Sentier Passe à Ti-Fred | 0.8 km (0.50 mi) | | Linear | Intermediate |
| 3 | Sentier du Soleil | 1.0 km (0.62 mi) | 170 m (560 ft) | Linear | Intermediate |
| 4 | Sentier Montauban (SNQ) - Sentier national | 17.4 km (10.8 mi) | 200 m (660 ft) | Linear | Intermediate |

## Buy

* Savonnerie Les semeurs de Jardins (Soap factory the garden sowers), +1 418-336-3336, lessemeursdejardins@xittel.ca. (updated Oct 2021)

## Eat

* 46.88214-72.304531 Casse-croûte La Bouffe Des Chutes, 142, rue du Pont, ☏ +1 418-336-3261. Restaurant open in summer season. Seasonal snack-style restaurant serving residents, vacationers and tourists. Take-out orders. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.86986-72.324242 Le Mirad'Or, 411, route de la Traverse (coming from Lac-aux-Sables, take the Traverse route; the Mirad'Or is located at the intersection of the Chute du Huit road), ☏ +1 418-336-2919. From mid-June to mid-September, by reservation. Vegetable stand and vegetarian tasting. Terrace overlooking the vegetable garden and the Batiscan river. Table d'hôte cooked with vegetables from the garden and homemade products, every evening. Other services: picnic, garden tour, launching of pleasure craft, recreational kayak rental, lodging service. (updated Oct 2021)

## Drink

* 46.88558-72.297381 Bar du Cinq Dollars (Five Dollars Bar), 100 route Rousseau, ☏ +1 418-336-2008. Lounge bar on the east bank of the Batiscan River upstream from the Chute du Neuf. (updated Oct 2021)

## Sleep
### Camping

* 46.89898-72.3281491 Campement Mont Otis, +1 514 882-4441, ☏ +1 418-336-2488. Rustic campsite in a forest area on the east bank of the Batiscan river. It is located on the west side of Mount Otis. Nautical equipment rental service: canoes, kayaks. A shuttle service is available on site. Access to the national hiking trail and swimming in the waters of the Batiscan river. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.82844-72.322142 Camping La mine d'Or, 200, rue du Camping, ☏ +1 418-336-2971, info2@campinglaminedor.com. Campsite offering a beach, swimming pool, family activities and chalet rental service. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.85659-72.357563 Le Domaine naturiste Le Cyprès, 708, route de la Chute du Huit (coming from Lac-aux-Sables, take the Traverse route; then the Chute du Eight road), ☏ +1 418-336-2573, domainelecypres@gmail.com. Naturist-style campsite established on the east bank of the Batiscan river. Campsites with services for motorhomes, trailers, tent trailers and tents. Inground heated swimming pool with deckchairs, tables and umbrellas. Beach on the bank of the Batiscan river. Spa, indoor bath and sauna. Canoeing for more than 8 km, between two falls. Peach. Event hall with a summer program. Main activities available: tennis court, children's games, mini-golf, marquee, volleyball, badminton, pétanque. Seasonal member (May to October) with regular land or without land. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.87602-72.34844 Domaine du lac Galette, 431, chemin du Lac-de-la-Galette, ☏ +1 418-326-0786, gestionmultieco@hotmail.com. Possibility of renting seven accommodations (cabins and ready to camp) and several camping sites. (updated Oct 2021)

### Chalet, gîte, inn

* 46.90424-72.317525 Chalet des Mésanges, 110, chemin des Mésanges, ☏ +1 418-561-6182. Accommodation service on the shores of Lake Georges, at the edge of the Portneuf and Mauricie regions. Wild environment offering tranquility. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.85168-72.21016 Chalet du lac Carillon, 230, rue des Mélodies, ☏ +1 418-694-9517. Chalet with a panoramic view on lac Carillon. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.90188-72.235377 Domaine du lac Galette, 431, chemin du Lac-de-la-Galette, ☏ +1 418-326-0786, gestionmultieco@hotmail.com. Possibility of renting seven accommodations (cabins and ready to camp) and several camping sites. (updated Oct 2021)
* 46.88726-72.215948 L'érablière du Castor, 250, rue de l'Arc-en-ciel, ☏ +1 418-326-0786, gestionmultieco@hotmail.com. (updated Oct 2021)

## Cope

* 46.87748-72.308383 Centre sportif Jules Paquin, 505, avenue des Loisirs, ☏ +1 418-336-2939, +1 418-336-2640 ext 237, loisirs.ndm@regionmekinac.com. (updated Oct 2021)
* Rampe de mise à l'eau d'embarcations de plaisance au lac Trois-milles (Pleasure craft launching ramp at Lac Trois-Miles) (access via Chemin du Lac Trois-Milles Est and Chemin du lac des 3 camps). (updated Oct 2021)
* Rampe de mise à l'eau d'embarcations de plaisance sur la rivière Batiscan (Pleasure craft launching ramp on the Batiscan River) (access via the Pointe du Canotier and the Presque Île Bélanger (Route de la Traverse)). Small boats only. (updated Oct 2021)

#### Public library

* Bibliothèque municipale (Public Library). Vacationers and citizens can use the services of the municipal library to consult or borrow: books, comics, magazines and CD-ROMs. (updated Oct 2021)

## Go next

* 46.9833-72.18331 Rivière-à-Pierre Granite is the soul of the place: the stonemasons have shaped the quarries of granite stones from the dozen granite quarries exploited throughout history. The most famous work of granite is the monolithic granite cross shaped by craftsmen from Rivière-à-Pierre and erected in Gaspé to commemorate in 1934 the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Jacques Cartier in America.
* 46.8667-72.42 Lac-aux-Sables Lac-aux-Sables is an internationally renowned recreational tourism centre. Its beach, stretching for nearly 0.6 km, is one of the most beautiful in the Mauricie. The resort and camping increase the population to nearly 3,500 people in the summer season. While the Hervey-Jonction sector has a whole railway history; this sector is endowed with the Zec Tawachiche which offers forestry activities services, in particular camping, hunting, fishing, and hiking.
* 46.75-72.2666673 Saint-Ubalde Renowned across Canada for its potato cultivation; its sandy soils favour this kind of culture.
* 47.0297-72.50014 ZEC Tawachiche ZEC mainly in the municipality of Lac-aux-Sables (Hervey-Jonction sector), and partly in the unorganized territories of Lac-Masketsi and Lac-Lapeyère. This area is south of the ZEC de la Bessonne. The Tawachiche and Tawachiche Ouest rivers cross its territory. This ZEC in Moyen-Mauricie is popular for recreational and tourist activities.
* 47.15-72.2833335 Portneuf Wildlife Reserve A wildlife reserve administered by SÉPAQ.