Ultimate Guide for Terrebonne and Ile-des-Moulins, Quebec

Terrebonne and Île-des-Moulins is a magical day trip from Montreal and Laval. It’s perfect for those who adore small towns, history, architecture, nature, and a great food scene. Celebrating its 350th anniversary in 2023, Terrebonne, Quebec is bursting with character and charm. Visiting is one of the best things to do in Lanaudiere-Mauricie region.

With historic and restored buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, museums and old mills, history buffs will be fascinated by Vieux-Terrebonne. At the same time, Terrebonne is a vibrant, modern place to visit with esteemed restaurants and a thriving arts and cultural scene.

Terrebonne was established in 1673 and French settlements grew throughout the early 1700s. There were three major periods of development in Terrebonne: the construction of mills between 1720 and 1760, economic and institutional development between 1800 and 1880, and the contemporary period from 1970 until present day.

While fire may have destroyed many of the original old mills, churches and other notable buildings, there are many architectural jewels that still stand to this day. Through walking around town and reading historic plaques and visiting museums, you can learn more in-depth facts and details about the history of Terrebonne and Les Moulins.

Things to Do in Old Terrebonne, Quebec

Vieux-Terrebonne is the perfect day trip from Montreal, Laval, Ottawa or other nearby cities. I visited Terrebonne, Quebec on a lengthier road trip around the Lanaudiere and Mauricie regions, travelling from the Toronto area. Regardless of where you’re coming from, you’ll be glad that you spent some time in Terrebonne.

I recommend spending half a day in Terrebonne if you’d like to walk around town, go for lunch and a coffee, visit some museums, and experience the local parks. If you intend on attending a festival, event, or live theater production, you could easily spend the entire day in Terrebonne, Quebec.

Pedestrian-Only Street

In the middle of Terrebonne, there’s a section of the main street (Rue St Pierre) closed down to traffic all summer long. Enjoy the outdoor patios that extend into the streets and pretty flower boxes bursting with blooms. This colorful environment invites you to get comfortable and stay for a while.

Parks on the Rivière des Mille Îles

When you walk around Terrebonne, don’t limit yourself to the city streets. Go for a stroll on the public paths through local city parks to admire views of the Rivière des Mille Îles. Admire beautiful waterfront views along the way.

If you’re a cyclist, the TransTerrebonne Trail is exactly what you’re seeking. This is a 50km multifunctional trail, though there are shorter sections of the trail to explore. In the summer, go walking or cycling on the trails. In the winter, go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.

Public Art in Terrebonne

Although Terrebonne honors its heritage and preserved historic buildings, there’s plenty of outdoor public art all over town. Go for a walk through the city streets and you may stumble upon a mural or two.

The streets were painted with bright splashes of color to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the city. Plus, there are additional art displays through some local parks, too. Go for a wander and you’ll surely stumble upon it.

Maison Bélisle

Maison Bélisle is the oldest preserved home in Terrebonne, built in 1759. This house was transformed into a museum. It’s a great place to learn more about the history of Terrebonne. Explore the permanent exhibition, “Once upon a time… Terrebonne!” and several temporary exhibitions. The museum is family-friendly, too.

Church of Saint-Louis-de-France

The Church of Saint-Louis-de-France was originally built in 1734, though the new one that stands today that replaced it was constructed in 1879. Sophie Raymond-Masson, landlady of Terrebonne, donated the stones and the land for the church. She is buried in the crypt with members of her family and other important people. It’s possible to book guided tours in English and French in advance.

Théâtre d’été du Vieux-Terrebonne

If you love live performances, you’ll want to take a look at the schedule for Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne before you visit. Its main hall, the Salle Desjardins, has 656 seats, while the Salle du Moulinet, offers more intimate performances with 116 seats. You can catch all kinds of shows, including concerts, dance, comedy, theater and more.

Things to Do at the Île-des-Moulins

Terrebonne and the Île-des-Moulins are very walkable. In fact, you’ll walk across a pedestrian bridge from Terrebonne to reach Île-des-Moulins, and then across another bridge to continue to Island Point Park. The island itself is very small, but make sure you take the time to admire the architecture and views.

The city’s festivals are usually held on the island, such as the wine festival and the Christmas market. When there isn’t a festival happening, you can still go for a walk around this expansive greenspace.

Visit the Museum

The Île-des-Moulins museum complex includes three historical buildings (Maison Bélisle just across the way in Terrebonne and the Seigneurial Office and Moulin Neuf on Ile-des-Moulins) that are home to both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

At the Seigneurial office, you’ll find a permanent exhibition, “From Terrebonne to Fort Chipewyan”. It highlights the social and cultural heritage of Terrebonne through the history of the North West Company and the fur trade.

Heritage Buildings

Moulin Neuf (new mill) is one of the last remaining water mills in Quebec. There are small, temporary exhibitions inside the Moulin Neuf building. You can admire the building from multiple perspectives on the island and across the way on Island Point Park.

Other historic buildings include old bakery, the Seigneurial Office (as mentioned above), and the flour, saw and carding mills. In total, there are five restored buildings with an important collection of 18th century artifacts.

Island Point Park

Walk across the bridge over the dam to Island Point Park. This is a lovely place in Terrebonne with peaceful trails and fantastic places for a picnic. If you walk down to the water, you’ll be able to admire the new mill from a new vantage point.

Ice Skating Rink in Winter

The Île-des-Moulins skating pond is one of the most beautiful natural skating rinks in Quebec. Surrounded by historic buildings, this 260 metre skating rink is illuminated by thousands of twinkling lights, heightening its magical atmosphere. While the opening dates vary according to what Mother Nature has in store, once the ice has completely frozen over, the ice rink is open daily from morning to night.

Annual Events in Terrebonne, Quebec

There are many annual events and festivals in Terrebonne that attract visitors to the historic city. Many of the events take place on the Île-des-Moulins. Some events are completely free to visit, too! Here are some festivals in Terrebonne that you should consider planning your visit around.

Terrebonne Wine and History Festival

Since 1996, the Terrebonne Wine and History Festival (Festival Vins et Histoire de Terrebonne) takes place every August. Presented by the SAQ, it’s a celebration of local wine with wine tastings and food available on site, too.

Free Outdoor Concerts

Every summer, there are free outdoor concerts on Île-des-Moulins. Most of these do not require any reservations in advance, simply show up with your folding chair and enjoy the show. It’s possible to listen to symphony performances, classical music, jazz, bossa nova and other kinds of music, too.

Terrebonne Christmas Market

The Terrebonne Christmas Market (Le Marché de Noël de Terrebonne) is a family-friendly event each December that welcomes thousands of visitors. It takes place outdoors on Île-des-Moulins. Inspired by the European tradition, wander around little wooden booths with local and regional specialties.

Local artists and artisans showcase their quality products made from wood, glass, decorative painting, textiles, metals and more. Of course, there will also be Christmas lights, a Christmas tree and other holiday decorations around the island.

Food and Drink in Terrebonne, Quebec

Terrebonne has a thriving culinary scene with many excellent restaurants and cafes. Though I only spent one day in Terrebonne and only had the opportunity to stop for coffee and lunch, here are two establishments that I highly recommend checking out.

Le Divin Tandem

Le Divin Tandem is a bistro and a chocolate maker all in one! I dined on their patio for brunch and enjoyed a delicious meal. Their menu is vegan-friendly and the vegan dishes are clearly marked with a V. They have vegan waffles and a vegan breakfast plate, which is what I ordered.

The vegan breakfast plate comes with half of a vegan waffle, tofu scramble, potatoes, toast and fresh fruit. Inside the chocolaterie, there are some vegan chocolate selections, too. All chocolate is lovingly handmade on the second floor of the building using fresh ingredients and natural flavors.

Brûlerie De La Riviere

Brûlerie De La Riviere is a bistro cafe in Terrebonne, Quebec. They roast their own coffee on site and also have a variety of looseleaf teas. This coffee shop also offers vegan and vegetarian cuisine. I ordered an iced coffee and it was one of the best I’d had in a long time!

There’s seating on the first and second floors of the building, as well as outdoors during patio season. On the second floor, there are often musical evenings, poetry readings, comedy shows and more. Emerging artists have a stage at Brûlerie De La Riviere as this establishment encourages and celebrates the local art scene.

Getting There

Getting to Terrebonne is easy, whether you’re driving, flying or taking the train. If you’re traveling from afar, you can fly to the Montréal–Trudeau International Airport. Find the best rates on flights to Montreal on Skyscanner. From the airport, it’s possible to take a taxi or an Uber to Montreal or Terrebonne.

My preferred way of getting to Terrebonne is by car. Rent a car at the Montreal airport. I recommend comparing car rental prices and booking your car hire at Discover Cars. They’ve got the best rates and excellent customer service.

Where to Stay in Terrebonne

Terrebonne was the beginning of my road trip through the Lanaudière-Mauricie region of Quebec. I stayed at a stunning cabin about 1.5 hours from Terrebonne, Les Boisés de la Rivière Noire.

My private pod cabin had its own full kitchen, comfy bedroom, bathroom, living space, private deck, fire pit, jacuzzi, private sauna, and access to the river for kayaking. You can book your stay at the official website, and I invite you to read more reviews on Tripadvisor.

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