Discover Joliette: Art, History and Experiences

Joliette combines art and city history with cycling paths, river activities and a vibrant cultural scene. You can choose different focal points for your trip: a collection of 8,300 works of art, a historic walking tour with 39 stops, or activities on the L’Assomption River. Festivals and markets also add their own touches to a stay.

Discover Art and History

The Musée d’art de Joliette has a collection of 8,300 works of art. It features both permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as guided tours and educational and cultural programs. Depending on your interests, you can combine a museum visit with a guided tour or one of the other offerings.

The Cathédrale Saint-Charles-Borromée de Joliette is a distinctive landmark in the city’s history. This Catholic place of worship was built from 1887 to 1892. Its design is particularly eclectic on the façade; three turrets topped with bell towers define the building. The Cathédrale de Joliette is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The historic walking tour explores the history of Joliette and the Village d’Industrie through 39 stops. Information panels accompany visitors and provide historical context for each stop. If you’re interested in the city’s development, you can make the tour a focus of its own, alongside art and architecture. The Société d’histoire de Joliette-De Lanaudière’s archival collections can be consulted by appointment.

Cycling Paths, Trails and River Activities

Joliette’s cycling network is almost 50 kilometres long, including 10 kilometres away from road traffic. These two figures can help you consider cycling as one part of your trip, without planning your entire stay around a single route. If you’re looking for a clearly defined loop, the Réserve naturelle Marie-France-Pelletier has a large 2-kilometre loop. There is also a pedestrian bridge and trails on Île Vessot.

At the Pavillon Gilles-Beaudry, single and double kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards for adults and children are available to rent on the L’Assomption River. There is a clear geographic limit for the rented watercraft: they may only be used upstream from the rental location. These river activities therefore differ from an outing on the trails or a ride on the cycling network.

Festivals and Cultural Events

The three-day Festi-Glace de Joliette is a winter festival held on the banks of the L’Assomption River. It has helped shape the region’s traditions and reputation for several years. Another kind of festival is the three-day Festival du Rire de Joliette. In the city centre, under a large tent on Place Bourget, the program features comedy shows, outdoor performances and interactive activities.

Bastringue also embraces circus arts: the festival is under the artistic direction of the family troupe Le Cirque Alfonse. It takes place in the heart of Joliette and extends from the big top across the downtown area. For cultural programming beyond a single festival, the Centre culturel Desjardins presents and promotes artistic and cultural activities throughout the greater Joliette region, with more than 200 performances presented there each year.

Markets and a Vacation Rental in Joliette

At the Marché de Noël de Joliette, local producers and craftspeople sell their goods from decorated wooden stalls. The Marché public de Joliette on Place Bourget offers a different focus: producers and craftspeople sell fresh, high-quality food there. If local products and markets are among your travel interests, they complement Joliette’s cultural and active offerings with a culinary focus.

When looking for a vacation rental in Joliette, you can first consider what you want your trip to focus on: art and city history, cycling and trails, river activities, or a festival visit. These different options provide practical guidance for planning your vacation without committing to just one kind of stay.

Discover More Places

You can also visit the Saint-Ambroise-De-Kildare page to explore another destination.

For the broader travel overview: Joliette.