Beloeil: Discover cultural history and nature

Beloeil can be explored through a variety of experiences: a cultural heritage trail leads you through the city’s stories, while the Parc naturel des Trente-Arpents brings nature into the picture. There are also historic buildings, a cultural program and seasonal experiences. If you want to choose between city history, outdoor activity and nature during your trip, these offerings give you specific ways to get started—without having to explore everything in the same way.

Explore the city’s history your way

The city opened its cultural heritage interpretation trail in 2014. A total of 45 panels are installed throughout the city. The trail also includes a fun scavenger hunt that you can explore on foot or by bike. This lets you combine learning about Beloeil’s history with physical activity; whether you follow the panels on foot or by bike is up to you.

Twenty video capsules offer another perspective. In them, residents and prominent figures from the city share parts of Belœil’s history. The trail brings together information panels and personal stories, rather than conveying history solely through dates. If you’re interested in local developments, you can include these different formats in your own exploration of Beloeil.

Houses and a church as witnesses to the past

The Maison Robert is considered Beloeil’s oldest house. It was built between 1746 and 1752 under French rule. The Maison de la culture Villebon is also part of the city’s architectural heritage: the building dates back to 1844 and is considered an important part of this heritage. Since 2008, the city has presented a cultural program there intended to promote artistic talent in the region.

The church of Saint-Matthieu also tells a story of a long construction history. It was rebuilt three times between 1784 and 1900; the present-day church in Vieux-Belœil was built in 1896 to plans by architect L.-Z. Gauthier. Guided tours of the church are offered on Thursdays and Fridays in summer, from 2 to 4 p.m. Group tours are available year-round by reservation, and admission is free. This information can help you plan when to visit the church, without confusing its construction history with what is currently offered.

Nature at Parc naturel des Trente-Arpents

Parc naturel des Trente-Arpents is a natural area in the heart of Beloeil, home to several animal and plant species. Boardwalk trails are among the park’s features, as is access to Ruisseau des Trente. There is also a dock for small, non-motorized watercraft. This makes a visit to the natural area quite different from exploring the historic panels: here, the focus is on the trails through the natural area and access to the water.

The park can be accessed via a path behind the Beloeil public library or from Rue Ledoux, behind the Nature-Action Québec building. These two access points provide specific directions for your visit. If nature and trails matter more to you than architecture and city history, you can make the park a greater focus of your trip.

More experiences and activities

Beloeil is part of the Route arts et saveurs, which showcases artists working in the visual arts, crafts and culinary fields. This adds an artistic and culinary perspective to the historic buildings. The agrotourism farm La Vie en Alpaga offers interpretive tours with privileged access to the alpaca herd. In summer, short films and feature films are shown in the evenings at the Plateau Michel-Brault.

More destination pages: Saint-Basile-Le-Grand, Saint-Charles-Sur-Richelieu, Chambly, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Marc-Sur-Richelieu.

For the broader travel overview: La Vallée-Du-Richelieu.