Neuville on the St. Lawrence: Nature, History and Good Food

Neuville brings together the landscapes of the St. Lawrence River, a historic village centre, a large wetland and a distinctive regional food culture. Highlights include waterfowl at the Marais-Léon-Provancher, historic buildings in Bourg Saint-Louis and access points along the riverbank. When planning your trip, it makes a difference whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors, discover local history or get to know regional products.

Experience the riverbank and nature

The Réserve naturelle du Marais-Léon-Provancher covers 125 hectares and is dedicated to protecting fauna and flora. The wetland, developed by Canards Illimités, attracts numerous waterfowl during migration. Following an assessment on July 30, 2024, some of the paths along the wetland were certified as accessible to people with reduced mobility. This information refers to the partial certification of the paths at that time.

The river also shapes your stay: Neuville has twelve access points along its banks, where you can take in the scenery. They offer opportunities for activities including walking, picnicking, fishing, sea kayaking, windsurfing, kitesurfing and ice canoeing. The tidal range of the St. Lawrence River at Neuville is three to six metres. At Parc nautique Maurice-Grenier, a footpath runs along the marina’s breakwater. At Halte du Saint-Laurent, you can observe the landscapes and waterfowl.

Discover local history on foot and by bike

The Circuit patrimonial du Bourg Saint-Louis passes through the village’s historic centre. The route is 1.29 kilometres long and takes approximately two hours. This lets you make the area’s history a focus of your stay. Rue des Érables and the former village centre form a historic ensemble of regional significance.

The Société d’histoire de Neuville is based in the presbytery, dating from 1715, at 716 rue des Érables. Visitors can view collections of books and photographs, as well as exhibitions there. Another historic stop is Place des Marées: it is located beside a historic church on Chemin du Roy, offers a direct view of the St. Lawrence River and was inaugurated in June 2024.

If you want to explore Neuville by bike, you can take the Route Verte, which crosses the village from the western end of Route 138, along Rue des Érables, to the eastern end. Neuville is also part of the Route bleue Québec/Chaudière-Appalaches maritime trail. These two routes offer different perspectives for your trip: one runs through the village, while the other is part of a maritime trail.

Regional products and good food

In summer, dozens of colourful farm-produce stands line Route 138 in Neuville. A local speciality is Neuville sweet corn, which has a protected designation. Local products are also at the heart of the Fêtes gourmandes de Neuville: the festival highlights the skill and expertise of producers and makers of Québec terroir products. It showcases the flavours of Portneuf and the reputation of Neuville sweet corn. The Fêtes gourmandes attracts thousands of visitors every year.

The local food and drink scene also includes Domaine des 3 Moulins, a winery on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Neuville. Vignoble de Neuville offers guided tours from Tuesday to Sunday, but only by prior appointment. If you want to include winegrowing and regional cuisine in your trip, these are some additional places to visit, alongside the farm stands and sweet corn.

Discover more places

For more ideas, you can also explore Pont-Rouge, Deschambault, Saint-Ubalde, Saint-Basile, Donnacona and Portneuf.

When choosing a holiday rental in Neuville, you can start by considering which of these aspects of the area you want to shape your stay: nature and the riverbank, a historic walking tour, or regional products and good food. This lets you tailor your search to the kind of trip you want, without letting a single experience define your entire stay.

Return to the overview of the wider area: Portneuf.