Saint-Casimir: Church Art, Caves and River Experiences

Saint-Casimir offers a variety of ways to enjoy a vacation: ornate church architecture, a cave with several routes, and paddling on the Sainte-Anne. There is also a venue featuring artists from Québec and abroad, as well as a microbrewery in a former cinema. When planning your trip, you can choose between culture, cave exploration and activities on the water.

Church Art and a Distinctive Ensemble

The Église Saint-Casimir was built between 1898 and 1899 by Alfred and Joseph Giroux, to plans by architect Joseph-Georges Buissières. Its richly decorated interior was designed by the Québec firm Berlinguet et Lemay and created by Joseph Giroux and Michele Rigali (1841–1910). One distinctive feature is the semicircular “jubé des sœurs”: this gallery surrounds the choir. Four statues by Louis Jobin also adorn the nave.

The parish ensemble is also a landmark, set on open grounds across from the bridge over the Sainte-Anne. It comprises the Église Saint-Casimir, the presbytery, the old convent and the spacious cemetery. Anyone interested in architecture and the design of religious spaces will find several distinct elements of an ensemble here, not just the church itself.

Discovering Grotte le Trou du Diable

Grotte le Trou du Diable is 980 metres long and is considered the second-longest accessible cave in Québec. An informative, educational tour introduces visitors to cave exploration. The tourist route is easy and accessible to everyone; along the way, you walk through a shallow stream bed. This makes the cave a different kind of discovery from an outing focused primarily on views or scenery.

Those looking for a greater challenge can consider the cave’s adventure route: it is very demanding and intended for the particularly daring. The two routes therefore cater to different expectations for a cave visit. This distinction can help with trip planning if you are deciding whether an easy cave exploration or a demanding adventure route better suits your interests.

Paddling on the Sainte-Anne

A 6.6-kilometre route for inflatable rafting boats runs along the Sainte-Anne from Saint-Alban to Saint-Casimir. The unguided trip is designed for groups of two to five people and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 3 hours, depending on pace and breaks. The rafting route is considered a gentle, contemplative activity and is accessible to families, friends, groups and schools. It is considered easy, with only a few rapids, depending on the river’s water levels.

The rafting activity starts at 615, rue Notre-Dame in Saint-Casimir; a shuttle takes you from there to the launch point. For another style of paddling, the Route bleue includes a section between Saint-Alban and Saint-Casimir. This section is intended for paddlers with an intermediate level of experience and includes some whitewater stretches. This provides information both on an easy rafting trip and on a section for paddlers with intermediate experience.

Les Grands Bois: Beer, Small Plates and a Stage

Microbrasserie Les Grands Bois is located in a former cinema dating from 1946, in the heart of Saint-Casimir. The building serves several purposes: the microbrewery is on the first floor, while the Théâtre des Grands Bois venue is on the second floor. The brewery produces a varied selection of craft beers. It also offers small plates to share, created in collaboration with partners from the Portneuf region.

The Théâtre des Grands Bois has room for 450 people, including 275 seats, and regularly hosts artists from Québec and abroad. Commission B is an annual music and food gathering in the heart of Saint-Casimir. Both the performing arts and a recurring event featuring music and food are therefore part of the town’s cultural scene.

Choosing Saint-Casimir as a Vacation Destination

If you’d like to combine church art and cave exploration with time on the water during your vacation, Saint-Casimir offers a variety of themes and activities. Details on the rafting trip’s difficulty, group size and duration can help you plan a water activity that suits your needs.

Other Town Pages

Other town pages: La Pocatière, Saint-Blaise-Sur-Richelieu, Saint-Simon-De-Rimouski, Blainville, Saint-Léon-De-Standon, Val-Des-Monts, Saint-Denis-De-Brompton and Lotbinière.

For the main travel overview: Quebec.