Saint-Ours Canal

The historical St. Ours Canal is located about 70 km from Montreal.

Ships and boats seeking to travel from the St. Lawrence up the Richelieu River to Lake Champlain and on down the Hudson River must rely on a network of canals. Thus St. Ours Canal forged a solid link between New York and Montreal. The dam raises the water level high enough to make the Richelieu navigation as far as Chambly.

St. Ours is also home to the one-of-a-kind Vianney-Legendre fish ladder, which allows fish to swim upriver and downriver. The structure stems from an endangered species protection plan serving to maintain biodiversity in the Richelieu River.

To enhance the trip through the region guests can visit the Superintendent’s House and stop off at the tourist information office, located in the superintendent’s house). You can learn about the phases of canal building along the Richelieu, enjoy a nice walk along Dorvard Island’s trails, and then break into the picnic basket for a memorable lunch.

Along the picturesque Patriots’ Road, about 10 km from the canal, travelers can stop off in St. Denis for a visit to the National House of Patriots, a museum commemorating the 1837 rebellion in Lower Canada. Twenty km to the North of the locks of St. Ours Canal, you can stop and admire Old Sorel or visit the Sorel Islands by boat.

To get to St-Ours Canal: take the Highway 30 East or Road 133 (20 km from Sorel).