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Allons y!* Leave the rental car behind and pedal Quebec’s new velo network of picture-perfect trails.

A tour along Quebec’s Route Verte has cyclists veering off trails and quiet country lanes to pack their panniers — and their tummies — with more than Gatorade.

Thighs burning, salty beads of sweat pour down your face as you ascend the peak. Go ahead, fancy

yourself on the Tour de France. The Bordeaux-like setting certainly fits the bill. But wait, there’s an atelier here, a cheese shop there. Why hurry? Quebec’s new Route Verte (“green road”) opened in August 2007. The network of cycling trails and walking paths, resurfaced roadways and country roads links the province. Its 4,300 km (2,700 mi) yield picturesque orchards, quaint wineries, toney art galleries, boutique chocolatiers and restaurants at every turn.

 

Twelve years ago, Jean-François Pronovost, executive director of Montréal, QC-based cycling org Vélo Québec Association, started advocating what is today the 40% dedicated bikepath/60% on-road Route Verte. The Government of Quebec and Ministry of Transport jumped onboard. “It’s part of a movement of people who want to have an active vacation,” says Pronovost. “We’ve shown there is a market.”

The route covers 16 regions, meandering through some 320 municipalities. Optimal timing is May and September. A three- to four-day Montréal-Trois-Rivieres-Québec City leg is one option. From Farnham to Danville, the 225-km (140-mi) Véloroute des Cantons snakes through the enchanting Eastern Townships. Take a part of the Route des vins in the Brome-Missisquoi region to sip your way through vineyards and savour locally crafted sweets at the Musée du chocolat. Excursionists can challenge the hilly terrain at the Bromont, Coaticook and East Hereford en route. Bunk at a series of charming B&Bs along the way. Santé!

*That’s French for, “Let’s go!

www.routeverte.com/rv/ang/index.lasso
www.easterntownships.org
www.bonjourquebec.com/ca-en/accueil0.html

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Usage guidelines

We welcome you to use these story ideas as inspiration for your own stories about Canada. The CTC owns all rights worldwide. (Our images are also royalty-free and available for editorial print, broadcast and electronic use.) If you choose to reproduce these texts for editorial use only, please include the author's byline and "courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission." If you cut, edit or modify the text in any way, please include this note: "The text has been modified from the original." Thank you.

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