Sherbrooke, December 4, 2024 – The Eastern Townships is gearing up for an extraordinary astronomical phenomenon – a rare solar eclipse! This celestial display will occur on April 8, 2024 and the best place to view it will be in this region of Quebec. The eclipse lasts for only a few minutes, so Tourism Eastern Townships (Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est), is inviting visitors to stay for a while longer to discover the area's many activities and attractions.

"We hope that visitors will take advantage of this spectacular event to plan a longer stay in our region," says Isabelle Charlebois, general manager of TCE.

A not-to-be-missed phenomenon

The moon will slowly pass between the sun and Earth, gradually obscuring the light until the sun's corona comes into view with stars in a darkened sky, following the trajectory of a full solar eclipse. This rare spectacle is best viewed from the International Dark Sky Reserve in and around Mont Megantic. (Covering an area of 5,300 square kilometres it was the first of its kind in the world.)

In Quebec, the last total solar eclipse was more than 50 years ago! The next one will not take place for another 80 years….

 

Extend your stay in the Eastern Townships

A number of local enterprises throughout the region are in the process of establishing the best viewing areas. Details and locations are listed on the following website. (It will be updated from time to time.):  eclipsequebec.ca. 

Whether you're the kind of person who loves good food, cultural events, adventure or just relaxing, in the Eastern Townships you're sure to find something that appeals to your passion! TCE has put together a number of itineraries that you can tag on to your visit after viewing the solar eclipse on April 8. Our region offers a wide range of attractions, activities and accommodations and many are within easy reach of the observation sites for the solar eclipse. Here are our suggestions:

 

SUGGESTION 1 – The Megantic region: Under the starry skies….

Where to view the eclipse

Experience the total eclipse of the sun at the base of Mont Megantic, the astronomy “capital” of Quebec and an area designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve.  Mont Megantic National Park will be presenting a 4-hour, animated show on a giant outdoor screen, tracking the eclipse in real time (as well as being rebroadcast later). Tickets go online in December and the cost includes bus transportation to the site. Visitors will not be able to drive into the park. Places are limited, so reservations must be made in advance.

Visitors can also watch the eclipse in Lac Megantic. The downtown area has plenty of parking, large public spaces, a jetty and a park – all of them offering easy viewing of this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon! Moreover, the Haut-Saint-François MRC is organizing an overflow circuit in several of its municipalities to allow citizens and visitors to observe the eclipse.

 

What is there to see and do in the area?

If you're a nature lover, you can enjoy some spectacular vistas from Mont Megantic National Park, Mont Gosford or Station touristique Baie-des-Sables,

Do you enjoy taking a road trip? The 193-km Summit Drive is flanked by breathtaking scenery and on April 8, drivers will be able to view the eclipse from one of 36 lookout points along the route.

If you're travelling with the family, they'll love the Ferme des Petits Torrieux in Frontenac. Attractions include a sugar shack (where you can gather maple sap and taste maple products) and a visit to the farm animals.

Lac Megantic boasts several great eating establishments - Musi-Café, the Café Bistro La Brûlerie, Citron-Vert restaurant,  La Garnison microbrewery and the Kaline Resto-Pub (to name a few).

Book a stay in a traditional yurt or a mini-home at Hébergement aux cinq sens in Piopolis. Benoit, an amateur astronomer, will lead the Soirées aux étoiles (“Evening under the stars”) during which he will explain the eclipse to visitors as they gaze at the skies. After the event, guests will be served chaga (mushroom) tea.

A new inn is opening in December in Frontenac - Estello Suites & Spa. Situated in the heart of the International Dark Sky Reserve, it has 11 renovated suites and thermal facilities.

 

SUGGESTION 2 - Sherbrooke and Coaticook : Culture and local produce

 

Where to view the eclipse

In Sherbrooke, visitors can go to the Exhibition Centre, as well as a number of public spaces around the city. The student populace will be invited to attend various eclipse-related events at Bishop's University, Cégep de Sherbrooke and the Université de Sherbrooke. Only students are allowed to attend the gatherings at the educational establishments. 

In the Coaticook Valley, Mont Hereford is organizing a 13-kilometre (round-trip) hike from the East Hereford parking lot to observe the eclipse from the summit of the mountain. (By reservation only. Maximum 250 people.)

 

What is there to see and do in the area?

Culture vultures will be spoilt for choice! Downtown Sherbrooke is home to a number of museums -  the Musée d'histoire de Sherbrooke, Musée de la nature et des sciences de Sherbrooke and the Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke. 

The Circuit des murales – a circuit of giant murals painted by professional artists, depicts scenes from Sherbrooke's history – a novel way to explore the city's attractive downtown.

In Coaticook, the Musée Beaulne (a former private home) traces the history of Arthur O. Norton who made his fortune manufacturing railroad jacks.

For a bite to eat, try Auguste and sample its unique version of poutine, the Siboire Dépôt microbrewery (local beers brewed on site and its oh-so-popular fish 'n' chips!) or the OMG Resto for a juicy burger.      

In the Coaticook Valley, it's well worth stopping at the La Station de Compton to taste their delicious cheeses! Wander around the Economusée (onsite), where you can learn all about how cheeses are made and matured. 

Hop Station, a microbrewery in Coaticook, is housed in a former railway station and it will soon be launching a new maple syrup beer to commemorate the solar eclipse.

Sherbrooke has a number of inns and B&Bs such as l'Ile de Garde or le Marquis de Montcalm. In these intimate, privately-run establishments, owners are always willing to chat to their guests and to fill them in on what there is to see and do in their region. In Coaticook, at Auberge du Changement d'Ère adventurous souls can stay in yurts or suspended “pods”, in a stunning natural setting. Similar pods are also among the unusual accommodations offered by Mont Expérience Hereford

 

 

SUGGESTION 3 - Brome-Missisquoi and Granby : Exercise. Relax. Eat.  What a combination! 

Where to view the eclipse

Numerous activities will be taking place in the Brome-Missisquoi region. Visitors will have the choice of viewing the celestial event from Bromont's Place Publique (a public gathering place), the summits of Monts Horizon, Bernard, Spruce or at Bromont, montagne d'expériences. An amateur astronomer from the  Fédération des astronomes du Québec will be on hand at these locations.

Parc Duhamel (Bedford Township) has the capacity for up to 100 visitors and in the Granby region, there are a couple of places to observe the eclipse - the Granby Zoo and the Centre d'interprétation de la nature du lac Boivin interpretation centre. The Yamaska National Park will project images (in real time) from the ASTROLab, on a giant screen.

 

What is there to see and do in the area?

If you love a good workout, you'll enjoy climbing the walls at BackBone Boulder in Bromont or the challenge of track cycling in the new indoor velodrome at the Centre national de cyclisme de Bromont. (The only one in Quebec.) Alternatively, you can put your body through its paces – Ninja warrior style -  at the Motion parc évolutif, a training/exercise centre in Granby.

The mountains of Sutton and Bromont, the Au Diable Vert mountain resort and the Yamaska National Park are also great places to exercise outdoors!  At the end of an action-filled day, you can relax at the BALNEA Spa which has just added a new infinity pool to its facilities. Relax and enjoy the view over mountain-fringed Lac Gale.

Foodies have the choice of several restaurants in the area that offer fine dining -  la Maison Boire, la Table à Mo and the Bistro Kapzak in Granby, not to mention Le Chardo and Le Roux in Bromont.

BTW,  a number of wineries along the Brome-Missiquoi Wine Route, will be open to the public. The Eastern Townships, “cradle”of Quebec's viticulture industry, produces over 60% of the wines made in the province!

Unusual accommodations, hotels, cottages... There is a wide choice of places to stay - the Château-Bromont, Domaine Jolivent, le Pleasant Hôtel & Café, Huttopia, the Beatnick Hotel, the Hotel St-Cristophe and more…

 

Stars, stars and more stars….

If you didn't get enough of this “heavenly” phenomenon, don't worry, there are plenty of other astronomical events here in the Eastern Townships. The region is known as the perfect spot for gazing at the stars, no matter what the time of year!

During the summer, Mont Megantic International Dark Sky Reserve attracts dozens of people who come to watch the Perseids (meteor showers) which, in 2024, will be at their peak on August 11 and 12. The 5,500-square-kilometre reserve was created to shield the starry sky from light pollution. This move was critical to the work of researchers and for the educational programs at the Observatory and the ASTROLab in Mont-Mégantic National Park, one of North America's leading astronomy sites.

Au Diable Vert is a mountain resort in Glen Sutton, in the heart of another Dark Sky Reserve (the second largest in the Eastern Townships). This eco-friendly, outdoor centre offers a unique attraction – Observétoiles -  an open-air, augmented reality planetarium, that allows star-gazers to observe the constellations and other heavenly phenomena.

Other night sky activities take place elsewhere around in the region: hikes by moonlight in the Parc d'environnement naturel de Sutton (PENS), a sound-and-light experience at Foresta Lumina in the Parc de la Gorge in Coaticook, overnight stays at a campsite (or rustic shelter) at the summit of Mont Sutton, photographing the night sky during Zenderfull, an event in Val-Racine….Stars, stars and more stars, all over the Eastern Townships!

 

To help you plan a visit…

Further information about the solar eclipse: Éclipse Totale de Soleil (eclipsequebec.ca)

Further information about the region: Tourism Eastern Townships (https://www.easterntownships.org)

 

About Tourism Eastern Townships

Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est (Tourism Eastern Townships) is one of 21 tourism associations (ATRs) in Quebec and the official representative of Quebec's Ministry of Tourism in the Eastern Townships. Since 1978, the TCE's mission has been to promote tourism development, marketing the region within Quebec and internationally. TCE brings together more than 600 members representing more than 1,000 tourism offerings throughout the 9 regional county municipalities (MRCs) and in all sectors of the tourism industry: accommodation, restaurants, attractions, activities and events.

The Eastern Townships is the fourth most popular tourist destination in Quebec. The region attracts some 10 million visitors every year, accounting for 6.5 million overnight stays and a tourism spend of more than $900 million annually. The tourism sector is also the region's fourth largest employer, accounting for 18,000 jobs.

 

 

Contact : 

Shanny Hallé

Media Relations  Coordinator| Tourism Eastern Townships

Cell : (819) 821-1220 | Email: shalle@atrce.com