Le Circuit du Paysan, is a scenic 194 kilometre route
that travels the Montérégie region in
the south-west area of Quebec. Lined with shops, farms,
churches and artisans, it offers a glimpse into the
rural lifestyle of days gone by.
Our randonnée began at the Aux
Couleurs de la Campagne restaurant in Saint-Cyprien,
where the participating club members were allowed
to have breakfast and sample some local fare, as well
as plan the day's itinerary.
The first stop was at the Vignoble Morou
on route 221 in Napierville. This winery, one of the
oldest in the region, was founded in 1987. It benefits
from the micro-climate created by nearby Lake Champlain,
which offers slightly milder winters and a longer
growing season. Proprietor Yvon Roy was gracious enough
to take us for a tour of his vineyards, as well as
give an informal lecture of his wine-making techniques.
Although his installations have the allure of a cottage
industry, there's no denying that his knowledge and
passion for winemaking was of a much grander scale.
Next on our itinerary, was a quick stop
at the Petit Musée du Chapeau in Saint-Valentin.
This quaint museum, which also serves as an artisan
hat shop, allows its visitors to familiarize themselves
with craft of hat making. On display, were numerous
unique hats (donated by local patrons) from various
eras, as well as the tools used to produce them.
Our next (and my final) stop was at
Fort Lennox on the Île-aux-Noix, located in
the Richelieu River. Fort Lennox occupies this island
which is located a few kilometres from the Canada-U.S.
border. Erected between 1819 and 1829, the fort consists
of defence works and a number of stonework buildings
of outstanding beauty. The complex was designed to
protect the colony in the event of an American invasion
by way of the Richelieu River. Once our visit was
over, we stopped to pic-nic on the grounds. Apart
from gusty winds (probably from being out in the wide
open) the weather was just fabulous.
As the afternoon wore on, a few die-hard
road warriors made the final stop to the Le Lavandou
lavender farm in quaint Franklin County. Unfortunately,
there isn't much that I can report concerning this
last stop, since I wasn't present. However, from the
little feedback I did receive from those that did
visit, it is most likely that this stop will be on
the activities agenda for 2008.
As usual, the VEA wished to that our
benevolent activities director Bernard Bellavance
for making this stupendous outing possible.
