Welcome to Quebec’s Eastern Townships, a region where rolling farmland meets forested hills, serene lakes, and storybook villages. It’s no wonder National Geographic named it one of Canada’s 50 Places of a Lifetime —this corner of eastern Quebec feels both timeless and undiscovered.
Known in French as Cantons de l’Est, the Eastern Townships are made up of nine distinct regions, each offering its own blend of nature, culture, and small-town charm. Heritage towns to scenic wine routes, and mountain adventures are the reasons why I keep returning here every year.
I’ll take you through the highlights of the nine beautiful regions and share some of the best towns to visit in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Read my Affiliate Disclosure.
Where are the Eastern Townships in Quebec?
The Eastern Townships in Quebec begin 80 km southeast of Montréal, and about three hours southwest of Quebec City.
This entire area borders Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine in the US. This New England influence can be seen in its covered bridges and bed & breakfasts in charming towns. But, brush up on your French, as less than 10% are anglophone.
For those coming from Ontario, like me, this would make an epic road trip.
- Start in the capital city of Ottawa
- Onward to Montreal
- Further east to the Eastern Townships
- The last stop in fun-filled Quebec City
I’ve done this road trip from Ottawa to Montreal to Eastern Townships four times in the last 2 years, and loved it! Before that, I had done the full road trip three times in previous years.
The 9 Regions That Define the Eastern Townships
Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the nine regions that make up Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Some of the most beautiful places in Quebec are the 13 villages or Les Coeurs Villageois. But there are many incredible Eastern Township towns too.
1. Brome-Missisquoi Region
The Brome Missisquoi region is not to be missed!
A popular Eastern Townships scenic drive is on the Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route, known as Route des Vins. Wind your way along the country roads and stop in at one of the many orchards or wineries to sample some of the delicious offerings this region is known for, especially their ice wines.
The town of Bedford’s Agricultural Fair celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2022 and is Quebec’s oldest agricultural fair.
There are only 5 remaining Fokker D.VII planes, a German World War I biplane, in the world that are still in good condition. You can see this in the Brome County Museum located in the village of Brome.
This region is also home to one of the three mountains, called Bromont, in this area – Bromont.
The must-see towns and villages are:
- Bedford
- Brome Lake (Les Coeurs Villageois)
- Bromont
- Cowansville
- Dunham (Les Coeurs Villageois)
- Frelighsburg (Les Coeurs Villageois)
- Knowlton
- Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge
- Sutton (Les Coeurs Villageois)
Location: 80km southeast of Montréal. It borders the Granby (north) and Memphremagog (east) regions.
2. Granby Region
The family-friendly region of Granby offers something for everyone!
Take the vast network of cycling trails linking the towns of Granby and Waterloo. Outdoor activities are plentiful in this region.
Visit Yamaska National Park for swimming, boating or hiking on their easy nature trails. Or visit Quebec’s largest Granby Zoo, where there are over 1,800 animals.
The must-see towns and villages are:
- Granby
- Roxton Pond
- Waterloo (Les Coeurs Villageois)
Location: 80km east of Montréal. It borders the Brome-Missisquoi (west) and Val-Saint-François (north) regions.
3. Val-Saint-François Region
The Val Saint François region is said to be one of the best-kept secrets in the Eastern Townships! Likely due to its relaxing, laid-back vibes.
There is nothing but beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, lakes, and rural landscape. It’s a popular spot for cyclists and hikers, too.
The must-see villages are:
- Saint-Denis-de-Bromont
- Saint-François-Xavier-de-Brompton
- Ulverton
- Valcourt
Location: 83 km northeast of Montréal. It borders the Memphremagog (south), Sherbrooke (south) and Des Sources (north) regions.
4. Memphremagog Region
The scenic Memphremagog region is known for its stunning landscape views! Lake Memphremagog is a large freshwater glacier lake that flows into Vermont. It is also home to Orford and Owl’s Head mountains, two of the three mountains in the Eastern Townships.
Foodies flock to this area for its many farmers’ markets and delicious fine cuisine restaurants.
Also, be on the lookout for the few still-standing round barns from the 19th century. They are shaped this way to allow farmers to place their livestock in the centre, making feeding and cleaning tasks easier. I found the best one in Mansonville.
It’s also known for its numerous festivals all year round. The proximity to the American border means there is more of an American influence.
The must-see towns and villages are:
- Austin (Les Coeurs Villageois) ✨ Check out my stay at this architectural gem near Austin
- Ayer’s Cliff (Les Coeurs Villageois)
- Eastman (Les Coeurs Villageois)
- North Hatley (Les Coeurs Villageois)
- Magog
- Mansonville (Les Coeurs Villageois)
- Orford
- Potten
- Saint-Benoît-du-Lac
- Stanstead (Les Coeurs Villageois)
Location: 110 km east of Montréal. It borders the Val-Saint-François (north), Sherbrooke (north) and Coaticook River Valley (east) regions.
5. Sherbrooke Region
The Sherbrooke region is made up of only one destination – the city of Sherbrooke.
This lively urban centre is located in the heart of nature, right where the Magog and St. Francis rivers meet.
Sherbrooke is home to 130 festivals year-round. It offers visitors a great balance of nature and city life.
Location: 155 km east of Montréal. It borders the Val-Saint-François (northeast), Memphremagog (southwest) and Haut-Saint-François (north) regions.
6. Coaticook River Valley Region
The Coaticook region is known for its rural countryside full of rolling hills with a view of mountains on the horizon. It’s an agricultural hub, full of farms, farmland and farmers!
Where festivals and gastronomical venues can be found for locals to gather and share their latest products. Everything from fruit orchards to cheese makers to microbreweries to beekeepers.
Why not take the scenic route and stop at the pop-up farm stands along the way?
The must-see towns and villages are:
- Coaticook (Les Coeurs Villageois)
- Compton
- Waterville
Location: 160 km southeast of Montréal. It borders the Memphremagog (west) and Haut-Saint-François (north) regions.
7. Haut-Saint-François Region
The Haut-Saint-François region is where you will discover the history of the Eastern Townships.
With its small villages that still have traces of the first Scottish and Loyalist settlers. You’ll see this in their beautiful ancestral homes.
Winding roads with numerous Christmas Tree farms make this a scenic drive through this region.
The must-see towns and villages are:
- Bury
- Cookshire-Eaton (Les Coeurs Villageois)
- Lingwick Township
- Scotstown
Location: 180 km northeast of Montréal. It borders the Coaticook River Valley (south), Sherbrooke (east), Val-Saint-François (east) and Des Sources (north) regions.
8. Des Sources Region
The region of Des Sources is where outdoor enthusiasts come to play.
It’s home to the highest mountain in the Eastern Townships- Mont Ham. Cyclists, hikers, and skiers make this their destination spot. Cross-country skiing and ice fishing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer are also popular.
The other attraction is the incredibly scenic roadway called ‘Summit Drive.’ A route between Mont Mégantic and Mont Ham, where you’ll find 193 kilometres of marked trails.
The must-see villages:
- Danville
- Ham-Sud
- Saint-Camille
- Wotton
Location: 180 km northeast of Montréal. It borders the Val-Saint-François (south) and Haut-Saint-François (south) regions.
9. Megantic Region
The Megantic region is known for its incredible setting. Much like the Des Sources region, visitors are drawn to the area for its lakes, deep forests and mountain setting.
From Mount Mégantic to Lake Mégantic, a loop route on Summit Drive takes you uphill with nothing but awe-inspiring views.
Not to be missed is the ASTROLab and observatory found in Mont Mégantic provincial park. It’s home to Canada’s most powerful telescope. Visit at night, the eastern Quebec area is the world’s first Dark Sky Preserve, meaning there is little to no unnatural light to impede your views of the starry night sky.
The must-see towns and villages are:
- Courcelles
- Lac-Drolet
- Lambton
- Notre-Dame-des-Bois
- Piopolis
- Stratford
Location: 90 km south of Quebec City or 245 km northeast of Montréal. It borders the Haut-Saint-François (west) region.
Final Thoughts
This entire area is an outdoor paradise. Sitting at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains, the entire area is about 400 km. That’s a lot of ground to cover.
My advice is to pick only a couple of the regions that appeal to you the most. With so many top things to do in the Eastern Townships, this is a destination that really does require time to explore each one.
For more inspiration on what to see and do in Ontario, I invite you to visit my Canada page.
