Sherbrooke

At the junction of the Saint-Francois and Magog Rivers, Sherbrooke is Quebec’s most bi-lingual city, with a cultural heritage that reflects both its French and British origins. Two universities enhance its cultural climate, which is strong in both art and music. In the summer, a series of free concerts fill its parks and promenades, and throughout the downtown area murals make an open-air art museum that covers two-mile route. A fine arts museum and several galleries add to the vibrant art scene, and more local art is displayed, along with historical exhibits, at the Uplands Culture and Heritage Centre, housed in a beautiful 1862 ...

At the junction of the Saint-Francois and Magog Rivers, Sherbrooke is Quebec’s most bi-lingual city, with a cultural heritage that reflects both its French and British origins. Two universities enhance its cultural climate, which is strong in both art and music. In the summer, a series of free concerts fill its parks and promenades, and throughout the downtown area murals make an open-air art museum that covers two-mile route. A fine arts museum and several galleries add to the vibrant art scene, and more local art is displayed, along with historical exhibits, at the Uplands Culture and Heritage Centre, housed in a beautiful 1862 Neo-Georgian residence surrounded by gardens. The house’s British heritage is recreated with teatime served to the public on weekends. The riverside setting brings nature right into the city, where the abundant public parks with hiking trails offer nature experiences from a bog to birding. The Promenade du Lac des Nations leads into the spectacular Magog River Gorge, with look-outs for enjoying the views. The river and its wildlife are interpreted at the Musée de la Nature et des Sciences, a natural science museum not far from the promenade.

About the Expert

Barbara Radcliffe Rogers has written or coauthored more than 30 guidebooks, including The Portugal Traveler, Drive Around Portugal, City Spots Munich, City Spots Helsinki, City Spots Stockholm, Eating New England, and the Maine section of Thomas Cook's Independent Traveller USA.