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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Île d'Orléans, Quebec
La Seigneurie's 75,000 lavender plants open for about two weeks in mid-July; 1730s houses, cideries and the 83-metre Montmorency Falls are close.
5 places · updated October 17, 2026
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Updated October 17
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Cassis Monna & Filles · Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau et Distillerie · Vignoble de l'Isle de Bacchus
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Île d'Orléans sits in the St. Lawrence just downstream from Quebec City, joined to the north shore by a single bridge. One road, chemin Royal, loops the island through its villages, past stone farmhouses, orchards, berry fields and roadside shops, with the river and the Laurentian hills in view most of the way. Two of the oldest houses open to visitors, Maison Drouin and the Manoir Mauvide-Genest, date from the 1730s.
The island's lavender is at La Seigneurie de l'Île d'Orléans in Saint-François, at the far eastern tip, where 75,000 plants open to visitors only for about two weeks at bloom (July 11 to 24 in 2026), with evening visits on some dates. Plan the loop around that window. From late August into mid-October the island turns to apple picking and cider, and Montmorency Falls, just across the bridge, is open year-round.
The lavender farms
- La Seigneurie de l'Île d'OrléansLavender farm · Saint-François-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
mid to late July (fields open July 11 to 24 in 2026)
Lavender fields open about two weeks at bloom (July 11 to 24, 2026) with dusk evenings; gardens and boutique June 24 to August 31; tickets at the boutique.
Best time to visit
Seasons follow the Northern Hemisphere calendar. La Seigneurie's gardens open June 24 to August 31, and its lavender field only during bloom, July 11 to 24 in 2026, with Lavender at Dusk evenings on six July dates. Espace Félix-Leclerc opens Wednesday to Sunday from June 21 to August 29, and Maison Drouin opens daily from June 18 to September 7, then on weekends to October 12. Apple picking at Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau ran from August 29 to Thanksgiving Monday, October 12, in 2026. Cap Tourmente's daily snow goose programs run from late September to November 1, and its spring program from mid-April to mid-May. The Chocolaterie de l'Île d'Orléans scoops ice cream from March through September, and the cable car at Montmorency Falls runs most of the year but pauses from early November to mid-December.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Maison Drouin🏛️ Historic site · Sainte-Famille-de-l'Île-d'Orléans · about 5 mi, 10 min drive
Built around 1730 and lived in by the Drouin family until 1984, this barely modernized stone house is billed as the only typical island home open to the public.
Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., June 18 to September 7; weekends to October 12 (2026)
Adults $7, 12 and under free; $12 combo with Maison de nos Aïeux
- Maison de nos Aïeux🏛️ Museum · Sainte-Famille-de-l'Île-d'Orléans · about 9 mi, 15 min drive
A small museum with a scale model of the island, an exhibit on island farming from root to plate, and one on the history of the Sainte-Famille presbytery.
Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., June 18 to September 7; Monday–Saturday 10–4 to December 4 (2026)
Adults $6, 12 and under free
- Manoir Mauvide-Genest🏛️ Historic site · Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans · about 8 mi, 15 min drive
A seigneurial manor built in 1734 on the south shore road, with exhibitions inside, an apothecary herb garden with labeled plants, and views over the St. Lawrence.
Fall 2026: Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., until October 18
- Musée maritime de l'île d'Orléans🏛️ Museum · Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans · about 14 mi, 25 min drive
Also called the Parc maritime de Saint-Laurent, it tells the story of wooden boatbuilding on the island in the Godbout boat shop, with more than 400 tools, a shipyard and a tugboat by the river.
Admission charged
- Espace Félix-Leclerc🏛️ Museum · Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans · about 17 mi, 30 min drive
An interpretation center devoted to the work and memory of singer-poet Félix Leclerc, with more than 3 km of trails through its fields and woods and a hall for chanson concerts.
Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., June 21 to August 29 (2026); groups only the rest of the year
Adults $10, 11 and under free
- Parc de la Chute-Montmorency💧 Waterfall · Quebec City (Beauport) · about 21 mi, 35 min drive
The 83-metre falls are just across the island bridge; walk the suspension bridge above the falls, ride the cable car, or take the 487-step cliffside staircase down to feel the spray.
Cable car daily 9 a.m.–6:30 p.m. from June 20 to August 16, shorter hours spring and fall; paused November 2 to December 18 (2026) with the site still open
Daily access pass, best bought online ahead; cable car extra
- Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré🌉 Landmark · Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré · about 31 mi, 50 min drive
A pilgrimage site dedicated to Saint Anne since 1658, where paintings, mosaics, stained glass and carved stone and wood tell the sanctuary's history; it is wheelchair accessible.
free; donations welcome
- Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area🌲 Preserve · Saint-Joachim · about 40 mi, 65 min drive
Tens of thousands of greater snow geese gather here each spring and fall, and about 20 km of hiking trails are open from May to October; it faces Saint-François across the river but is reached by the bridge.
Daily 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., April 1 to November 1, 2026; trails May to October
Adults $6, students $5, under 12 free
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Cassis Monna & FillesU-pick farm (21+) · Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
Blackcurrant farm with a tasting cellar, a summer restaurant on a flowered terrace and vanilla-cassis soft serve.
- Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau et DistillerieCidery (21+) · Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
Orchard cidery open daily, with ice ciders in the shop, a mini farm and apple picking from late August to Thanksgiving.
- Vignoble de l'Isle de BacchusWinery or vineyard (21+) · Île d'Orléans
Winery and bistro on chemin Royal in Saint-Pierre, a minute up the road from Espace Félix-Leclerc.
- Chocolaterie de l'Île d'OrléansGift shop · Sainte-Pétronille
Year-round chocolate shop in Sainte-Pétronille known for ice cream dipped in its own chocolate, March through September.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMLa Seigneurie de l'Île d'Orléans
During the July bloom, walk the lavender field and the Great Gardens; buy tickets at the boutique and allow 90 minutes.
- 11:45 AMMaison Drouin · about 10 min drive
About 10 minutes west on chemin Royal. Tour the 1730 stone house; 40 minutes.
- 12:45 PMCassis Monna & Filles · about 25 min drive
Lunch at the summer restaurant on the terrace (first come, first served), then blackcurrant soft serve; about an hour.
- 2:00 PMEspace Félix-Leclerc · about 5 min drive
Visit the exhibit (Wednesday to Sunday in summer) and walk part of the 3 km of trails; about an hour.
- 3:15 PMCidrerie Verger Bilodeau · about 5 min drive
Taste ciders and ice cider in the shop, and say hello to the mini farm; 40 minutes.
- 4:15 PMChocolaterie de l'Île d'Orléans · about 10 min drive
Chocolate-dipped ice cream with a view toward Quebec City; 30 minutes.
- 5:00 PMParc de la Chute-Montmorency · about 15 min drive
About 15 minutes over the bridge. Cross the suspension bridge above the falls and take the stairs or the cable car (last summer rides around 6:30 p.m.).
Tips
- There is only one bridge on and off the island, so plan the loop in one direction on chemin Royal instead of doubling back.
- The lavender field is open only about two weeks in July; arrive before 4 p.m. if you also want the Great Gardens.
- Pets are not allowed in the Bilodeau orchard, and picking there is cash only.
- Buy the Montmorency Falls access pass online before you go; the park recommends it.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When can I see lavender on Île d'Orléans?
La Seigneurie opens its field only at bloom, July 11 to 24 in 2026, with some evening visits; its gardens open June 24 to August 31.
Which historic houses can I visit on the island?
Maison Drouin (around 1730) and the Manoir Mauvide-Genest (1734) both open to visitors; Maison Drouin is open daily in summer and on weekends to mid-October.
When is apple picking on the island?
Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau ran picking daily from August 29 to October 12 in 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no reservation needed.
How far is Montmorency Falls from the lavender farm?
About 35 minutes from Saint-François by road, just across the island bridge.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
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