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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Mauricie & Lac Saint-Pierre, Quebec
Passion Lavande's 10,000 plants bloom in early July in Saint-Sévère, free to visit daily; add farm poutine in Yamachiche and Trois-Rivières' museums.
3 places · updated October 17, 2026
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Updated October 17
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Domaine Gélinas · Les Couleurs de la terre
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Saint-Sévère and Yamachiche sit on the farm plain just north of Lac Saint-Pierre, the wide stretch of the St. Lawrence that UNESCO lists as a biosphere reserve. The lake's archipelago holds nearly 100 islands and North America's largest heronry, and 290 bird species have been recorded around it. Inland, country rangs lead past vineyards, potato fields and a sugar shack, and Trois-Rivières is about 25 minutes east, with museums on its pulp and paper past, an old prison you can tour and island parks at the mouth of the Saint-Maurice.
Passion Lavande, on rang Saint-François in Saint-Sévère, has grown lavender since 2011 and now counts more than 10,000 plants, over 10 acres of sunflowers and a rose garden of 400 bushes. Entry is free and the farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for most of the year. Domaine Gélinas, a vineyard and distillery, is a few minutes away, and Yamachiche's main street has a craft brewery and a village café, so the lavender fits easily into a day of local food.
The lavender farms
- Passion LavandeLavender farm · Saint-Sévère
early to mid-July, with a second bloom in early September
Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. year-round with free entry; sunflower u-pick in August; group visits by booking.
Best time to visit
Passion Lavande's lavender usually blooms in early to mid-July, with a second flush in early September, and you can cut sunflowers there in August. Les Couleurs de la Terre's farm restaurant was open Thursday to Sunday from May 7 to November 1 in 2026, and Domaine Gélinas runs its bistro daily in summer, then keeps its shop and tastings open Wednesday to Sunday from September 30 to December 20. The Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site was open June 20 to September 7, 2026, while Boréalis, Musée POP and La Mauricie National Park (open every day of the year) carry on into fall; Boréalis hosts Circus Papyrus from October 24 to November 1, 2026. Late fall brings workshops at Passion Lavande, with Christmas wreaths on November 29 and December 6, 2026.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Lac Saint-Pierre Biosphere Reserve🌲 Preserve · Yamachiche and Louiseville shoreline · about 8 mi, 15 min drive
A widened stretch of the St. Lawrence with nearly 100 islands, Ramsar-listed wetlands and North America's largest heronry; 290 bird species have been recorded, and it is a key stopover on the migration route.
- Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site🏛️ Historic site · Trois-Rivières · about 20 mi, 30 min drive
The remains of Canada's first iron and steel industry beside the Saint-Maurice River, with the Grande Maison, an archaeological site, a guided outdoor tour and a 14-station audio circuit narrated by Fred Pellerin.
June 20 to September 7, 2026 (variable hours)
Parks Canada admission; free with the Canada Strong pass through September 7, 2026
- Boréalis🏛️ Museum · Trois-Rivières · about 19 mi, 25 min drive
Opened in 2010 to tell the story of the city's pulp and paper industry from about 1899 to 2000; the permanent exhibition is called Transformations.
Circus Papyrus October 24 to November 1, 2026
- Musée POP and Vieille prison de Trois-Rivières🏛️ Museum · Trois-Rivières · about 18 mi, 25 min drive
A museum of Quebec popular culture at 200 rue Laviolette, paired with a 19th-century heritage prison toured through projections and sound; the tour suits ages 8 and up and should be booked ahead.
Roof work until the end of October 2026; use the temporary entrance on rue Hart
- Musée des Ursulines de Trois-Rivières🏛️ Museum · Trois-Rivières · about 18 mi, 25 min drive
A classified heritage monastery downtown that tells the story of the Ursulines, who opened the city's first girls' school and first hospital in 1697 and lived here until 2019.
Half price with the Passe Explore
- Parc de l'Île Saint-Quentin🏞️ Park · Trois-Rivières · about 21 mi, 30 min drive
An island park on the Saint-Maurice River with a beach, a family beach, a walking trail and an interpretive walkway, picnic and barbecue spots in summer, and skating and fat biking in winter.
Day access fee or season pass
- Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap🌉 Landmark · Trois-Rivières (Cap-de-la-Madeleine) · about 22 mi, 30 min drive
A pilgrimage site at 626 rue Notre-Dame Est with a large basilica, the older Petit Sanctuaire and gardens laid out for a spiritual walk.
- La Mauricie National Park🏞️ Park · Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc · about 30 mi, 45 min drive
Forest and lake country reached from Highway 55 at Saint-Mathieu (exit 217) or Saint-Jean-des-Piles (exit 226); Lac Wapizagonke and the Les Cascades picnic area are the classic stops.
Open every day of the year
Parks Canada daily admission
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Domaine GélinasWinery or vineyard (21+) · Saint-Sévère
Saint-Sévère vineyard and distillery where you can walk the vine rows and picnic free, with a summer bistro and gins, brandy and vodka made from grape spirit.
- Les Couleurs de la terreVegetable farm · Yamachiche
Family potato farm known for its farm poutine, with a farm shop, animals, gardens and trails; open Thursday to Sunday, May 7 to November 1, 2026.
- La BezotteCafé or coffee shop · Yamachiche
Village café, restaurant and stage in a red-brick house on rue Sainte-Anne, serving regional food and local craft beer, with themed suppers in fall.
- Brasserie DépareilléeBrewery or taproom (21+) · Yamachiche
Yamachiche craft brewery with a long list of small-batch styles, from honey IPA to barrel-aged Baltic porter.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMPassion Lavande
Walk the lavender rows and valley trails, then browse the boutique and have coffee in the rose garden; about 90 minutes.
- 11:40 AMDomaine Gélinas · about 5 min drive
Walk the vine rows and look at the fossil stromatolite displays; tastings are for passengers, not the driver; about 45 minutes.
- 12:40 PMLes Couleurs de la Terre · about 12 min drive
Lunch on farm poutine at the farm restaurant, then a short walk past the gardens and animals; about an hour and a quarter.
- 2:20 PMBoréalis · about 25 min drive
Learn how paper built Trois-Rivières; about an hour.
- 3:35 PMMusée POP and Vieille prison de Trois-Rivières · about 5 min drive
Take the booked prison tour or browse the popular culture galleries; about an hour.
- 4:50 PMParc de l'Île Saint-Quentin · about 10 min drive
Walk the island trail and interpretive walkway at the mouth of the Saint-Maurice; about 45 minutes.
- 6:15 PMCafé La Bezotte · about 25 min drive
Dinner of regional dishes back in Yamachiche (open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays).
Tips
- Distances are measured from Passion Lavande in Saint-Sévère and rounded; Trois-Rivières is about 25 minutes east on Highway 40.
- Dogs are welcome on Passion Lavande's trails on a leash but not inside its boutiques.
- Les Couleurs de la Terre opens Thursday to Sunday and Café La Bezotte is closed Monday to Wednesday, so plan a Friday or Saturday for this itinerary.
- Domaine Gélinas's bistro takes no reservations; groups of eight or more should contact the estate first.
- Book the Vieille prison tour ahead, and ask about the Passe Explore for half-price entry to several Trois-Rivières museums.
- Plan a designated driver if you are tasting at the vineyard or brewery.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When does the lavender bloom at Passion Lavande?
Usually early to mid-July, with a second, smaller bloom in early September. Entry is free and the farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except from Christmas Eve afternoon to January 4.
Can I pick flowers?
In August you can cut your own sunflowers at Passion Lavande for 5 CAD per stem; check in at the boutique first.
Where can I eat near the lavender farm?
Les Couleurs de la Terre serves farm poutine Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (May 7 to November 1, 2026); Domaine Gélinas has a summer bistro open daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Café La Bezotte opens Thursday to Sunday.
How far is Trois-Rivières?
About 25 minutes east. Boréalis, Musée POP, the Musée des Ursulines and Île Saint-Quentin are all within a few minutes of each other there.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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