Rigaud

Rigaud is a town of 7,854 people (2021) in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, in the Montérégie region of Quebec, about west of Montreal. Rigaud is located northwest of the Suroît geographic region.

Rigaud is an important stopover on the road between Montreal and Ottawa (via Quebec Autoroute 40 and Ontario Highway 417, offering food, accommodation, groceries, gas and other services to motorists. In addition, Rigaud offers a wide range of infrastructure and recreational tourism activities.

Understand
While in many ways a typical rural Quebec town, it features Mont-Rigaud, a small mountain in the otherwise flat Ottawa River valley. The mountain attracts skiers, hikers, climbers, snowshoers, maple syrup and beer enthusiasts and religious tourists. History buffs can take a heritage tour in Old-Rigaud (Vieux-Rigaud). It can make for a pleasant stop on the way between Montreal and Ottawa.

Visitor information




History
On October 29, 1732, the brothers Pierre (naval officer) and François-Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, governors in New France, obtained the concession of the Seigneurie de Rigaud. The first settlers settled in Rigaud in 1783 under the aegis of Lord Alain Chartier de Lotbinière, who acquired the rights to the seigneury.

Construction of the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes chapel began on June 19, 1887. The inauguration of the Vaudreuil-Rigaud railway took place in 1890. In 1909, the Northern Explosive Company, owned by Curtis & Harvey, began operations.

By car
The Carillon-Pointe-Fortune and Hudson-Oka's ferry can take you across the Ottawa River to the Outaouais and Laurentian Mountain regions of Quebec. In winter, ice bridges are maintained at Carillon-Pointe-Fortune and Hudson-Oka to connect the two shores.

Rigaud is within sight of exit 9 of Quebec Autoroute 40. Turn left after the exit onto St-Jean-Baptiste street and drive about to town centre. Autoroute 40 in Quebec continues as Highway 417 in Ontario, and both of those freeways are part of the Trans-Canada Highway between Montreal and Ottawa.

From Montreal, take Autoroute 40. This takes 45-60 minutes except at evening rush hour, when it can take up to 2 hours.

From Ottawa, take Highway 417 east, which becomes Autoroute 40 at the Quebec border. Turn left after the exit onto St-Jean-Baptiste street and drive about to town centre. The trip takes around 90 minutes.

By taxi
When arriving in Rigaud, or if you need transportation within the town, taxi services are readily available. Taxi companies in Rigaud offer convenient and reliable transportation options, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free journey. Whether you're heading to your accommodation or exploring the area, taxis provide a comfortable and efficient means of travel.

By bus
A commuter bus runs by CIT La Presqu'Ile runs twice per weekday in the evening to Rigaud, departing from John Abbott College in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue in Montreal's West Island, which also connect with Vaudreuil Train Station. It returns from Rigaud early in the morning on weekdays. The bus does not run on weekends.

By bicycle
If you are biking along the Quebec portion of the south side of the Ottawa River, you will pass through Rigaud. If you are coming from Ontario or the Carillon-Pointe-Fortune ferry, you will reach it via Chemin de la Baie. If you are coming from the Montreal/Hudson direction, you will reach it along Chemin de l'Anse.

By train
Rigaud no longer has direct train service. There are some buses available to Rigaud that connect from Vaudreuil train station (see the "By bus" section above) for the AMT trains from Montreal to Vaudreuil.

Get around
The centre of town is very small, mainly lying along the two streets at the base of Mont-Rigaud. It can be crossed on foot within minutes. However, most of Rigaud's main attractions (ski slopes, maple sugar shacks, hiking trails, restaurants) lie scattered around the mountain. Some of Rigaud's more secluded attractions are on different highway exits than the one that leads to the centre of town. You may need to drive for 10 or 15 minutes between different sites in Rigaud.

Sugar shack
Several "cabanes a sucre" ("sugar shacks" or maple syrup farms) cater to tourists, giving them hay rides, showing them how maple syrup is collected and prepared, serving traditional Quebec meals and playing folk music. This is most popular in March and early April, when the warmer temperatures cause the sap to start flowing through the maple trees after a long winter.

Eat
There are a few fast-food places in the town centre. If you want authentic Quebec poutine (french fries, gravy and cheese), you can't go wrong.

Drink




Go next

 * Voyageur Provincial Park, a forested, riverside park is just across the Ontario border on westbound Autoroute 40 (Highway 417 in Ontario). It is used for camping, hiking, cycling, canoeing, etc.


 * — Pointe-Fortune is a region of resorts and recreational tourism activities (especially nautical and boating on the river).
 * — It offers recreational, social, cultural and community activities and events.
 * — Landlocked between the Ottawa River and the St. Lawrence River, Sainte-Marthe offers a rural landscape and the southern flank of the Montagne de Rigaud. Every year, the only polo field in Quebec holds a polo tournament. Sainte-Marthe offers parks and green spaces, as well as sports and cultural activities. Visitors can discover the legend of the "Trou à Ouellette".
 * — Saint-Lazare offers a countryside, forest and urban landscape (in the villages of Saddlebrook, Cedarbrook, Maple Ridge and Saint-Lazare). Saint-Lazarre offers sports and leisure facilities, as well as recreational and tourist activities (e.g., National Day on June 24).
 * — Vaudreuil-Dorion is a city where the modern mixes well with the old built heritage. A city offering many nautical activities thanks to its shore on the cove of Vaudreuil du Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes.
 * — A town on the Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes (Ottawa River), Hudson is blessed with a magnificent urban forest. It is a city of visual arts, music, culture and the outdoors. This city has a great history dating back to the days of New France. It offers many infrastructure and recreational tourism activities, in particular thanks to its shore on the Ottawa River and its large marina. It has many arts and crafts shops.