Rivière-Beaudette

Rivière-Beaudette is a recreational tourism municipality that is the gateway to southwestern Quebec, offering two stops for travellers on Autoroute 20. It is in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, in the administrative region of Montérégie, in Quebec.

Understand
Wedged between the border of Ontario, Saint-Télesphore, Saint-Polycarpe, Saint-Zotique, on the north of the St. Lawrence River, the riverside and rural landscapes of Rivière-Beaudette attract many visitors. The main attractions include:
 * nautical activities on the St. Lawrence River and on the Beaudette River; as well as the variety of services for boaters, via marinas and pleasure craft maintenance shops; its shores feature numerous removable private docks as they are brought ashore for the winter;
 * the 670-m canal, in the shape of a hook, located near Pointe-Lalonde, where a dozen house-chalets have been set up.

Houses are concentrated mainly on the shore of Lake Saint-François and along the Beaudette River. This municipality has three villages:
 * that of the bay (to the west of the territory, overlooking Lake Saint-François) facing the Ontario border;
 * that of Pointe Lalonde overlooking Lake Saint-François between Pointe Beaudette and the limit of Saint-Zotique, as well as extending upstream on the Beaudette River to Route 328;
 * as well as the main village of Rivière-Beaudette, extending north of Route 328, straddling the Beaudette River.

The local economy is based on the recreational tourism industry (especially pleasure boating and resorts), on services to travellers on Autoroute 20 (highway rest area and area of access ramps to Highway 325), as well as agriculture.

By car
From Montreal, take Autoroute 20. This takes 50-55 minutes except at evening rush hour, when it can take up to 1½ hours.

From Kingston, take Highway 1 east, which becomes Autoroute 20 at the Quebec border. Then, take Autoroute 20 (east), to the Rivière-Beaudette exit; take Route 325 (north) to the village of Rivière-Beaudette.

By bus
Regular bus service is offered by EXO from Terminus Mansfield (Quai 5) in downtown Montreal.

By train
Regular VIA Rail service is offered via EXO: ICI from downtown Montreal to Côteau-du-Lac; then a taxi service takes you to Rivière-Beaudette.

Get around
Cars and bicycles are the best means of transportation to get around Rivière-Beaudette. In addition, pleasurecraft can travel on Lake Saint-François and the Beaudette River.



Do

 * The waterfront resort on the Beaudette River and Lake Saint-François;
 * There is a pedestrian path whose entrance is at 600, rue Léger; this trail is also accessible in winter
 * The waterfront resort on the Beaudette River and Lake Saint-François;
 * There is a pedestrian path whose entrance is at 600, rue Léger; this trail is also accessible in winter

Events
The main events in Rivière-Beaudette are:
 * Halloween: this children's party is celebrated annually on October 31 at Parc de la Clairière (corner of rue de la Clairière and rue des Chênes);
 * Guignolée: mid-November: a roadblock is set up at the intersection of rue Principale and rue Sauvé; cash donation only;
 * Visit from Santa Claus: early December.