This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
Winter weekends to keep busy, spring break approaching… In their wildest dreams, many parents imagine a warm place near the fire, family games, outdoor activities, shared meals and discoveries that will please everyone. What if Montebello held the secret in bringing it all together?
About 90 minutes from Montreal, the place is intriguing. Because in Quebec, who has never heard of the legendary Fairmont Le Château Montebello? And when you finally stay there, the site does not disappoint. Built in 1930, in a record time of just four months, Château Montebello, made of more than 10,000 red cedar logs, was at the time the largest log construction in the world. Even today, almost a century later, the architecture of the place is impressive. But it’s the establishment’s huge entrance hall that steals the show. Famous figures such as former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, Ronald Reagan, François Mitterrand and Princess Grace of Monaco have paraded there.
In this hall sits the large hexagonal stone foyer which is definitely the heart of the 210-room building. Around him, we spend hours chatting, reading or playing board games borrowed from the hotel while sipping hot chocolate or one of the cocktails from Bar Le Foyer. There is also something touching in seeing all these families, in the evening, laughing in front of the fire. Everything about the rustic charm of this place located on the banks of the Ottawa River recalls the atmosphere of a Swiss ski chalet. And for good reason: the project is the work of an American of Swiss origin, Harold Saddlemire, inspired by the great hotels in the Alps of this country.
It is not easy to escape from the enveloping heat of this imposing hall. When successful, adults and children are not disappointed by the large indoor swimming pool with its unique architecture. It too is surrounded by woods and stones. Not far away, the spa, the gym, introductory curling lessons or the Aux Chantignoles restaurant which serves local and seasonal cuisine. Those who want to have fun outside are not left out: cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails, skating and tubing make you want to enjoy the winter. The uninitiated need not worry since the equipment is rented on site.
“There are always activities for the family. But, during special periods such as holiday vacations or spring break, we also offer a program of daily activities included with the stay, such as a games room, inflatables, bonfires or creative workshops “, explained Jennifer Wilson, public relations manager for the establishment.
The location might be enough, but if you’re the explorer type, the main street of Montebello, accessible by walking from the hotel, will also please. You can, among other things, stop at the Fromagerie Montebello to enjoy a tasting, have lunch or stock up on groceries. Or, stop by Bistro Montebello, whose pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven are worth the detour, and end the tour at the ChocoMotive chocolate factory, which offers a chocolate factory Économusée.
Dancing with Wolves
A five-minute drive from this castle life awaits a whole different adventure. The 12-kilometer safari drive offered by Parc Oméga, focused on Canada’s wild animals, is the kind of moment that will be remembered.
As soon as you enter, many deer insert their imposing heads into the cars, hoping to receive carrots purchased at reception from visitors. You have to hear the children going ecstatic and the parents almost panicking (a true experience) at the beasts that invite themselves into the vehicles. But we quickly realize that there is no need to worry and we take a liking to this proximity with the elegant deer.
For the rest of the route, we come across wild boars, elk, bison and foxes in their natural environment. You can’t miss the wolf observatory, unique in the world. Accessible on foot, it allows you to see the mythical canines up close. For a highlight, coordinate with the schedules of daily activities during which a guide talks about the pack and feeds the wolves in front of fascinated visitors.
At the end of the park, the Pioneer Land sector takes up the rest of the day thanks to its different buildings. There is a café, a local snack bar, a yurt where you can sit down to eat warmly, the reconstruction of a New France trading post, Native American tepees and a souvenir shop. In this area, a walking path leads to the Ferme d’Antan where children can pet donkeys, ponies and rabbits. Around spring break, we also organize the sugar festival where traditional music, dance and maple flavors are in the spotlight.
Winter is ideal for discovering or rediscovering this park, which has been open during the cold season for several years since there are fewer visitors than in summer. We will simply have to give up on the bears, which hibernate.
To extend the experience, for lunch or dinner, the OmegaBon restaurant is an excellent surprise and exceeds all expectations of what one can imagine when it comes to dining space in a family park. Seating is limited, the atmosphere is warm, the service is efficient and the menu offers flavors with boreal notes inspired by the seasons.
Those who want to immerse themselves even more in the place can sleep on site since Parc Oméga offers different types of accommodation accessible in winter. Those with wolves allow you to observe them in their natural environment thanks to large windows. For their part, the new additions, the heated capsule chalets, charm with their rounded look which gives the impression of being in a story. The magic really happens when, opening the curtains in the morning, you discover a group of deer a few meters from the window. It’s true that there is something fantastic about Montebello…
The journalist and her family were guests of Tourisme Outaouais.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.