The King’s Road: A Historic Driving Tour from Québec to Montréal

Trade the monotony of the autoroute between Quebec City and Montréal for the timeless charm of the Chemin du Roy, and step directly into the living story of New France.

On this driving tour, you’ll wind through landscapes that have shaped Québec for nearly three centuries, linking riverfront villages, ancestral homes, and the enduring spirit of the province’s earliest settlers. You’ll see for yourself how this historical 1737 roadway, which stretches 280 kilometres along the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River, is one of the most evocative routes in North America.

The tour starts at the Montcalm parking lot near the Plains of Abraham, a historical museum in Quebec. You’ll drive towards Trois Rivières, a city rich in culture and heritage, where cafés, museums, and riverside promenades invite travellers to slow down and savour authentic Québec hospitality. Each bend in the road reveals something new: stone churches, orchards, farmlands, and artisans who carry forward traditions passed down through generations. The tour ends outside the Borealis Museum, which offers a fascinating look into Québec’s once-dominant pulp and paper industry.

During this immersive three-hour driving tour, you’ll also encounter:

• Québec Bridge, a monumental engineering feat shaped by tragedy and innovation
• Cap-Rouge Nautical Site and Trestle Bridge, a blend of natural beauty and railway history
• St. Michael’s Church, Sillery, which offers a sweeping 180-degree panorama of the river
• Champlain and Batiscan, postcard-perfect villages along the St. Lawrence shoreline
• One of the oldest windmills in Québec, Moulin à vent de Grondines, a beautifully restored seigneurial mill, Moulin de la Chevrotière, and a flour and sawmill from the 1700s, preserved in its rural setting, Moulin Ancestral de Pointe du Lac
• Quai de Portneuf, a peaceful riverside lookout with majestic views of the St. Lawrence
• Presbytère de Deschambault, a heritage rectory overlooking the river
• Vieux chemin Cap Santé, often called one of Canada’s most beautiful streets
• Canada’s national shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Notre Dame du Cap Sanctuary

The Chemin du Roy offers more than a scenic drive. It’s a moving tableau of sweeping river views, peaceful countryside, and unforgettable fall colours that transform the journey into a living painting. Here, history isn’t something you observe; it’s something you feel.

We apologize for any inconvenience, but some locations are tucked away for the winter season. Though they are currently closed to visitors, they still make for a beautiful view as you drive past!