Le Baluchon Eco Resort: the essence of the land
A drive past the property’s farm and vineyard leads to the 4-star Le Baluchon Eco Resort, With over 6000 acres of green space and a full range of services and activities, there is plenty of room to roam as well as ways to leave the distractions of everyday life behind.
Be as active as you please. Go mountain biking. Try the equestrian activities. Take a private carriage ride. There’s archery, tennis, volleyball, horseshoes, canoeing, kayaking and more.
Or simply relax with the Nordic baths, health spa, pool and yoga retreats and gardens. Have a massage on the water or under the trees. Try outdoor yoga on the banks of Rivière du Loup. Hike to the windmill that Canadians may recognize from the Marguerite Volant television series filmed here. Or simply enjoy the view.
Winter brings skating, snowshoe hiking, cross-country skiing, dog-sledding, and snow tubing. Or simply sit back and enjoy this pastoral setting.
There are two chalets and over 89 rooms in the four auberges (lodges). You may want to choose by proximity to your preference for outdoor activities, the soothing sounds of water, the health spa with its outdoor pool or the dining room building. Each guest room is unique, a blend of modern and rustic style that reflects the local area and history. Most decorative elements were created by local artisans.
As you settle in, the exceptional nature of how this property relates to its environment, history, and heritage emerges. There’s a tradition of authenticity and decor that incorporates regional artifacts and antiques. Outdoor and cultural activities promote region’s artists and craftsmen.
The design elements often refer to the site’s former use in providing lumber for a sawmill and are created through holistic principles of “slow design,” responsible utilization of materials through the use of renewable products and non-polluting production techniques. It’s about sustainability and minimizing the ecological footprint and creates a sense of calm and connection with the land.
Biodegradable products are used and recyclables are collected. Marsh reeds provide filtration for the sewage system. Plastic bags from guests or employees are given to a local artisan who weaves them into reusable bags sold at the café
Accolades too numerous to list include gold medals and prestigious Excellence Touristique (Tourism Excellence) awards in the Grands Prix du tourisme Québécois competition as well as awards for top chefs.
Le Baluchon Eco Resort is a member of Tourisme durable Québec for sustainable tourism. It has also received awards for sustainable development, including recognition by RECYC-QUÉBEC and 4 Green Keys for protecting the environment and respecting practices that improve energy consumption.
The breakfast buffet and lunch are served at the Au bout du monde (at the end of the world) Éco-café. Natural, organic local foods, meats from Le Baluchon’s own farm and ingredients grown onsite are used. Products like spruce, fir and mushrooms come from their boreal forest. Sauces, garnishes, and spice mixes are prepared here.
The dining room menu is refined, utilizing regional products in a fusion of authentic historic regional flavors and eco-gastronomy. Traditional culinary techniques like wood smoking are incorporated for enhanced flavor.
Order à la carte or choose from the 3- and 4- course table d’hote gourmet menu. Leave room for dessert, perhaps the Rhubarb and St-Crème fraicheur, a rhubarb declension, roasted carmelina tuile and St-Crème flavored accompaniments, or discovering local cheeses, with hasp gel with spruce, sweet and sour nuts and a multigrain biscuit with La Piqûre honey. Complete the meal with conventional spirits and liqueurs, linear tastings, or coffee flambée prepared at your table.
Assemble a gourmet picnic easy at the well-stocked boutique by the café. Indulge in cheeses, fruits and vegetables, smoked meats, beer and wines, honey, jam, chocolates and other delicacies characteristic of the region.
Discover a full range of edible specialties, the best kind of souvenirs of your experience.
Authentic Quebec: À bientôt!
Return from Authentic Quebec refreshed, with a better understanding of how Canada came to be what it is today. Savor the flavors of the region. Bring some home as a reminder of an exceptional experience and of the many reasons to return.