Sainte-Marie
Around Sainte-Marie
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Town and around · Quebec · 13k people
Sainte-Marie
Locals say La Beauce
The friendly heart of the Beauce
Deep maple greenMaple leaf red
Welcome to La Beauce! We're glad you're here. Come for the maple syrup, stay for the friendly folks and the beautiful Chaudière River.
Clubs for Sainte-Marie
No clubs for Sainte-Marie yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Sainte-Marie. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Sainte-Marie. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Chaudière River Central river running through the region
- Outdoors Snowmobiling on local trails
- Outdoors Hiking along the Chaudière River
- With kids Visit a sugar shack for breakfast
- With kids Pick strawberries at a local farm
- Evenings Local taverns with live music
- Evenings Pub trivia nights
- Locals love Farm stands
- Locals love Snowmobile trails
Through the year
- Festival de la galette de sarrasin Fall Buckwheat pancake festival in Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce
- Exposition agricole de Sainte-Marie Summer Agricultural fair with livestock and local produce
Cold snowy winters, warm summers. Best in late spring to early fall. Best: Late spring to early fall
Getaways
- Québec City Historic capital with old town and festivals
- Saint-Georges Largest city in the Beauce
- Thetford Mines Mining town with lakes
- Victoriaville Known for music festival
Local flavour
Rooting for Montreal Canadiens (NHL), Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Eat and drink
- Cretons Spiced pork spread, a breakfast staple
- Tourtière Traditional meat pie
- Maple syrup Produced in local sugar shacks
- Fèves au lard Baked beans, often served with breakfast
Where people go
- Cabanes à sucre Maple sugar shacks, the heart of spring in the Beauce
- Farms and fields Agricultural landscape that defines the region
- Chaudière River The river that runs through the area, with scenic views
Heritage and traditions
La Beauce is proud of its deep agricultural roots, its maple syrup heritage, and a strong, independent spirit that locals call 'fierté beauceronne'.
Say it like a local: “Asteure” — Now.
Festivals
- Festival de la chanson de Sainte-Marie spring A songwriting contest that showcases Quebec talent.
- Carnaval de Sainte-Marie February A winter carnival with ice sculptures, sledding, and community events.
- Fête nationale du Québec (Saint-Jean-Baptiste) June June 24 bonfires and community celebrations across the region.
Landmarks with a story
- Église de Sainte-Marie A historic parish church in the town centre, reflecting Catholic heritage.
- Covered bridges Several 19th-century covered bridges dot the Beauce countryside.
- Moulin à eau (water mill) An old water mill, a reminder of the region's early industry.
Food traditions
- Tire d'érable (maple taffy) Hot maple syrup poured on snow and rolled onto a stick, a spring ritual.
- Soupe aux pois (pea soup) A hearty French-Canadian staple, often served with pork.
- Galette de sarrasin (buckwheat pancake) A local specialty, celebrated at the festival, but also eaten year-round.
Music and arts
- Turlutte A form of mouth music (like lilting) used to accompany fiddle tunes.
- Fiddle (violon) music Traditional Quebecois fiddle tunes are a staple at veillées.
- Veillées Evening gatherings with music, dancing, and storytelling, a rural tradition.
A little history
- 1700s The Beauce region was settled by French colonists in the 18th century.
- 1800s–1900s The Chaudière River was used for log driving, supporting the forestry industry.
- 20th century The region developed a strong entrepreneurial culture, with many family-owned businesses.
- Game day Hockey on outdoor rinks
- Outdoors Snowshoeing
- Outdoors Ice fishing
- With kids Making maple taffy on snow
- With kids Attending the winter carnival
The Beauceron accent is a distinctive Quebec French with a drawl, often using 'moé' and 'toé' for 'moi' and 'toi', and dropping certain consonants. It has a warm, rural flavour.
Only here
- The expression 'La Beauce, c'est le meilleur coin du monde' – locals truly believe it.
- The 'fierté beauceronne' (Beauceron pride) is a strong sense of identity.
- The region is known for its 'débrouillardise' – a knack for finding solutions.
- Maple taffy on snow is a rite of spring, enjoyed by all ages.
New here? A few tips
- Learn French – it's essential for daily life and building relationships.
- Be ready for cold, snowy winters; invest in good winter gear.
- Try maple syrup in all its forms – especially tire d'érable on snow.
- Embrace the local pride – the Beauce is known for its resourcefulness and warmth.
- Get outside: snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and hiking along the Chaudière are popular.
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Nearby
Every areaBellechasseQuebecWhere the St. Lawrence breeze meets maple-sweet fields.BeauceQuebecProud heart of maple country.LotbinièreQuebecWhere the river meets the fields, and maple runs deep.Les AppalachesQuebecGentle hills, warm hearts.Thetford MinesQuebecAu cœur des AppalachesSaint-GeorgesQuebecAu cœur de la BeauceQuébec CityQuebecOld-world charm on the St. LawrenceVictoriavilleQuebecWhere the forest sings
Sainte-Marie. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.