Sherbrooke

Around Sherbrooke

Photo: Lëa-Kim Châteauneuf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metro area · Quebec · 227k people

Sherbrooke

Locals say Estrie · “La ville des clochers (City of Steeples)”

Where the steeples meet the mountains.

Vert et Or greenGolden yellowLake Memphremagog blue

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Bienvenue to Estrie! Whether you're here for the mountains, the lakes, or the famous poutine, you'll find a friendly vibe. Come chat about your favorite spots and local secrets.

Clubs for Sherbrooke

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The room

One room for everyone around Sherbrooke. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Sherbrooke. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Sherbrooke Museum of Fine Arts Art museum in a heritage building
  • Mont Bellevue Hill with ski slopes and panoramic views
  • Parc national du Mont-Orford Provincial park with mountains and lakes
  • Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook Gorge with a suspension bridge and night lights
  • Lac Memphrémagog Large lake with beaches and boat cruises
  • Université de Sherbrooke Main campus with green spaces and architecture
  • Outdoors Hike the Appalachian Trail in Parc national du Mont-Orford
  • Outdoors Ski at Mont Bellevue or Mont-Orford
  • With kids Explore the illuminated forest at Foresta Lumina
  • With kids Swim at Plage des Cantons
  • Evenings Microbrewery hopping in downtown Sherbrooke
  • Evenings Live music at the Granada Theatre
  • Locals love Sugar shacks (sucreries)
  • Locals love Cantines

Through the year

  • Foresta Lumina June to October Illuminated forest walk in Coaticook, summer to fall
  • Festival de la gibelotte July Food festival in Magog celebrating a local fish stew
  • Sherbrooke International Triathlon August Triathlon event in Sherbrooke
  • Sherbrooke Half-Marathon September Running race through the city

Estrie has four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The best time to be out is from late spring to early fall. Best: Summer (June to August) is warm and lively; winter (December to February) is cold with snow for skiing.

Talk like a local

“Estrie”
Local term for the region (Estrie)
“Poutine extra squick-squick”
A poutine with extra cheese curds

Getaways

Local flavour

Teams

  • Sherbrooke Phoenix QMJHL
  • Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or U Sports

Also rooting for Montreal Canadiens (NHL)

Eat and drink

  • Poutine Quebec-wide staple, served at local cantines with regional variations.
  • Coaticook ice cream A famous local dairy brand from the Coaticook area, known for its rich flavour.
  • Tire d'érable Maple taffy on snow, a seasonal treat at local sugar shacks.
  • Creton Traditional Quebec pork spread, common on breakfast tables in the region.

Where people go

  • Sugar shacks (sucreries) Seasonal maple syrup cabins in the surrounding countryside.
  • Cantines Casual roadside diners serving poutine and classic Quebec fast food.
  • Ski hills Mont Orford and Mont Bellevue, popular for winter sports and hiking.
  • Lakes and beaches Lake Memphremagog and Lake Magog, central to recreation and scenery.
  • Appalachian trails Hiking paths through the rolling Eastern Townships hills.

Heritage and traditions

Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships take pride in their blend of French and English heritage, set against the rolling Appalachian hills, and in their vibrant arts and university life.

This time of year in Sherbrooke

  • Fall foliage October October brings brilliant colours and outdoor activities.

Say it like a local: “Bienvenue” — You're welcome (also used as 'please' in some contexts).

Festivals

  • Festival des traditions du monde July Celebrates the region's diverse ethnic communities with music, dance, and food.
  • Fête du Lac des Nations July A major lakeside festival with concerts and fireworks.
  • Festival de la chanson de Sherbrooke April A songwriting competition and showcase for Quebec artists.

Landmarks with a story

  • Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac A Benedictine monastery on Lac Memphrémagog, known for its architecture and cheese.
  • Cathédrale Saint-Michel The Roman Catholic cathedral of Sherbrooke, a landmark in the city.
  • Église Saint-Patrick An historic Irish Catholic church reflecting the region's Irish heritage.
  • Pont couvert de Coaticook The longest covered bridge in the world, spanning the Coaticook River.
  • Vieux Sherbrooke The historic downtown district with 19th-century heritage buildings.

Food traditions

  • Gibelotte A traditional fish stew (often perch) with onions and potatoes, a specialty of the Coaticook area.
  • Abbaye cheese The monks of the Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac produce artisanal cheese that locals love.
  • Local cider The region's orchards produce hard cider, a favourite autumn drink.
  • Buckwheat crepes (galettes de sarrasin) A nod to the region's agricultural past, often served with savoury fillings.

Music and arts

  • Symphonie de Sherbrooke A professional orchestra performing classical and contemporary works.
  • Festival de la chanson A tradition of songwriting and performance that nurtures local talent.
  • Théâtre du Vieux Clocher A theatre housed in a former church, hosting plays and concerts.
  • Biennale d'art actuel A contemporary art exhibition showcasing regional and national artists.

A little history

  • late 18th century Loyalist settlement
  • 19th century Textile industry boom
  • 1954 University of Sherbrooke founded
  • 19th century Railway connections to Montreal and the US

Rivalries

  • Sherbrooke Phoenix vs. other QMJHL teams Local junior hockey rivalries
  • Sherbrooke vs. Magog Friendly rivalry over which has better lakeside living
  • Game day Skiing
  • Game day Cycling
  • Outdoors Walk the covered bridge in Coaticook
  • Outdoors Visit the Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac
  • With kids Taste cheese at the Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac
  • With kids Walk the covered bridge in Coaticook

French is the dominant language, but English is widely spoken, especially in the Townships. The local French has a relaxed, rural accent with some English loanwords, like 'le fun' for fun.

Only here

  • The longest covered bridge in the world is in Coaticook.
  • The monks at the Abbaye make cheese and cider sold locally.
  • The Festival des traditions du monde celebrates over 30 ethnic communities.
  • The 'gibelotte' fish stew is unique to the region.
New here? A few tips
  • Learn a few French phrases; locals appreciate the effort even if they switch to English.
  • Invest in warm, waterproof boots; winters are long and snowy.
  • Try the local cheese and cider from the Abbey and nearby orchards.
  • Use the extensive bike path network, especially the Route Verte.
  • Embrace both French and English cultures; the bilingual heritage is part of the charm.

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Nearby

Every area
Le Val-Saint-FrançoisQuebecWhere the maple runs and the hills roll.Le Haut-Saint-FrançoisQuebecWhere the Saint-François winds through hills and maple groves.CoaticookQuebecWhere the river winds through the hillsLes SourcesQuebecWhere the hills whisper in French and the maple runs deep.MemphrémagogQuebecLakeside orchards and rolling hills.La Haute-YamaskaQuebecWhere the maple runs and the hills roll gently.GranbyQuebecWhere the Appalachians meet the lakesCowansvilleQuebecWhere the hills meet the orchards, and cider flows like autumn.

Sherbrooke. 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.

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