Fun for the whole family!
COME DISCOVER WHAT MAKES THE INHABITANTS OF THIS REGION SO WELCOMING!
COME AND DISCOVER OUR CORNER OF THE COUNTRY!
Looking for a new destination to visit this summer? How about a weekend spent exploring a French-speaking region comprising no less than five communities of Métis, Acadian and French-Canadian ancestry? All located just 1 hour drive from Saskatoon and 3 hours drive from Regina. The communities of Batoche, Bellevue, Domremy and St. Louis offer a superb range of tourist attractions and activities!
Whether you are traveling alone or with your family, we guarantee you will love our unique blend of French and Métis Prairie culture, friendly Fransaskois residents and tourist attractions, including several surrounding parks and lakes. Stop by the Centre Rendez-Vous in Bellevue and we will be happy to tell you all about the best places to visit!
For more than 120 years, the inhabitants of our picturesque agricultural region have maintained their pride in their language and culture. Even today, our dynamic communities are perfectly bilingual. During your visit, you are sure to hear residents switching from French to English at the Rendez-Vous, in the streets, at the post office or at the local restaurant. Come discover us!
Who has never heard of the Métis leaders Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont and the epic 1885 battle fought at Batoche between the Métis nation and General Middleton’s army? Batoche National Historical Park lets you travel back in time to chat with a 19th-century Métis settler about life on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River as it once was. You can see the bullet holes on the final battlefield of the Northwest Resistance and learn about how a traditional way of life changed forever as a new country was formed.
WHAT TO SEE
St-Isidore-de-Bellevue
Located just a few kilometers from Batoche, 75% of the inhabitants of the community of St-Isidore-de-Bellevue are French-speaking! First stop, the Rendez-Vous community center. Savor a delicious poutine at the friendly La Belle Patate bistro, then cross the hall to access the cultural center where you can admire the magnificent wood carvings of the Gareau Brothers. Take in the selection of local products on sale at the Centre’s boutique and then go out to explore the “Trail of the Fransaskoise legend”, a magnificent outdoor historical route that tells the story of the first pioneers of St-Isidore-de-Bellevue. Don’t forget to measure yourself against the Giant Pea Plant which pays homage to the local industry of dried peas.
Thinking of spending the night? Bellevue offers visitors a modern campsite as well as several bed and breakfasts. For a unique experience, contact Gérald and Rita Gareau, the friendly owners of Chez Nous B&B and enjoy comfortable rooms and delicious homemade meals, all in a quiet space surrounded by forest and nature. And when you leave Bellevue, don’t forget to stop at the chapel located at the top of the Bellevue “mountain”. Park the care, step outside and take a moment to breathe in the fresh air and appreciate the magnificent view that gave the village its name!
WHAT TO SEE
Domremy
Of French descent, Domremy welcomes tourists every year who come to admire the town’s magnificent bronze statue of Saint Joan of Arc brandishing her standard which is located at the foot of the modern church built at the end of the main street. Take advantage of your visit to visit the interior of the modern church with its stained-glass windows and its sloped wooden ceilings, then discover the historic stelae in the magnificent cemetery. A few kilometers away, you will find the sandy beach and the children’s playground of Lake Wakaw, a place favored by the French-speaking people of the province. And close by you’ll also find the beach and the historic church of Bonne Madonne, a wooden church originally built in 1910 which was ravaged by fire in 1918 and rebuilt in 1920. The small cemetery bears witness to the first French settlers who came from Dauphiné and Franche-Conté, in France. The church was designated a heritage property in 1982 and became a municipal heritage property in 2004.
WHAT TO SEE
St. Louis
Located twenty minutes south of Prince Albert, the village of St. Louis is perched on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River at the intersection of Highway 2 north-south and Highway 25. Take advantage of the new wooden walkway to stroll near the river and admire the recently renovated old metal bridge that crosses the Saskatchewan River. Near the bridge, you can admire the giant sculpture of a rare species of bison discovered in the region. Saint-Louis is home to an extensive archaeological site of Aboriginal artifacts; Major discoveries at the site include new species of wolves and bison about 25% larger than modern species as well as a bead that indicates the decoration of clothing about 1000 years earlier than previously thought.
Visit St. Louis’ Historical Society and learn about the famous legend of the St. Louis Ghost Train. Then follow the Cinematographic Route which invites you to discover 34 points of historical interest including Fort Gros Ventre and the ferry at St. Laurent de Grandin. Sit back and relax as we take you thirty-two miles down the river while travelling back in time over 9,000 years. The route’s starting point is Batoche National Historic Site, and its final destination is Sugar Island, four miles downriver from St. Louis. There are thirty-four points of interest along the river with a numbered sign at each that links to a map.
WHAT TO SEE
OUR FAVORITE PLACES AND EVENTS
WHAT WE CALL FUN...
