Nature Retreats: 5 Places to Recharge Your Batteries in Quebec

Forest bathing, meditation by a lake, deep breathing in front of the mountains: in Quebec, nature retreats are attracting more and more outdoor enthusiasts in search of calm and meaning.

Journalist Charles-Édouard Carrier recently published, with Catherine Girouard, a book entitled Se ressourcer: Où, quand et comment prendre du temps pour soi , which highlights numerous experiences of spiritual retreat.

He presents five that he particularly likes.

1. Val-Notre-Dame Abbey – Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Lanaudière

"It was a wonderful discovery. Here, we come to combine nature and silence in this monastery with monks. It's a silent retreat. There, you decide whether or not to participate in the various celebrations that take place during the day in the chapel. You can decide whether or not to speak with a monk who is there, who is available, with whom you can have exchanges. But otherwise, essentially, you go there to take a break, to bring yourself back to a silent universe.

A monk I met there told me that silence is an amplifier. I found that a truly beautiful phrase. In silence, there are many things you wouldn't hear otherwise.

I loved this place because the architecture is absolutely exceptional. You're really in the light, thanks to the glass and the windows. No matter what time of day you walk through the large corridors outside, it's never the same setting because the light is omnipresent. Then we play a lot with shadows and the play of shades. It's fascinating just to be there and see the sun turn.

2. Farouche Tremblant – Lac-Supérieur, Laurentians

This site, which describes itself as a nature sanctuary, offers "small, very beautiful triangles. They're very close to each other, but you still have a nice sense of privacy, with your own little space. Here, we're really more in the realm of minimalist glamping : a bed, a small space heater, and a small armchair, that's all."

What I also like about Farouche is La Buvette at the main chalet. You have locals who come to have their coffee in the morning, chat with the owners who are there, who are super interesting, super friendly. Unlike other places to recharge in nature, you are not alone in the woods, far from civilization. Some people don't necessarily want to be isolated. With Farouche, you have the best of both worlds: in nature, with people and life around.

3. Bora Boréal – Eastern Townships and Quebec region

"These are small cabins on the water, in two locations: one in the Quebec City region, in Saint-Brigitte-de-Laval, the other in the Eastern Townships, in Bury. They are small, glass-enclosed dwellings, very minimalist and very beautiful. There is no electricity, but they run on solar panels.

On your floating unit, it's fascinating because you're not on the water's edge, you're literally in the water. When you open the large garage door, you can admire the spectacle of nature: the ducks landing in front of you, the people kayaking. This proximity to the water, I've never seen it to this extent anywhere else.

Some cabins have rooftop terraces. It's even more interesting because you get higher up. You have a magnificent view of the mountains. The best part is when you wake up in the morning with the mist on the lake. It's very relaxing!

4. The Eastman Spa – Eastman, Eastern Townships

"A must-do in Quebec, even if it's a retreat that will be more expensive. You're semi-guided, semi-supervised. It's not a retreat where they'll take you by the hand from arrival to departure and give you specific schedules.

The place is magnificent. You really have access to a host of activities that can really help you refocus on yourself. You still have plenty of activities to experience. It's up to you whether you want to do them or not: yoga, a conference on the power of sounds, hot or cold baths, lounging in a hammock, etc. There's also an option to disconnect from screens and technology, to add to your package. A three-day experience during which the spa staff will accompany you and help you take a beneficial break.

There are so many activities to do that you also have to know how to choose and let yourself go. You don't need to go to Spa Eastman to participate in all the classes or all the conferences, you can just be there and enjoy yourself. By trying to do too much, you're only reproducing the frenetic pace of your daily life. Especially at home, you're tired, you're not recharged. You have to make a shift , a transition in your mind."

5. The Billy Diamond Road

In the book by Catherine Girouard and Charles-Édouard Carrier, there is a "road" section, including the Billy Diamond Road. Known until 2020 as the James Bay Road, it is an isolated 620 km long road that crosses James Bay, between Matagami and Radisson.

“Catherine and I are road trip and van life lovers. For me, the Billy Diamond Highway is the most beautiful road in Quebec, even if it’s one of the least known. However, you cross phenomenal landscapes. The further you go, the more the trees will slowly shrink, until they become very small and there are none left. We must not forget that this is a region that was ravaged by fires in 2013, nature is in full regeneration. The vegetation is really exploding. It’s magnificent.

There's almost no one on this road. There are plenty of designated places where you can stop, lookouts near the rivers, and viewpoints on the many bridges. We cross about ten rivers along the road. The bridges are magnificent. Driving on, with the constantly changing landscape, becomes invigorating and allows you to truly unwind!

To obtain this book