Visting Le Sentier des Voyageurs / Voyageurs Pathway, Gatineau, Québec / Quebec: Fine Vistas Across the River

The Downtown area of Gatineau — Québec's fourth largest city — is among the most scenic parts of the Région de la capitale nationale / National Capital Region. Le Promenade des Voyageurs / Voyageurs Pathway (1) is a cycle path which runs 30 kilometres around Gatineau, Aylmer and Ottawa, and offers a variety of scenes around the built and landscaped enviroment, but when it is in proximity with the Pont du Portage / Portage Bridge, its views over the Rivière des Outaouais / Ottawa River are truly spectacular.

Closed to motor vehicles, the herbaceous Sentier des Voyageurs / Voyageurs Pathway close to the Pont du Portage / Portage Bridge offers a superb vantage point from whch to pause and take in both the expanse of the waters of the Rivière des Outaouais / Ottawa River and also the Colline du Parlement / Parliament Hill on the prominent bluffs situated on the other side of the river.

I think that the Sentier des Voyageurs / Voyageurs Pathway is truly reminiscent of the curious situation at Windsor/Detroit. It is arguable that the best views of the Detoit, Michigan Riverfront can be obtained from the Windsor, Ontario side of the Detroit River. So also here it is reasonable to suggest that the most impressive views of the Federal Capital of Canada's Colline du Parlement / Parliament Hill, built with its towering, Gothic features are most advantageously viewed from the Gatineau side of the river, particularly from the Sentier des Voyageurs / Voyageurs Pathway.

(A subjective viewpoint maybe, but one at least with some basis of fact.)

Downtown Gatineau is a fine base to explore the immediate area; and Sentier des Voyageurs / Voyageurs Pathway close to the Pont du Portage / Portage Bridge certainly offers a memorable start to the pedestrian's or cyclist's exploration.

December 4, 2018

Note

(1) See also (in French): http://pistescyclables.ca/Outaouais/Voyageurs.htm

In Gatineau itself, the Musée canadien des civilisations / Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's most visited museum. Gatineau's Masion du citoyen / Citizen's House has a noted art gallery and the Hall des nations / Hall of the Nations containing valuable cultural artifacts from around the world. Parc de la Gatineau / Gatineau Park has exceptional recreational and scenic possibilities.

In Ottawa (distance: 2 kilometres from Downtown Hull, Gatineau) possesses cultural treasures, structures of architectural excellence and noted museums which are too numerous to mention properly here; but a few of these include Parliament Hill, Rideau Hall, the Chateau Laurier, Laurier House, the Rideau Canal, and the Bank of Canada's Currency Museum.

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How to get there: Air Canada flies from various North American destinations to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport / Aéroport international Macdonald-Cartier d'Ottawa, where car rental is available. However, travellers may prefer to use OC Transpo public transit for travel within Ottawa / Gatineau. Please check with the airline or your travel agent for up to date information.