Hungry after your drive from Québec to the Charlevoix region? It’s not a moment too soon, as upon arriving in Baie-Saint-Paul, you can hit the Flavour Trail! This delicious circuit is a great way to discover the region’s terroir treasures, while visiting most interesting attractions. There are many occasions to stop along the way, to the delight of both your taste buds and eyes!

1. You will discover many little treasures along Charlevoix’s roads, tucked just after a bend in the road, in the hands of artisans, in the hearts of producers and beyond the mountains. The best point of departure for any outing in the region is the Charlevoix Tourist Information Centre. A gold mine of information, this is also the perfect place to get an idea of the spectacular landscapes that await you!

2. Your gourmet trip begins with dessert! Indeed, why not start by an incursion into the friendly village of Baie-Saint-Paul, towards Saint-Jean-Baptiste Street, where you can discover many art galleries and boutiques downtown, as well as the Chocolaterie Cynthia for a sweet treat! Guided tours are offered during which you can see the chef chocolatier at work and sample marvellous chocolaty delights.

3. When you get to Route 138, head east to go to Laiterie Charlevoix, Cheese ECONOMUSEUM®. Here, you can enjoy a guided tour that thoroughly explains cheese making. You can see artisans hard at work, making soft, cheddar and Gruyère cheeses. An exhibit featuring old cheese maker tools helps visitors better understand the history of the Quebec dairy and cheese industry.

4. Not yet full on cheese? The next step of this circuit will take you to another fine terroir cheese producer. The Maison d’affinage Maurice Dufour is passionate about making cheese from cows’ and sheep’s milk. The cheeses are proudly featured in the dining room or during tours of the factory.

5. When leaving Baie-Saint-Paul, turn off Route 138 and take Route 381 towards Saint-Urbain. Once at this village, you can head to the Centre de l’émeu de Charlevoix, the largest emu farm in Quebec. Not only can you observe these strange birds and learn more about their behaviour, you can also discover many different emu products, from oil to soap, cream and shampoo.

6. The last proposed stop on the Flavour Trail is at the Ferme Basque de Charlevoix. This artisanal duck farm produces foie gras and other derivative products. It also offers guided tours of the outdoor farm facility and tastings of farm products, which are also available for purchase.

7. Should you feel the need to burn off some calories, continue onwards a few kilometres towards the Grands-Jardins National Park, which offers a slew of outdoor activities in a spectacular natural décor. You can also backtrack a few kilometres and head to Saint-Aimée-des-Lacs, where you will find the entrance to Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park, which is known for its magnificent landscapes.