Relax in lavender fields northwest of Montreal

2.9K

Mmmm, lavender.

Sometimes, I’m startled by how little effort it takes to travel somewhere that feels completely different. A two-hour drive from Ottawa can bring you to fields of fragrant lavender on the southern edge of the Laurentians, at La Maison Lavande in Saint-Eustache, Quebec.

And if you want to smell the lavender in bloom, late June to mid-July is the time to go. Here’s a quick snapshot of my recent trip to La Maison Lavande.

Disclosure: I took this trip with support from Tourisme Laurentides and the mentioned businesses, none of which reviewed or approved this post. All opinions are my own.

Tiptoe through the lavender in the Laurentians

La Maison Lavande is a family business. Partners Nancie Ferron and Daniel Joannette fell in love with lavender on a trip to Provence and decided to grow it on their Saint-Eustache property. After testing various types of lavender—did you know there are more than 100 varieties?—they settled on a few that thrived in the lower Laurentians climate.

Today, orderly rows of lavender bushes bloom across several fields, and visitors are invited to stroll among them. Dogs and other small pets are welcome in the fields, as long as they’re leashed.

To my surprise, even after a light rain, the air wasn’t heady with lavender fragrance. I took the advice of a staffer at the gate and rubbed a blossom between my thumb and forefinger to release the scent, and it was marvellous. (Touching the flowers is allowed, but picking is not.)

In between two of the fields is a small observation tower where you can get a sweeping view of the whole property from a large wooden platform. Near the tower, picnic tables are clustered in a small grove of trees, providing welcome shade.

Closer to the entrance, there’s a small playground with slides and climbing structures, and on the opposite side of the field, there’s a set of larger swings meant for adults.

There’s even a chicken coop, where the bustling birds are likely to keep small kids (and kids at heart like me) entertained. Just watch your fingers, as per the sign.

Interspersed among the plants are white Muskoka chairs and more picnic tables, perfect for a family lunch or a tête-à-tête with a friend.

Lavender lemonade and scones

Speaking of lunch: You’re welcome to bring your own picnic. I spotted a large family doing just that, unpacking sandwiches and salads from big coolers. Alternatively, you can buy light snacks from the outdoor bistro, which was my choice because I was continuing on elsewhere for lunch. (I’ll have a report on that lovely meal at Cidrerie Lacroix in a future post.)

Just about everything on the bistro menu has lavender in it, of course. Fortunately, I love lavender, so I ordered a lavender lemonade and a raspberry, white chocolate and raspberry scone. The lemonade was delightful. The scone was a bit on the soft side for me—I’m a fan of crunchy-crusted scones—but that didn’t stop me from devouring it. Other menu choices included lavender ice tea, lavender bubble tea, ordinary coffee, lavender frozen yogurt, a lavender vegan frozen treat, banana bread and brownies. The bistro even sells dog biscuits.

And, yes, a lavender shop

My last stop was the boutique, which sells just about everything you can imagine that might incorporate lavender: hand cream, air freshener, candles, soap, bubble bath, laundry detergent and more, along with a range of food and drink items. I was intrigued by a jar of orange, coriander, ginger and lavender marmalade, which the label said would be good with cheese. That went in my shopping bag, along with a bottle of lavender syrup so I can recreate that lavender lemonade at home.

La Maison Lavande also has half a dozen retail boutiques throughout Quebec, as well as an online shop.

Music and sunsets at La Maison Lavande

La Maison Lavande is open until 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays in July, so visitors can enjoy the fields as the sun sets. On Friday nights and Sunday afternoons in July, there is also live music.

The bottom line

Is La Maison Lavande worth the trip? Yes, depending on what you’re looking for.

The entry fees may seem steep for the privilege of walking through fields, swinging on a wooden swing and sitting among the flowers. If your tastes run more to zip lines and waterparks, you’ll likely find it a bit sedate.

BUT.

If, like me, you often feel harried and overwhelmed, the fields can be a literal breath of fresh air. I visited early on a Friday morning just after a light rain, so there were few other visitors and I had the fields almost to myself. They were wonderfully quiet, except for the odd cargo plane flying overhead to nearby Mirabel airport, so it was easy to enjoy the chirping of unseen birds in the surrounding trees. I was only two hours from home, but sitting at a picnic table sipping a lavender lemonade and gazing out at the blooming purple plants really did feel like a mini-vacation.

If you go

You’ll find La Maison Lavande at 902, chemin Fresnière, Saint-Eustache. It’s 162 kilometres east of Parliament Hill (about a two-hour drive), and it’s about 50 kilometres northwest of downtown Montreal.

The entry fees vary by season. In 2023, in high season (from June 23 until the flower harvest, in mid- to late July), tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for youths (aged 12 to 17), and $30 for a family of four (two adults and two youths). Children aged 11 and under are admitted free. In low season (from harvest until August 20), tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for youths, $20 per family, and free for children 11 and under. Taxes are added to all prices. The site is open to the public this year from June 23 to August 20.

Bring a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. The fields are flat, but clumps of soil can make them uneven and rain can make them muddy. And because lavender thrives in full sun, the fields themselves are unshaded.

Note that while late June to mid-July is usually the best time to see the lavender in bloom, plants can be unpredictable. Call ahead to see whether the plants are flowering if you want to make sure before hopping in the car.

Want to extend your stay? Use the map below to find accommodations near La Maison Lavande. (Disclosure: If you book a place to stay using this map, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.