Saint-Sauveur-Des-Monts: Local History and Ski Heritage

Saint-Sauveur-Des-Monts brings local history together with a special chapter in Québec’s ski history. This offers a perspective beyond winter sports when planning your trip: heritage walks, Église Saint-Sauveur and the history of skiing provide different cultural points of interest. When choosing accommodation, you can consider whether you would also like to explore these subjects during your stay.

Heritage District and Historic Walks

The Site du patrimoine de Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts is an urban heritage district with 108 buildings and outbuildings. They were built between the late 19th and late 20th centuries. This range of construction dates makes local architectural history a subject spanning several decades.

The “Circuit patrimonial” can be completed on foot or by bicycle. This gives you two ways to adapt the tour to your preferred mode of transport. “Histoire de Saint-Sauveur – D’hier à aujourd’hui” is a separate tour: it includes 31 points of interest, including the homes of the first settlers and their architectural features. If you are particularly interested in early settlement and architectural styles, this tour offers a distinct focus.

“Histoire de Saint-Sauveur – D’hier à aujourd’hui” is available online and offline in the BaladoDécouverte mobile app. You can therefore use the tour in the app even when you are offline.

Église Saint-Sauveur

Église Saint-Sauveur was completed and consecrated in 1905. Its gable is inspired by Baroque architecture. The bell tower is designed in the Roman-Byzantine style and is flanked by two turrets. The three bells are also part of the building’s history: they came from Normandy. If you are interested in architecture, the church offers several clearly identifiable details to focus on, rather than simply seeing the building as a general historical landmark.

Québec’s Ski History and the Musée du Ski

The history of skiing in Québec began in Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, where the first ski lift in North America was built. This historical connection also makes the area interesting to travellers who want to understand the development of skiing as part of regional history.

The Musée du Ski des Laurentides was founded in Saint-Sauveur in 1982. Since 2019, it has been a museum institution recognized by the Québec government. Its permanent exhibition, “L’histoire du ski dans les Laurentides: vivre en hiver, de l’hiver et avec l’hiver,” has been on display since 2012. It takes visitors on a journey through time and provides a better understanding of how skiing has influenced the Laurentides region. The early history of ski lifts and the exhibition thus offer different ways to explore the area’s ski heritage.

Location and Orientation

The Site du patrimoine de Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts is in the heart of the town of Saint-Sauveur, surrounded by mountains and situated on gently uneven terrain. Bear the slight unevenness in mind when planning how you would like to explore the area. Local history, architectural walks and ski heritage each offer a distinct focus for planning your trip.

If you would like to include other local pages in your travel plans, you can also find Morin-Heights, Sainte-Adele, Sainte-Anne-Des-Lacs and Piedmont here.

For the broader travel overview: Les Pays-D'en-Haut.