Île d'Orléans is connected to the city of Quebec by a suspension bridge, but it feels like another world. The 67 km Farmer's Route allows you to discover the island's six parishes, each with its own unique personality: Saint-Pierre, Sainte-Famille, Saint-François, Saint-Jean, Saint-Laurent, and Sainte-Pétronille.

Along the route, strawberry stands by the roadside in July, apple orchards in September, vineyards with river views in summer, cheesemakers, artisanal bakeries, sugar shacks in spring. The island is a living calendar of Quebec flavors.

The view of the Saint Lawrence is ever-present: you can see Quebec from the shore, the Laurentians to the north, the Appalachians to the south. The island is listed as a heritage site by the Quebec Council of Monuments and Sites, a recognition that reflects the remarkable preservation of its historic agricultural landscape.

Bouchard Bakery in Sainte-Famille is an institution: sourdough bread, brioches, baguettes, and wood-fired pastries, all made in a heritage house. Island bread is a treat that Quebec residents often go out of their way to buy.

The island's vineyards, like the Sainte-Petronille Vineyard, produce white and rosé wines suited to the northern climate, with freshness and acidity that make them natural pairings with the region's cheeses and seafood.

Maple is also an island crop: sugar shacks open their doors in spring, offering the traditional Quebec outdoor feast: eggs in syrup, pork rinds, pea soup, and sugar pie.