In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Saint-Ours
Go for half a day, not a base: the 1849 canal lock, the riverfront and a short ferry hop to Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu. Sleep in Sorel-Tracy unless you camp.
Saint-Ours is a village of about 1,700 people on the east bank of the Richelieu River, 75 km east of Montréal, in the Pierre-De Saurel region. Its one real draw is the Saint-Ours Canal and its 1849 lock, where you watch pleasure boats drop through the historic step. Add a riverfront walk, the church, a golf course and a small ferry across to Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu. Half a day to a full day covers it; most travellers come as a stop on the Route 133 (Chemin des Patriotes) run between Montréal and Sorel-Tracy.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for the canal, ferry and river; late Sep–mid Oct for the riverside drive
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (canal closed, most services shut; winter river crossing status check)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$70–110 excl. bed · Mid C$110–180 excl. bed · High C$180+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Info-Santé (health advice) 811 · Sûreté du Québec (non-emergency) 310-4141
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$2–4 |
| Casual lunch, main dish | C$15–25 |
| Beer, draught in a bar / can at a dépanneur | C$7–10 / C$2–4 |
| Golf, 18 holes at Club de Golf les Patriotes | check |
| Campsite pitch, one night | C$35–75 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YUL · Montréal-Trudeau
- About 1 h 15 min by car via Autoroute 20 and Route 133; no direct transit to the village
Typical fares
- Ferry Saint-Ours → Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu
- about 5 min; per-vehicle fare, check
- Montréal → Saint-Ours by car
- 75 km (47 mi), about 1 h 10 min47 mi (75 km), about 1 h 10 min
- Saint-Ours → Sorel-Tracy by car
- about 25 min on Route 133
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. Route 133 (Chemin des Patriotes) runs through the village along the river; the sights are spread over about 3 km (1.9 mi) of it. The Saint-Ours–Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu ferry crosses the Richelieu and saves the long detour to the Autoroute 20 or Autoroute 30 bridges; crossing time check. Cycling works on the flat riverside road in summer.You need a car. Route 133 (Chemin des Patriotes) runs through the village along the river; the sights are spread over about 1.9 mi (3 km) of it. The Saint-Ours–Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu ferry crosses the Richelieu and saves the long detour to the Autoroute 20 or Autoroute 30 bridges; crossing time check. Cycling works on the flat riverside road in summer.
See and do
Known for
- Saint-Ours Canal and its 1849 lock
- Richelieu River boating and the Saint-Ours–Saint-Roch ferry
- Route 133 (Chemin des Patriotes) riverside drive
- Immaculée-Conception Church
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sorel-Tracy | Route 133 north by car | About 25 min |
| Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu | Saint-Ours–Saint-Roch ferry across the Richelieu | check |
| Sainte-Victoire-de-Sorel | Route 133 north, then Rang Sud | check |
Sleep
- Chemin des Patriotes riverfront
- Motel and two campgrounds with marinas line Route 133; the only beds in the village.
- Sorel-Tracy
- 20–25 min north by car; full hotel and restaurant choice if the village is booked out.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Mercimair-SEE |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-BYEN sa KOOT |
| Where is the lock? | Où est l'écluse ?oo ay lay-KLUZ |
| Can I pay by card? | Puis-je payer par carte ?pweezh pay-YAY par KART |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Almost everything is seasonal: the canal and the ferry run roughly April–December, and winter shuts the village down.
- No train or bus serves Saint-Ours; without a car you are stuck.
- Restaurant opening hours are short and irregular outside summer: check before you drive out.
- The winter river crossing is an ice bridge, not a ferry: check it is open before relying on it.
Very safe. The real risks are the river (cold, fast current), unlit rural roads at night and wildlife on Route 133 at dusk: drive the speed limit and watch for deer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Saint-Ours yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Saint-Ours Canal and its 1849 lock
- Richelieu River boating and the Saint-Ours–Saint-Roch ferry
- Route 133 (Chemin des Patriotes) riverside drive
- Immaculée-Conception Church
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Municipality of Saint-Ours: www.saintours.qc.ca/
- Parks Canada — Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site: www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/qc/saintours/index
- Tourisme Montérégie: www.tourisme-monteregie.qc.ca/
- Wikivoyage: Saint-Ours, revision 4939803 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4939803
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Saint-Ours
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassy in the village. The US consulate general is in Montréal; other countries keep embassies in Ottawa and consulates in Montréal.
French is the everyday language here; a bonjour on entering a shop goes a long way.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/saint-ours). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.