Located in Châteauguay, less than 30 minutes away from Montréal, Île Saint-Bernard is home to exceptional natural and heritage resources! This unique destination comprises two sectors. The first one, called the tertre or knoll of the island, encompasses some 7% of the area, whereas the Refuge faunique Marguerite-D’Youville (wildlife sanctuary) accounts for 93%.
Belonging to the Grey Nuns for more than two centuries, the knoll is now considered a municipal park since it was acquired by the city of Châteauguay in 2011. Access to the site is free and it is tremendously popular for its magnificent landscapes which can be admired sitting on one of the hundreds of Adirondack chairs available to visitors.
Close to a dozen buildings sit on the knoll, including several ancestral ones, offering a variety of services. You will find La Traite Bistro, the Manoir D’Youville (a 115-room hotel), a stone manor, a mill dating back to 1686, a coffeehouse and a playhouse. There is also the organic apple orchard boasting more than 1000 trees that brings delight to families in the fall.
D’une superficie de 223 hectares, le refuge faunique Marguerite-D’Youville est officiellement protégé à perpétuité depuis 2010. La richesse de ce site repose sur la grande variété de ses écosystèmes : marais, marécages, rives, friches, érablières et chênaies. Huit kilomètres de sentiers sont aménagés au grand bonheur des amateurs de plein air, familles, ornithologues et photographes. Une fee est en vigueur pour accéder au refuge faunique, laquelle est réinvestie dans l’entretien du territoire ainsi que dans l’amélioration des installations et des services.
One of the attractions of this rich habitat is no doubt bird watching. The site is a major migratory stopover and over 240 bird species have been spotted. Many mammals roam freely, including a large number of white-tailed deer. Plant life is also plentiful and diverse and contributes to stunning scenery, which changes with every new ecosystem seen along the way.
Les randonneurs peuvent améliorer leur expérience à l’aide d’un audioguide qui offre des renseignements sur l’histoire de l’île ainsi que sur la faune et la flore abritant le territoire.
Access to the refuge faunique Marguerite-D’Youville, whether in summer or winter, is through the Pavillon de l’île. The site is open year round, from sunrise to sunset. Trails are available to hikers and snowshoers. However, going off trail or bringing dogs or other domestic animals is not allowed.
Une aire de jeux pour les enfants est accessible au secteur Le Grillon.
Les modules de jeux peuvent être occupés durant votre visite au refuge faunique.
Île Saint-Bernard
480, boulevard D’Youville
Châteauguay, Québec J6J 5T9
General Information
450 698-3133
info@heritagestbernard.qc.ca
Protection of personal information
Nadine Lelièvre
vieprivee@heritagestbernard.qc.ca