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A self-guided city tour of the sites of interest is a good way to get an idea of the attractions of La Tuque. Here is the suggested route by car or bicycle:
1. Barrage de La Tuque, from the belvedere on rue Beaumont. View of the dam and the steep cliffs of the river, below the dam.
2. Quai de La Tuque on Montcalm Street. Launching ramp. View of Gilbert Island. Starting point for the "Mauricie International Canoe Classic" (La Tuque-Trois-Rivières).
3. La Tuque Golf & Curling Club, at 35 rue Beaumont.
4. La Tuque Airport, at 1249 boul. Ducharme.
5. Octane Parc, on boul. Industrial.
6. Chutes-de-la-Petite-Rivière-Bostonnais Park.
7. Lake Wayagamac. A heronry (bird colony) is established on Steamboat Island, located in the center of the lake. This lake also serves as a water intake for the municipal aqueduct of La Tuque. Stop at the Wayagamac dam.
8. Municipal ski center, at 700 rue Desbiens.
9. Camping La Tuque, 1 street from the river. Superbly landscaped municipal campsite.
10. Marina du club nautique latuquois, at 12, rue Bostonnais.
11. Hydrobase de La Tuque, chemin Fitzpatrick.
12. Deveriche trails. The route consists of taking rue Bourassa (northbound), and crossing the metal bridge (narrow with only one lane) spanning the Saint-Maurice, 1 km upstream from the La Tuque dam. On this bridge the view is bucolic on the boreal forest near the mouth of the Lait river (tributary of the west bank). Then follow the Saint-Maurice River via Bourassa Street to the Deveriche stream which merges with the Saint-Maurice River, downstream from Gilbert Island.
13. Parc du lac Saint-Louis, at 320, rue de la Plage. This water park includes Lake Saint-Louis and the Sakihikan Center (Native Friendship Center) of La Tuque offering a complete immersion in the life of the Native people.
Falls-of-the-Petite-Rivière-Bostonnais Park
Regional park. See the 30-m waterfalls. Walk to the observation tower to take a look at the panorama of the Saint-Maurice River. Kids' playground.
Three Sisters Park
11 km of trails with a difference in height of 280 m. Linear municipal park on the west bank of the Saint-Maurice river, facing the hamlet of Carignan, south of the village of La Tuque. Campsite at Lake Bédard. A shuttle service is available to cross the Saint-Maurice River at: +1-819-523-8134 (by reservation).
Saint-Louis Park
Municipal aquatic park with Lake Saint-Louis and the Sakihikan Centre (La Tuque Native Friendship Center (CAALT)) offering a complete immersion in the life of the Native people. Park with mature trees, decorative fountains and a water fountain in the centre of Lake Saint-Louis. This park offers the public many services and activities, including rental of nautical equipment and changing rooms, swimming on a supervised beach, walking, picnic and rest areas. Floating docks are placed on the lake. The park is a natural amphitheatre and a place of large gatherings (e.g., National Aboriginal Day and National Day of Quebec). The site was redeveloped in 2018. The lake was seeded in 2015.
Built in 1930, the Saint-Zéphirin church is the work of architect Heldwige Laberge, who applied a mid-Renaissance, half-Roman style. In 1944, under the direction of parish priest Louis Caron, artist Albert Gilles carried out the interior decoration. Over a period of 14 years, he made the brass inside and was responsible for the stained glass windows made by Maison Maumejean in Paris. Entrance doors, adorned with embossed copper, weigh ½ ton each. In 1958, the factory repaired the facade of the church. Following the 1961 fire, marble was added to the walls and a mural by Walter Del Mistro. Stations of the Cross were made of embossed copper on a background of eggshells crushed into pieces. In 1962, the Parish Factory purchased a new organ from Casavant Frères limited in Saint-Hyacinthe. The organ has 4230 pipes. It is a French and neo-classical harmonization of 52 stops, with an electro-pneumatic type mechanism.
Félix-Leclerc Cultural Complex
Cultural complex administered by the La Tuque Arts and Culture Development Corporation. Building with six rooms including four workshop rooms; these rooms are available for conferences, training, meetings of organized groups. The program of shows is posted on the website of the cultural complex.
Gouin Dam
River infrastructure that created the Gouin reservoir. The RO-450 forest road which runs along the west bank of the Wabano River passes at the top of the La Loutre dam; a branch of this road makes a detour to the north-west to pass at the top of the Gouin dam. The centenary of this last dam was celebrated in 2018.