Messines, Quebec: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Messines is a lake-country municipality in Quebec’s Outaouais, in the heart of the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau. It sits between route 105, Blue Sea Lake and the Cedar Lakes area, giving travellers a practical base for boating, camping, forest trails and quiet vacation roads south of Maniwaki.
How Messines Started
The municipal history traces the beginning to 1850, when Pierre Guertin, identified as one of Jos Montferrand’s lieutenants, settled in Upper Gatineau in the area still known as Val-Guertin. At the time, the area belonged to the Township of Bouchette and was known as the Burbidge sector, a name linked to George Wheelock Burbidge.
Messines became a separate municipality in 1921. Its name refers to the Belgian village of Messines, or Mesen in Dutch, where Canadians fought during the First World War. The Commission de toponymie notes that the spelling was long recorded as Messine, without the final s, before being corrected in 1986. That naming story gives the community a war-memory origin that is easy to miss when arriving for the lakes.
What Messines Is Like Today
Messines had 1,655 residents in the 2021 census. The municipality describes itself as one of the larger communities in the Gatineau Valley, about 115 km north of Ottawa and about 20 km south of Maniwaki. Its area is more than 108 square kilometres, and water covers a major part of the visitor experience.
The official site says Messines offers access to Blue Sea Lake and many other water bodies, including Petit lac des Cèdres, Grand lac des Cèdres and lac Grenon. It also notes that SOPFEU’s southwestern Quebec control centre operates from the Maniwaki regional airport area in Messines, a reminder that forest monitoring and lake recreation share the same landscape.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Boat access is one of the clearest reasons to stop. The municipality lists public launches on its three main lakes: Blue Sea Lake, Petit lac des Cèdres and Grand lac des Cèdres. The launch information is practical, so check it before arriving with a trailer.
The Cedar Lakes recreational trails add a year-round non-motorized option. The municipality says the trails run for 17 km along Petit and Grand Lacs des Cèdres, are marked and safe, and are used for hiking and snowshoeing, with winter cross-country skiing on some routes. Dry toilets, picnic tables, shelters, bridges and boardwalks are part of the trail infrastructure.
For a slower visit, use Messines as a lake-and-forest pause: a morning on the trail, a picnic near a launch, a look at the village core and a drive toward Blue Sea Lake or lac Grenon when camping or public access is open.
Quick Facts
- Province: Quebec
- Region: Outaouais
- Municipality type: Municipality
- 2021 census population: 1,655
- Official website: https://www.messines.ca
- Main travel areas: Blue Sea Lake, Petit lac des Cèdres, Grand lac des Cèdres, lac Grenon, public boat launches and Cedar Lakes recreational trails
- Key routes: route 105, local lake roads and Vallée-de-la-Gatineau approaches toward Maniwaki
Travel Notes
Check current launch rules, parking, washrooms and water conditions before hauling a boat. Lake access can be busy in summer and more limited outside the main vacation season.
The Cedar Lakes trails work in more than one season, but snowshoeing, skiing, wet spring conditions and hunting periods can change how a short outing feels. Confirm the trail page and municipal notices before leaving route 105.