Notre-Dame-des-Monts, Quebec: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Notre-Dame-des-Monts is a mountain municipality in Quebec’s Charlevoix region, west of La Malbaie between Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs and Saint-Hilarion. It is a compact inland Charlevoix stop shaped by high Laurentian peaks, rural roads, forest, VTT routes and views toward the Gros Mont area.
The draw is the setting. Notre-Dame-des-Monts is not a waterfront Charlevoix village; it is part of the upland backcountry where the mountains become the story.
How Notre-Dame-des-Monts Started
The Commission de toponymie explains that the municipality’s name comes from the mountains that surround it. Those summits are among the higher elevations in the southern Canadian Shield, and include La Noyée, Montagne du Petit Lac and Montagne de Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
The municipal territory was first known as the township municipality of De Sales, created in 1935. The De Sales name came from the township, proclaimed in 1868, and honoured a member of the De Sales Laterrière family.
The name changed to Notre-Dame-des-Monts in 1948, matching the parish that had been canonically erected in 1947. The community grew as an inland Charlevoix settlement rather than a St. Lawrence shoreline town, which explains its road pattern and mountain-focused identity.
What Notre-Dame-des-Monts Is Like Today
Notre-Dame-des-Monts had 789 residents in the 2021 census. The municipal website presents the community through its mountain setting, forest air, Gros Mont scenery, picnic possibilities and VTT riding.
The village is small, but the setting is immediate. Hills rise close to homes and farms, and roads lead toward outdoor areas, forest tracks and views rather than large commercial strips.
A recent local planning document identifies public recreation assets such as the municipal park at the end of Rue de l’Horizon, the municipal terrain on Rue du Jardin and a village history interpretation site. Those are modest in scale, but they give visitors public places to ground a short stop.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Use the village as an inland Charlevoix pause. Walk or drive the public roads around the village centre, then look for signed park or interpretation areas rather than wandering onto private land.
The Gros Mont area is part of the local image promoted by the municipality. If planning a hike, picnic or VTT outing, confirm legal access, trail status and seasonal conditions first.
Mont des Morios trails in the broader area are a larger outdoor draw, generally associated with the Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs side of Charlevoix. They can extend the day, but keep Notre-Dame-des-Monts itself focused on the village, views and public facilities.
La Malbaie, Saint-Hilarion and Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs provide larger services nearby. Notre-Dame-des-Monts is best visited with fuel and food already planned.
Quick Facts
- Province: Quebec
- Region: Charlevoix
- Municipality type: Municipality
- 2021 census population: 789
- Official website: https://www.notredamedesmonts.com
- Main travel themes: Charlevoix uplands, Gros Mont views, municipal parks, village history interpretation, VTT and rural mountain roads
- Key routes: Local roads between Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs, Saint-Hilarion and La Malbaie
Travel Notes
Check municipal notices and trail status before using recreation areas. Mountain weather, snow, thaw and private-property boundaries can change what is practical.
Winter driving requires attention. Inland Charlevoix roads can be very different from the St. Lawrence shoreline on the same day.