Notre-Dame-du-Laus, Quebec: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Notre-Dame-du-Laus is a Lièvre River municipality in Quebec’s Laurentides, south of Mont-Laurier and close to the Poisson Blanc reservoir. Travellers usually come for water, forest and cottage country, but the village has its own story: a former fur-trade place, a parish name from the 1870s and a municipal identity shaped by lakes, roads and outdoor access.
The first planning choice is simple: decide whether the stop is a village visit, a Poisson Blanc outing or a longer wildlife-reserve trip.
How Notre-Dame-du-Laus Started
The Commission de toponymie records a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post here between 1820 and 1849, at the outlet of Lac des Sables on the Lièvre River. That location made sense before modern roads because the water route connected the upper Lièvre and Gatineau country to trade, travel and supplies.
The parish name Notre-Dame-du-Laus was in use by 1873. Municipal government began in 1876 as the united township municipality of Bigelow-Wells-Blake-et-McGill, and the post office opened in 1878 under the Notre-Dame-du-Laus name. In February 1946, the municipality adopted its current name.
The name refers to Notre-Dame-du-Laus in the French Alps, but the community’s growth was local and practical: river access, forest work, parish organization, cottages, hunting, fishing and later outdoor tourism.
What Notre-Dame-du-Laus Is Like Today
Notre-Dame-du-Laus had 1,730 residents in the 2021 census. Its year-round population is modest, but the municipality serves many cottages, outfitters, campgrounds and water-based visitors. The result is a village-and-reservoir rhythm: municipal services in town, then a much larger recreational landscape beyond it.
Parc régional du Poisson Blanc is the major visitor anchor. The park describes an 85-square-kilometre reservoir with about a hundred islands, bookable island campsites, cabins, hiking, watercraft rentals and winter activities. The park also points visitors back to the village information bureau at 168, rue Principale for regional orientation.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Use the village for supplies and information before heading to the water. Poisson Blanc rewards planning: campsites, cabins, boat rentals, launch points, weather and the return distance all affect the day.
The park itself is suited to canoeing, kayaking, hiking, island camping, picnicking, fishing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing when conditions and seasons allow. South and east of the village, the wider Papineau-Labelle wildlife reserve area adds fishing, hunting, camping and forest-road travel through Sépaq.
For a shorter visit, stay close to the Lièvre River, Lac des Sables and the village services. That keeps the day grounded in Notre-Dame-du-Laus instead of turning it into a rushed reservoir run.
Quick Facts
- Province: Quebec
- Region: Laurentides
- Municipality type: Municipality
- 2021 census population: 1,730
- Official website: https://notredamedulaus.ca/
- Local anchors: Lièvre River, Lac des Sables, Poisson Blanc reservoir and village information bureau
Travel Notes
Book Poisson Blanc campsites, cabins or watercraft before peak-season travel. Bring food, fuel, drinking water, weather layers and a daylight plan if you will be on the reservoir.
Cell coverage can be uneven away from the village. Wind, storms and distance matter on large water, and winter access depends on current trail, road and park conditions. Confirm launch points, parking and return logistics before leaving the village.