A Stay at the Incredible Auberge du Lac Taureau in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Quebec
Auberge du Lac Taureau is a four star resort in Quebec that offers four season fun. It’s the perfect place for lovers of the outdoors who want to take a deep breath, recharge their batteries, and settle their eyes on beautiful views. It’s a Quebec resort that definitely lived up to the hype.
The pond at Auberge du Lac Taureau
Auberge du Lac Taureau, in the Lanaudière Region of Quebec, offers a remarkable playground for travellers who want their trip to be filled with outdoor adventure.
On their site, they note that it’s “known for the exceptional beauty of its lake, its miles of fine sandy beaches, its wide open spaces and log cabin look. Auberge du Lac Taureau awaits you for an active stay in the heart of nature.”
For me, it’s the words “active stay” that perfectly encapsulate why I adored Auberge du Lac Taureau. I’m happiest when I’m moving, and the sheer variety of activities that I could partake in throughout the day made waking up for the day awfully easy. I woke up excited because I know all that my day could and would conceivably entail.
The focus on the outdoors, though, doesn’t get in the way of the rustic luxury that they provide indoors. At Auberge du Lac Taureau, they’ve somehow managed to build a luxury resort that feels like it’s almost one with the natural surroundings. Thanks to the “log cabin aesthetic” It doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb, and in many ways the setup of the property actually allows you to engage more deeply and meaningfully with the natural surroundings.
During my trip to Lanaudière-Mauricie, often known simply as “Québec Authentique,” I spent time in La Mauricie National Park, in cities like Trois-Rivieres, at local wineries and shops such as Vignoble Saint-Gabriel, and more.
But some of my fondest memories from my time in the region are from Auberge du Lac Taureau, and in this article, I’m going to tell you precisely why, and make a point of helping you plan for your own visit here should you be keen to do so.
Please note: This post may contain some affiliate links. That means, simply, that I may get commissions from some of my recommendations. That being said, my opinions are fully my own.
About Auberge du Lac Taureau
I can still remember pulling up to the long, nicely lit elevated walkway that leads to the lobby, and thinking, “oh, I think I’m going to like it here.”
Auberge du Lac Taureau, located about a 15 minute drive northeast of Saint-Michel-des-Saints, is a 4-star resort that makes you feel world’s away from the problems of daily life. Due to it’s relatively secluded location, it’s an easy place to come and disconnect from it all.
It was rather nice o trade the hustle and bustle of city life in Toronto, and to welcome the all encompassing sound of feeling of nature.
Accommodation is quite varied here (and I’ll get into that a little more below), but for now it’s worth noting that there are 177 different units in all and they’re a collection of different kinds of rooms, suites, condos and brand new chalets.
The resort is well known for its access to nature, as I’ve mentioned, but Auberge du Lac Taureau is also very well known for their spa treatments/options, as well as fine dining. I thought the food here was exceptional.
As you might imagine, the experience here is going to be quite different depending on the season. I visited in the fall, for example, but I know that people rave about what it’s like in the winter as well. I’ll go over what activities you can expect to do in different respective seasons if you decide to book a stay at Auberge du Lac Taureau.
Accomodation Options at This Beautiful Quebec Resort
There’s a variety of ways that you can choose to stay at Auberge du Lac Taureau. Below, I’ll give you a brief overview of your options so you can be sure you’d made the right booking choice.
Rooms
The view from my room over the water.
They’ve got over 100 different rooms on offer in 3 different buildings, and you’ll get a view of either the surrounding nature, the pond, or the lake.
Standard Room: A basic room offering a non-guaranteed view, and without a balcony.
Signature Room: A room with a terrace or balcony and views of the pond.
Lake Room: This was the room that I was staying in, and it offers views of the lake (as you would imagine), and surrounding nature.
Dog Friendly Room: It’s a very dog friendly resort, and that applies to the rooms as well. There’s a terrace included for your furry friend.
King Suite: This room is more spacious than the others, and it includes pond views as well as a seating area.
Neurospa Lake Room: King bed, lake views, and a bed equipped with Neurospa sleep technology (which apparently has acoustic oscillators in the mattress).
It should be noted that booking a room (or a stay in a condo or lodge), gives you automatic access to snowshoes, skates and cross-country skiing in winter, canoes, kayaks and pedal boats in summer, the beach and swimming in the immense Lake Taureau, 23 km of hiking trails, and access to Matawinie Regional Park.
In your room, you’ll have free wifi, an HD TV, AC, a mini-fridge, and a Nespresso coffee maker (and same goes for condos).
Condos
If you’re keen for a little more space, then you should consider the condo option at Auberge du Lac Taureau.
Here’s what you can choose from:
Classic Condo: Ideal for up to 6 people, this condo has one bedroom, a studio, and a view of the lake.
Classic Grand Condo: A more spacious 2 bedroom condo with a kitchen and lounge area. Good for up to 8 people.
Royal Condo: If you’re looking for two floors in your condo, then look no further. Here you’ve got 2 closed bedrooms, a kitchen, a lounge area and lake views.
Presidential Condo: This is more a log cabin than anything else, and the cathedral ceilings are magnificent. Up to 8 people would be awfully happy here.
Lodges
These are basically luxurious lakeside cottages, and when I was walking past them, they very much looked like a home away from home.
The rooms have private bathrooms, each lodge has a private whirlpool with six places, a BBQ, a large living room, a full kitchen and dining room, a large outdoor terrace, access to a launching ramp for a boat, and more.
Bedding, towels and dishcloths are included, and you’ve also got a dishwasher and laundry.
You’ve got two options:
The Half-Chalet: This offers you access to 1-2 rooms and up to 8 people. You need to stay a minimum of 2 nights.
The Full-Chalet: The place is yours, and you can enjoy this spot with up to 26 people. Again, it’s a minimum of 2 nights. There are up to 8 rooms that can be used here.
Coolboxes
Finally, for folks who like camping but want a little more comfort, they also offer “coolboxes.” They’re four seasons, and they actually come with a kitchenette.
They have three options.
Regular: Two queen size bunks plus a couch.
Deluxe: Essentially the same as the regular, but there’s not enclosed room and it’s a touch bigger.
Six: This coolbox has two queen size beds, as well as two single beds.
You can check pricing for any of the above here.
Services, Amenities and Activities Offered at Auberge du Lac Taureau
Here’s what is worth knowing and Auberge du Lac Taureau’s service and amenities.
Wellness
The main thing to highlight here are the array of wellness options. There’s an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a selection of hot tubs, as well as saunas. If you’ve been active all morning, then the pool and bath area might be a nice place to spend your evening. This area is open, typically, from 9am to 9:30pm.
Beyond just pools and baths, they also offer a wide variety of massage therapy, body care, and access to Neurospa chairs and beds.
I would also mention here that there are areas to relax and rest all over the grounds of the resort. Some mornings, I would sit on a reclining chair down by the beach, and then in the evening would sit lakeside by a fire and catch the sunset.
Wellness is at the forefront of the experience.
Being Active at the Resort
In the spring and autumn, you can take out a fatbike and rip across the sand and through the forest. This was what I did when I stayed there, and I loved every minute of it. I haven't done it since, but it might be the first thing I do if I get the chance to come on back. Fatbiking is a blast. If fatbiking isn’t your style, you can take to their 23 kilometres of maintained trails on a mountain bike.
If ATVs are more your style, you’ll be happy to know that there are over 500 kilometres of trails available for your to ride. That’s a lot of trails, right?
Naturally, there’s fishing available as well, and this is a favourite family activity. I saw some parents teaching their kids how to fish here, and they seemed to love it.
As you might have gathered, their trail system also lends themselves perfectly to hiking.
In the summer, you can do all that, but you’ll also be able to focus more on the water. You’ll have access to paddle-boards, canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats. A favourite activity among guests is also simply to play on the beach.
A variety of water-crafts are also available for rent if you’re keen to go and set eyes on the almost 50 islands across Lac Taureau.
Tennis and golf are also on offer, but the crown jewel might just be the seaplane, which will allow you to see the resort and the surrounding area from up above. That’s extra, as you might imagine.
In the winter, it’s all about snowmobiling, dog-sledding, fatbiking on the snow, ice-fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating, sledding, sleigh-rides, and even some hockey or broom ball!
The Cuisine at Auberge du Lac Taureau
The cuisine at the Auberge is off-the-charts. It’s spearheaded by Pascal Rouillier, a chef who puts forth innovative cuisine. I also found that the serving staff were exceptional. Everyone I met was extremely kind and knowledgeable.
Restaurant Auberge du Lac Taureau
This is, as they say, where the magic happens. It’s local cuisine at its finest, but also encompasses global trends.
There are over 100 feet of windows across the restaurant, and I’m quite sure the view is always nice, regardless of the season. I also found the dining room to be quite intimate. You can see their menu online, but the one thing I would say is that it’s like worth it to get 3, 4, or 5 course meal here.
Treat yourself!
One night, for example, I had fresh greens from their nearby forests, seared tuna with green valley yogurt tzatziki, slow cooked filet mignon with blue cheese pine nuts and peppers, and an incredible dessert that involved white chocolate and fresh fruit.
Bistro of the Auberge
The Bistro is best known as a spot to get some lunch but, with its fireplace and cozy couches, it’s also a great place to have a beverage or two.
I personally decided to have lunch there one day after a big bike ride, and I treated myself to a delicious poutine. Hey, when in Quebec, right?!
Lac Taureau Awaits!
Just putting this article together has given me the immense urge to head right on back. The fun thing is that there’s really no bad time to go. Auberge du Lac Taureau leans into each of the four seasons. If you come in summer, you’ll be swimming to your heart’s content, but in winter, you might get to do a little ice-fishing then warm up in the hot tub, and park yourself beside a fire afterwards.
All that to say, there’s no right or wrong way to experience this lovely Quebec resort, and no wrong time. How you experience it is up to you, and I hope this article has served you well in understanding why this is a special spot that’s well worth the drive.
I want to humbly thank Lanaudière Mauricie for hosting me as media. All opinions are completely my own.
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