Mont-Saint-Bruno Provincial Park | |
---|---|
Location | Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec, Canada |
Nearest city | Montreal |
Coordinates | 45°33′N 73°19′W / 45.550°N 73.317°W[1] |
Area | 8.84 km2 (3.41 sq mi) |
Established | 1985 |
Visitors | 750,000[2] |
Governing body | Société des établissements de plein air du Québec |
www | |
Mont-Saint-Bruno Provincial Park (French: Parc Provincial du Mont-Saint-Bruno) is a small national park of Quebec located near the municipality of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the east of Montréal on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River. The park, with an area of 8.84 square kilometres (3.41 sq mi), notably includes Mont Saint-Bruno, one of the Monteregian Hills which peaks at 218 metres (715 ft). The mountain is shared with the Ski Mont Saint-Bruno ski resort, a quarry and a small Canadian Forces (5th GSS) training camp. Despite its relatively small size, the mountain is known for its rich fauna and flora. Situated at the heart of the old signory of Montarville, its many lakes have permitted the construction and exploitation of many water mills, contributing to the region's economical success. A building from one of those mills, the "Vieux Moulin" (Old Mill), still stands to this day and is used as a rest area for skiers and hikers in different seasons.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the mountain became a luxury resort and a sought-after area for the food needs of various religious communities. One of those communities, the Brothers of Christian Instruction of St Gabriel, went as far as building a school and an arboretum for the benefit of the neighboring population. In 1976, the Government of Quebec acquired part of the mountain. It established a park in 1985 that, since 1999, is managed by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SÉPAQ).
The park sees approximately 750,000 visitors yearly, where hiking, cross-country skiing and alpine skiing are amongst the most popular activities enjoyed.