Located at the confluence of the St. Francis and Magog rivers, Sherbrooke, with its irregular topography of plateaus and valleys, is the sixth largest city in Quebec and the capital of the Eastern Townships region. While the Abenakis originally called this site “Big Forks,” the City’s official name came from Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, Governor General of Canada from 1816 to 1818. Sherbrooke is a lively tourist destination where cultural and heritage activities take place in an exceptional natural setting. Domaine Howard in the upscale Old North ward, the Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre, and Bishop’s University’s campus in the Borough of Lennoxville, are tangible signs of the English-speaking community’s significant contribution to the city’s development.
Popular exhibitions at the Musée de la Nature et des Sciences de Sherbrooke (nature and science museum) and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Sherbrooke (museum of fine arts), as well as the many outdoor concerts in the summer, such as those held at the Place Nikitotek, an outdoor covered theatre at the edge of the Magog River, and the majestic Art deco performance hall, the Granada Theatre, invigorate the downtown area, which has an active night life with its bars, microbreweries, and terraces. Theatrical guided tours, 14 outdoor murals, and audio guides, are all unique ways in which to discover Sherbrooke and its residents. Looking to discover the city differently? A volunteer greeter will be happy to guide you and share his or her love for and knowledge of the city with you. Sherbrooke has had a solid culinary reputation for many years, thanks to its renowned chefs and many Chefs Créateurs (creative chef) restaurants; village cafés (identified as Café de Village); the Marché de la Gare public market, which offers an abundance of local products; and the vineyard Halte des Pèlerins, which is on the Route des Vins de l’Estrie wine route.
Unique outdoor activities abound within the city. Options include travelling down one of the three rivers along one of Corridor Bleu’s five routes, exploring one or more of the 14 walking trails, cycling on the 126 km of bike trails, downhill skiing on the mountain, and snow biking in parks offering four routes at levels ranging from introductory to intermediate. A great meeting place in the very heart of the city is a hiking trail leading from Lac des Nations to the Magog River Gorge, and past the Marché de la Gare public market. In the winter, when it is decorated with lights, this pathway takes on an enchanting and magical allure. The city’s many festivals and major sports competitions create a sense of celebration, to the delight of the many hoteliers, innkeepers, and campground managers who welcome tourists with open arms.
http://www.easterntownships.org/city/43025/sherbrooke#sthash.pNSRoefX.dpuf