Maison de l'Arbre

At the maison de l'Arbre is where you’ll find the welcome centre for the Sentier poétique (The Poets’ Way). There’s a small café here that offers local fare.

The architect of this building, Jean Mailhot,  used real trees to hold it up.

What species of tree were used in the construction of the Maison de l’Arbre?

Poplar, cedar, maple, white and yellow birch, beech, cherry and fir.

Behind the Maison de l’Arbre you’ll find a plaque to commemorate the visit of Alphonse Desjardins. M. Desjardins was the creator of the Credit Union model of banking (caisse populaire).
He came here when the village was called Paquetteville (Now its full name is Saint Venant-de-Paquette).

What date did Mr. Desjardins visit here?

September 1st, 1907.

From the Maison de l’Arbre you can follow the Sentier Poétique (The Poets’ Way).

As you follow this path through a lovely garden and into entrancing woodlands, you’ll come across representative works of some of the major poets of Québec. Notice a sculpture, the work of Roger Nadeau, one of two entitled Gardiens du village (Guardians of the Village).