Quebec- Louise Penny Book Launch
October 25-27, 2024
Award-winning Canadian author Louise Penny will be releasing her latest novel, The Grey Wolf, this fall. To celebrate this exciting event, Travac has arranged to attend a special book launch with Louise Penny in the Eastern Townships. As one of the mystery genre’s all-time greats, tickets to Penny’s book signings are highly coveted and difficult to obtain. Travac has secured a limited number of seats for this special event which includes a signed copy of the new book. Also included are some of the attractions from our exceptionally popular “On the Trail of Louise Penny” tour: a lunch at Sapin Bistro; a visit to the Abbaye de St Benoit; a visit to the Louise Penny corner at Brome Lake Books; a wine tasting; and a visit to Sutton. Demand for places on this tour will be very high- early booking is your only guarantee. Travac cannot obtain more seats for this event.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
This morning, we will leave Ottawa and make our way towards the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Our first stop will be at Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre where you will enjoy a full high tea experience. This is a tradition Louise and Armand would no doubt appreciate. Housed in a Neo-Georgian residence built in 1862, Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre is a non-profit organization devoted to the preservation, the support, and diffusion of the cultural and heritage traditions of the Eastern Townships. This beautiful centre is a favourite of many in the region. After tea, we will depart Uplands and head towards Magog where we will visit an award-winning winery known for its sparkling wines.
Day 2
We will begin our day in Sherbrooke with a guided tour of the town and its famous murals. We will then depart Uplands and head to Knowlton, a town known to Penny for its pastoral beauty and the inspiration for Three Pines in her books. We will stop by the Brome County Historical Society Museum where you will see “Jane’s Painting” from Still Life. We will then enjoy a fabulous lunch before heading to Knowlton for the special Louise Penny book launch event. During this event you will have the opportunity to hear from Louise Penny herself and even receive a copy of her new book.
Day 3
Our final day begins with a journey to Sutton. On our way, we will stop at Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac. This abbey was the inspiration for Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups Abbey in A Beautiful Mystery. The abbey itself has a history that dates back to 1912. At the time of its construction, it was rather isolated, but in an incredibly beautiful locale. The Benedictine monks of the Saint-Benoit-du-Lac abbey are famous for and have been making cheeses since 1943. You will have the chance to tour the abbey and to purchase some of this incredible cheese. Leaving the abbey, we will continue on to Sutton. Before we bid farewell to the world of Three Pines, you will also have a chance to visit the delicatessen (La Rumeur Affamée) on which Sarah’s Boulangerie was based.
We hope you will enjoy this tour into the world created by Louise Penny in her many Three Pines novels.
Itinerary subject to change.