Run by the Macle family since 1976, the father, mother, daughter and son-in-law team have created a diversified agrotourism experience with a specialized focus on educational programs for schoolchildren. They welcome anywhere between 12,000 to 15,000 students to their workshops every year.
We participated in the the guided bee keeping tour. They run 3 per day and attendance is limited to a first come first served basis. They recommend for you to show up 30 minutes before the tour starts. Due to physical distancing measures, each household is kept in their own "bubble" where there's designated seating in each area for each household. Also note to go to the bathroom before you get there because they only have a porta-potty outside.
The tour starts with an intro by the owner, Mme Macle. Then a short video and then the beekeeper who guides the tour gives an overview of the tour.
You'll visit the first room with a hanging glass observation hive where busy little bees are doing their thing. See them buzzing at work while learning the bee basics. Then the beekeeper will take you to the patio surrounding the garden area to see her smoke and open a beehive. You'll get to see a live hive up close behind the safety of the screen surrounding the patio.
You'll head over to see how honey is extracted using a centrifuge, have a honey taste test and learn about the different bee products. Want more taste testing? Well the next place is the distillery and you'll be served up samples of each of the product lines. Taste the different meads, maple liquor, and a unique honey gin.
The tour ends in the shop where you can test (again) each of the products and find pretty gift ideas. Here's a tip, honey that's slightly crystalized (which is perfectly natural) is sold at a discounted price $5 per 500ml and $9 per 1L on the shelf near the cash.
There's everything from soaps, alcohols, honeycomb, honey jars, honey accessories. Perfect place to hunt for unique gift items from Quebec. You can also picnic on the lawn.
Overall, a lovely little family and friends outing just a short drive from Montreal. read more