Romantic Train Journey Through Charlevoix Offers Autumn Foliage and Maple Flavors

To fully enjoy the scenery of Charlevoix, Quebec, there is a "romantic train" that operates only once a day. The Train de Charlevoix, which runs along the Saint Lawrence River from Quebec City to La Malbaie, is a tourist train that operates seasonally from spring to autumn.

A 4-and-a-half-hour train journey with autumn foliage views

Traveling on the Train de Charlevoix to the final destination of La Malbaie takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes one way. Round-trip tickets cost about 300,000 won per person, and travelers can choose between river views or mountain views during the reservation process. Selecting the river view incurs an additional cost of approximately 40,000 won per person.

While no separate in-flight meal service is provided on the train, there is a service where ordered snacks are delivered directly to the seats. During the journey, the cast enjoyed ham and cheese along with bread prepared the previous day with maple syrup. In particular, the combination of eating maple syrup with cheese added to the enjoyment of the train journey amidst the scenery.

The history of Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, a luxury hotel built in 1899

La Malbaie, reached at the end of the long train journey, is a small city with a population of approximately 8,000, where the Saint Lawrence River meets the mountains, making it a popular destination for autumn foliage travelers. The representative attraction here is the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, a luxury resort built in 1899 by a shipping company for steamship travelers.

The mansion suffered the hardship of being completely destroyed by fire in the 1920s, but it was rebuilt in its current form one year later and has operated as a luxury hotel ever since. As of weekends in October, the cheapest rooms are priced at approximately 500,000 won, while suites are around 1.3 million won.

Dining on the most beautiful terrace in Charlevoix

Even without staying at the hotel, there is a spot to enjoy the panoramic view of La Malbaie. The restaurant located in the hotel's golf course clubhouse operates only during the annual golf season, but it boasts wide-open views worthy of the description "the most beautiful terrace in Charlevoix."

From the terrace, one can take in a single view of the green golf course, the mountains covered in autumn colors, and the endless Saint Lawrence River. The maple butter crepe offered here features the characteristic aroma of maple. Notably, the syrup poured over the crepe hardens slightly, providing a crispy texture similar to the sugar layer of a crème brûlée when bitten.

Source: JTBC Entertainment (YouTube)