Ange and her family: coffee, apples and alpacas at Cap-Saint-Ignace

It’s amazing how a café can revitalize the heart of a village! I’m always delighted to see this when we stop for a bite to eat at Babel Café in Cap-Saint-Ignace. Cyclists drop in to relax, students meet to chat, locals mingle with passing tourists… it’s a sight to behold! The old presbytery has been given a new lease on life, a vast, bright space with the delicious aroma of coffee, of course.

There’s also a comforting soup of the day, succulent grilled cheeses, muffins, scones, brownies made with love, and newly, on Saturdays, good homemade Neapolitan-style pizzas. We enjoyed a little of all this, accompanied by a latté, chai tea (extra cinnamon!) and creamy hot chocolates for the kids.

Local producers are given pride of place, and the building is also home to the inspiring online and local market La chèvre et le chou, which shares this mission. The place is both soothing and lively! It’s the perfect stopover for autumn or winter escapades, because Babel café is open year-round (a rarity in the area). A short stroll down the main street also brought us across some charming, well-maintained ancestral homes that add a touch of cachet to the village.

Next, why not extend your visit to Cap-Saint-Ignace by taking a country lane to one of its orchards. We were spoilt for choice, as this is an apple destination par excellence. We were attracted by the idea of picking not only apples, but also pears, plums and berries, which was on offer at Vergers du Cap. Pick-your-own is a seasonal staple, a family treat that’s renewed every autumn. Verger du Cap stands out for its certified organic production. The view of the fruit-laden trees, with the mountains in the distance, was superb!