Ange and her family enjoy a January weekend in L’Islet

L’Islet may be a destination we associate with its riverfront in the summer, but it’s also a place to discover all year round! We fell under its spell in the middle of January, when we had the chance to stay in the brand new Poulailler, a pavilion of the Auberge des Glacis.

The kindness of the attentive owners is matched only by the beauty of their five-hectare estate. A stretch of forest with a magnificent emerald-coloured river running through it, two kilometres of forest trails, a belvedere where you can look down to the river and the Laurentian mountains in the distance.

In the heart of this bountiful natural setting is a superb old flour mill that has been home to the Auberge des Glacis (a renowned gourmet restaurant) and its “poulailler” for over 30 years. The name is a reference to the building’s original purpose, which was to house chickens and then the owners’ family home, before it was recently rented out as a fully-equipped chalet. What a great way to spend a family getaway!

The place is very comfortable, welcoming and soothing, as well as being freshly renovated. The children were delighted to discover the bunk bed, and we were delighted to see the large table perfect for hearty meals and board games. After an expedition into the surrounding forest where we had the magical feeling of being the first to set foot in the newly fallen snow, we lounged in the hot tub (and even took a snow bath!), before warming up inside by the log fire.

Then, to take it easy for a while longer, we opted for a pizza dinner in our pyjamas! The Porto Bellissimo pizzeria is just ten minutes from the auberge, so we enjoyed delicious pizzas revisited with the flavour of the place (the ‘Porto Bellissimo’ is with smoked sturgeon, mmm!).

Please note that the auberge was exceptionally closed when we visited, but you can also order directly from their gourmet menu, and the kitchen in the pavilion is perfectly equipped for concocting tasty meals on the spot.