Cheese trail · Eastern Townships, Quebec
Cheese in the Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships (Cantons-de-l'Est) have two easy, year-round cheese stops: the monks' shop at the Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, open daily, and Fromagerie La Station in Compton, with a free self-guided museum and tastings from 9:30 to 17:00. The Route des fromages Estrie circuit links five more makers.
- Route des fromages circuit
- Estrie
- Year-round stops
- Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, La Station, Missiska
- From Montreal
- About 1 hour 30 minutes by car
Saint-Benoît-du-Lac and Compton
Start at the abbey on Lake Memphremagog for its blues and Fontina, then drive about 40 minutes east to La Station in Compton, an organic farm with a window onto the make room and grilled cheese on the terrace. Both have their own pages with hours and prices.
Other Cheesemakers
Fromagerie Nouvelle France, Racine
A family farm making sheep's milk cheeses such as Zacharie Cloutier and La Madelaine, plus sheep's yogurt and lamb, at 158 route 222. The shop also sells local products and wool blankets from the flock. Phone 450 532-2483.
Fromagerie Missiska, Bedford
Cheddar, curds and the soft Jersey Royal from the farm's own Jersey cows, with a view of the production rooms. The Bedford shop at 100 rue Wheeler opens daily, 9:00 to 17:00 (18:00 on Fridays). A second shop near Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu opens Thursday to Sunday.
Fromagerie Le Campagnard, Richmond
Curds, block cheese, cheese in whey and unsalted cheese sold direct at 394 rue Craig.
Fromagerie Les Broussailles, Martinville
An organic goat farm and cheesemaker with a farm shop open from May to December, at 341 chemin Loignon.
Laiterie de Coaticook
A family dairy since 1940, better known for ice cream than cheese, though it makes cheddar, curds and goat cheese. Its dairy bar in Coaticook is a summer stop for families.
La Fromagerie Gourmande, Bromont
A restaurant built around cheese, at 52 boulevard de Bromont.
Planning a Day
Magog, Sherbrooke and North Hatley make good bases. Summer and early autumn are best: the abbey orchards open for picking from the Labour Day weekend to Thanksgiving, the cows at La Station are out to pasture from mid-May to mid-October, and seasonal farm shops such as Les Broussailles keep shorter hours in winter.
Cheeses to Taste Here
More in Canada
All of Canada
Oxford County Cheese Trail
Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada
Thirty-plus stops in Ontario dairy country, centred on the Ingersoll Cheese Museum.
Ingersoll Cheese Museum
Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada
A re-created 19th-century cheese factory, open all year by donation.
Quebec Cheese Route
Quebec, Canada
Fifteen regional circuits and more than 70 cheesemakers, relaunched in 2026.
Fromagerie St-Albert
St-Albert, Ontario, Canada
Free observation gallery over the curd and cheddar factory, east of Ottawa.
Wellesley Apple Butter & Cheese Festival
Wellesley, Ontario, Canada
A free one-day village festival on the last Saturday of September since 1975.
Next: 25 Sep 2027 (expected)Great Canadian Cheese Festival
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Canadian cheesemakers from coast to coast under one roof each June.
Questions People Ask
Is there a cheese route in the Eastern Townships?
Yes. The province-wide Route des fromages has an Estrie circuit linking Le Campagnard, Nouvelle France, La Station, Laiterie de Coaticook and Les Broussailles. Saint-Benoît-du-Lac is on its Montérégie Ouest circuit.
Which Eastern Townships cheesemakers are open in winter?
The abbey shop at Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Fromagerie La Station and Missiska in Bedford all open year-round. Les Broussailles' farm shop closes from January to April.
Official site: routedesfromages.com/les-routes/estrie. Dates, hours and prices checked 22 October 2026; confirm on the official site before you travel. See all cheese trails.