From Wikitravel

Rouyn-Noranda [1] is located in Abitibi (the official name of the administrative region is Abitibi-Témiscamingue), in the province of Quebec, in Canada.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 3 Get around 4 See 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out

Understand

Boasting around 40 000 inhabitants, the town is really the fusion of two cities, Rouyn and Noranda. The fusion occurred in 1986 and further smaller towns and villages were incoropated into Rouyn-Noranda during the municipal fusions set forth under the PQ government.

Get in

By Plane: The Rouyn-Noranda airport (Airport code YUY) is a small single runway airport located 15 minutes east of the City on the way to Val-d'or. Flights connect every day to Val-d'Or and Montreal.

By Car: From Montreal, taking Freeway 15North will take you directly to Rouyn-Noranda. Don't be surprised as the road becomes highway 117, part of the transcanadian highway. You will remain on that road for most of the 6 hour drive. There are several towns along the way where to stop for food. Don't expect a high culinary experience during the trip. If at all possible, you should try to avoid the overpriced and generally not so great food at the Domaîne in the Parc de la Vérendrye (one of Quebec's national/provincial park or Réserve Faunique).

By Bus: 3 busses depart daily from Montreal's Station Centrale on Maisonneuve Street. The trip takes 8 to 9 hours depending on the departure time (some busses stop in nearly every town over 200 inhabitants along the way) and generally stops for a half hour or so in Grand-Remous where you can eat. It is recommended to cross the street and eat in a restaurant different then the one where the bus stops at.

By Train: Trains leave from Montreal's Gare Centrale at the Windsor Station. The trip is much longer, although much more scenic. During the summer months, you can expect delays as some travellers might stop, literally, in the middle of nowhere and unload canoes and food for an outdoor adventure.

Get around

Driving in a small town in northern Quebec is fairly easy. The streets are wide, parking is normally available anywhere and at anytime. Driving is often quite practical as the city bus system, although generally well suited to the needs of the locals, is not so great for tourists. The bus system has three lines, two of which only run every 2 hours off-hours. It also only runs during the week and during normal store opening hours.

Cycling is probably one of the easiest way to get around the city. You can ride anywhere in Rouyn-Noranda. It is quite safe given the width of the streets and the sparsity of traffic. Several bike paths have been built, some around the Lac Osisko, which borders the downtown area.

In the winter, snow paths are built within the city and it is possible to get around town with a snowmobile.

See

Several festivals take place:

• La fête d'hiver
• Festival de musique émergente
• Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
• Festival du DocuMenteur de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue
• Nez à nez

Buy

Eat

• La Muse Gueule (Abstracto)
• Café Bistro Chez Bob
• Crêpe Chignon
• La Semence (shop)

In any case, you should try the Poutine. The best poutine in Rouyn-Noranda (and,as the sign says, presumably the best poutine in the world) can be eaten at "Chez Morasse" on the corner of 9th and Murdoch street. It is particularly appreciated on friday and saturday nights at 3am when bars close and all the young people meet there for a late night snack. You should expect to wait 10-15 minutes at that time, and sometimes during lunch and dinner hours.

Drink

Given its size, Rouyn-Noranda has quite a few bars, coffee shops and pubs to choose from, many of them located in the Rouyn downtown area, which spans Perreault Street, Main Street (Rue Principale) and Gamble Street. Several smaller joints will be located on the adjacent streets.

• L'Abstracto, Perreault Street (They also serve food during the day. If anything, you must try their Que Pasa)
• Le Cabaret de la dernière chance, 7ième Rue (in old Noranda)

Sleep

Get out

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