Town of Brome Lake
Located along the shores of Brome Lake, one of the vestiges of the Champlain Sea, the town enjoys a privileged environment with a view south to the Monts Sutton massif, part of the Appalachian Mountains, a view west to Mount Brome and Iron Hill of the Monteregian chain, and a view east to Mounts Glen and Foster. Several rivers from these mountains flow into Brome Lake which feeds the Yamaska River. The Quilliams marsh and Coldbrook stream further enhance the village of Knowlton.
In 1971 the municipality of Lac Brome merged seven hamlets and villages: Fulford, Bondville, Foster, East Hill, Iron Hill, West Brome (the oldest village) and Knowlton the heart of the area and a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec. Today more than 5,100 ‘franglish’ speaking inhabitants populate the city.
The Town of Brome Lake brings together Victorian style and Loyalist ancestry to the wealth of its building heritage. Among the names from history there is Francis Fulford, William Bennett Bond, Samuel Willard Foster, the Collins brothers, Colonel Paul Holland Knowlton and the Edwards family who have run the memorable general store in West Brome since 1852. The oldest Eastern Townships hotel, the Blinn’s Inn, today Auberge Knowlton, has offered lodging to visitors since 1849.
Built in 1935 the summer theater Brae Manor Playhouse edifies the artistic and cultural reputation of the region with its theater school, one of the largest in Canada. The Lac-Brome museum, the art galleries, farmers market, the various historical tours, festivals, shows and musical evenings are a few more reasons to visit the Town.
Sports and outdoor activities include golf, cycling between the seven villages or around Brome Lake and also canoeing, kayaking and sailing on the lake. In the winter there are a number of nearby ski resorts.
Internationally renowned Brome Lake Ducks, in operation since 1912, the vineyard Domaine Les Brome, country style restaurants, the Café de village and food shops, all contribute to its popularity amongst foodies.
Among the “not-to-be missed” events are the Brome Lake Duck Festival in Knowlton, the Tour du Lac Brome and Brome Fair, an agricultural fair that has drawn crowds since 1856.
