Things to Do in Buckingham, Gatineau

Atmosphere

Buckingham is half stubbornly local, half gently gentrifying: teens still cruise Main while new microbreweries pour maple stouts beside lifers nursing Molson Export.

Price Level

$$

Safety

excellent

Parc Roger-Gauvin

At the riverfront park, dawn mist lifts off the Lièvre and old-timers flick lines from the wooden dock. Cottonwood drifts like summer snow while kids cannonball inside the faded orange buoys.

Tip: Pack a picnic blanket for Friday-night outdoor movies on the community-center wall—locals start claiming turf at 6pm sharp.

Cabane à Sucre Chez Ti-Oui

Cabane Chez Ti-Oui has run since 1926; maple steam rolls from the evaporator house and tire-d’érable is pulled in fresh snow. The sweet scent finds you a kilometer before the tin roof comes into view.

Tip: Reserve the 9am slot during maple season—you’ll catch the first boil and dodge the tour-bus crush.

Buckingham Covered Market

The Saturday farmers market fills the 1912 brick hall: Mennonite bakers sell crusty sourdough next to Québécois grandmothers with jars of cloudberry jam, while fiddle music bounces off the tin ceiling.

Tip: Track down Sylvain’s rear-corner booth—his maple-smoked trout is gone by 10:30am.

Lièvre River Trail

A 12-km riverside trail runs past abandoned mill stones being swallowed by sumac and birch. Gravel crunches underfoot; kingfishers spear minnows in the shallows.

Tip: Begin at the old train station—free bikes are chained to the rack, honor-system box attached.

Église St-Grégoire-de-Nazianze

The 1893 stone church still rings the Angelus at noon, bronze notes rolling over town. Inside, lemon-oiled pews carry decades of incense.

Tip: Volunteers lead informal bell-tower climbs on Wednesday evenings; donations welcome, views reach the Gatineau Hills.

Café Pot-au-feu

Québécois bistro

Specialty: Tourtière with cranberry chutney and maple-glazed pork belly sandwich

Pho Saigon

Vietnamese

Specialty: Brisket pho with tendon, extra cilantro on Rue Principale

Boulangerie Notre-Dame

Portuguese bakery

Specialty: Fresh malasadas rolled in cinnamon sugar, sells out by 11am

Le Buck

Microbrewery

Specialty: Maple-infused stout and duck-fat popcorn

Cantine Chez Gérard

Greasy spoon

Specialty: Poutine with squeaky cheese curds from Fromagerie Montebello

Bar Le Vieux-Buck

The town’s social hub where aluminum-siding crews argue over Labatt 50 and the bartender calls every patron ‘mon beau’.

Lifelong locals, cheap draft, live country Fridays

Microbrasserie Buckingham

A former car dealership now serves small-batch beers while kids toss cornhole and couples split wood-fired pizzas.

Young families, craft beer flights, food trucks Thursday nights

Café Morgane

The lone late-night espresso bar where students highlight textbooks and musicians pack Tuesday open-mic.

University crowd, indie playlists, board games