Today, wellness tourism is taking a new twist and carving out its own niche market. Although spa vacations continue to be in vogue, the growing travel trend is a vacation that focuses on total wellness that combines mind, body, and spirit.<\/p>\n
(Clockwise from top left). Entrance to Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines. Striped bass, grilled peppers puree, tomato carpaccio and herb salad, Photo: Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines. Exterior of Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines. Photo: C. Worthington. Yoga class, Photo: Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines<\/p><\/div>\n
Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines<\/h4>\n
Enter Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines<\/a>, located in the heart of Quebec City, Canada, which has had its roots in healing for almost 400 years. And now, this nonprofit monastery, which has benefited from $42 million in restoration, has opened its doors to the public.<\/p>\n The monastery now functions as a nondenominational wellness center. There, travelers can have unique experiences in holistic health, combined with restorative stays in a destination that\u2019s mission is also to preserve its heritage.<\/p>\n This is not a spa. There are no beauty treatments like hair styling or manicures. It is not a religious retreat. Rather, the focus is on wellness in the setting of a historic monastery that has been respectfully restored, blending original buildings harmoniously with new additions and welcomes all travelers.<\/p>\n [awesome-gallery id=6536] Back in the day. Photo: Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines<\/p><\/p>\n The story of Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines began on August 1, 1639, with three young sisters, or canonesses<\/em>, from the Augustinian order\u2014a Catholic religious order devoted to the care of the sick and needy. The three young women traveled by boat from their monastery in Dieppe, France, a port on the English Channel in Normandy, to Quebec City, which had been founded by the French explorer Samuel Champlain only 31 years earlier.<\/p>\n Imagine the scene that they saw with a population of around only 350 settlers. The three\u2014Marie Guenet de Saint-Ignace, Marie Forestier de Saint-Bonaventure, and Anne Le Cointre de Saint-Bernard\u2014set about helping the poor and sick, caring for the body and soul, and also established the first site located in Sillery, which was Canada\u2019s first Indian reservation.<\/p>\n There, the three sisters founded what was to be the first hospital on the continent, north of Mexico. Unfortunately, five years later in 1644, they were forced to move their site to the town of Quebec after numerous attacks by Iroquois Indians.<\/p>\n Later, in 1693, a new hospital, H\u00f4pital-G\u00e9n\u00e9ral de Qu\u00e9bec, was built and run by four canonesses<\/em>. The monastery began there in 1709 and was cloistered until 1965. Over the years, the Augustinian Sisters order founded 12 hospitals that became the foundation of healthcare in Quebec.<\/p>\n Modern day visionaries. Augustinian Sisters walking in garden of the monastery Hotel-Dieu de Quebec. Photo: Valerie Busque, courtesy of Le Monastere des Augustines Les Archives<\/p><\/div>\n Today, 10 sisters remain at Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines. Just as their sisters before them, they have a vision for the future: to pass on their heritage to future generations by opening the doors of their home to the public as a special wellness destination.<\/p>\n The monastery offers two types of rooms: 33 \u201cauthentic rooms restored in the spirit of monasticism\u201d and 32 totally redesigned rooms with a contemporary feel. You can experience an antique decorated \u201ccell\u201d with a shared bath, if you would like. Or enjoy the modern private room with a king or queen bed. All beds are ultra-comfortable.<\/p>\n [awesome-gallery id=6826] (Clockwise from top left) Yoga class. Restaurant serving healthy and creative recipes. Interior view of hallway. Photos:\u00a0Le Monastere des Augustines. Dessert sampled at lunch. Photo: C. Worthington<\/p><\/p>\n During your stay, you can try all the programs available, such as massage, reflexology, posture alignment, or essentrics, which includes aerobic type, Tai Chi, Pilates, or yoga.<\/p>\n A massage is a must. The monastery\u2019s staff is extremely capable and professional, making you feel as if you\u2019ve died and gone to heaven.<\/p>\n In the spirit of promoting tranquility and relaxation, guests are encouraged to unplug while within the monastery\u2019s confines.<\/p>\n Breakfast is, in fact, held in silence. No one speaks, other than a few giggles, and everyone enjoys the solitude as they get ready for their days. The morning ritual is held, they say, to be \u201cin harmony with the site\u2019s historic vocation.\u201d If you are not a talkative morning person, you will love this.<\/p>\n The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The emphasis is on fresh, local, and healthy cuisine with gluten-free and vegetarian options. Don\u2019t worry, you can have wine and beer from the selection of local products.<\/p>\n A visit to Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines is a unique opportunity to refresh your engine and to experience the six values of the community: hospitality, compassion, interiority, humility, respect, and generosity.<\/p>\n Le Monast\u00e8re des Augustines<\/a>\nMAIN ENTRANCE\n77, rue des Remparts\nPEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE\n32, rue Charlevoix\nQu\u00e9bec (Qu\u00e9bec) G1R 0C3 Canada<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City. Photo: C. Worthington<\/p><\/div>\n There is no better way to get the lay of the land than from finding a really interesting local guide.\n[awesome-gallery id=6834] Tour guides like David Mendel bring history alive with stops such as The Seminary of Quebec, Chateau Frontenac and more. Photo: C. Worthington<\/p><\/p>\n Meet David Mendel, author of several books on Quebec (Mendel Guides<\/em>), lecturer, and guide. He will make the history of the city come alive through his lively lectures and tours.<\/p>\n Visites Mendel<\/a>\n418-580-6662<\/p>\n Ile d’Orleans view from Cassis Monna & Filles deck. Photo: C. Worthington<\/p><\/div>\n Take a three-mile drive over to \u00cele d’Orl\u00e9ans, or Orleans Island, crossing the \u00cele d’Orl\u00e9ans bridge, for a sensational view of Quebec City. This quasi-rural island with a population today of 40,000 was treasured by Indians who went to camp and fish there calling it the Enchanted Island. Jacques Cartier explored the island first in 1535, naming it \u00cele de Bascuz (Bacchus Island) because of the enormous number of wild grapes that grew there. There are six villages there, all of which have a \u201cSt.\u201d in them\u2014Saint-Fran\u00e7ois, Saint-Jean, Saint-Pierre, Sainte-Famille, Saint-Laurent and Sainte-P\u00e9tronille\u2014and are waiting for your exploration.<\/p>\n Vincent Paris welcomes everyone to la Confiturerie Tigidou<\/p><\/div>\n You\u2019ve been to wine bars, craft beer halls, but what about a jam bar?<\/p>\n For a unique experience, visit la Confiturerie Tigidou, a small, boutique jam producer with a jam bar that\u2019s located in Saint-Jean-de-l’\u00cele-d’Orl\u00e9ans. We\u2019re told that the name means \u201ceverything is fine\u201d by Vincent Paris who greeted us in his jam-making attire, which gave him the appearance of a cross between Philadelphia Eagle quarterback Carson Wentz and a vest-clad, bearded Johnny Depp.<\/p>\n Paris, with his winning smile, invites us into his jam boutique that he runs with his wife, Trudel. There is so much candy for the eyes before you even begin to learn about their jam-making prowess. There are hanging lamps made from jam jars, antique wooden shaker chairs hanging from the walls, old hand-hewn beams, and assorted vintage tables with miscellaneous chairs waiting for jam tasters.<\/p>\n The couple, \u00cele d’Orl\u00e9ans natives, are creative foodies and call themselves sorcerers. \u201cJam is not rocket science, but jams of sorcerers, that\u2019s tigidou!\u201d is written on their website.<\/p>\n [awesome-gallery id=6842] (Clockwise from top left)Inside the jam boutique with eclectic decor. A selection of Confiturerie Tigidou’s jams. Vincent Paris, Carolyn Worthington and Trudel Paris. The meaning of Tigidou. Photos: C. Worthington<\/p><\/p>\n The name, Tigidou, the owners say, stems from a pop culture expression, \u201cC\u2019est tigidou,\u201d which roughly translates as \u201cit\u2019s all good\u201d or \u201cgood job!\u201d For the couple, the name serves as a mantra of presenting the best-quality jams while also sharing their love of the land and desire to keep their heritage alive.<\/p>\n The jam boutique is housed in a 200-year-old barn that has transitioned from a retirement home, into a print shop, and into a carpentry shop. The couple certainly had the vision and talent to restore the barn into its new life, which also serves as an Airbnb for eight to 12 people.<\/p>\n Your visit will include a jam tasting and also an opportunity to learn about la Confiturerie Tigidou\u2019s educational garden and see its museum.<\/p>\n The jams are delicious while being very creative through the experimental efforts of the couple who combine different fruit varieties with herbs such as basil and strawberry, sage and blueberry, and also coriander and raspberry.<\/p>\n Some of our favorites were the perfect pairings and taste sensations of blueberry maple, sucre \u00e0 la cr\u00e8me, and strawberry basil.<\/p>\n La Confiturerie Tigidou is definitely a special stop not to be missed while visiting Quebec City.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll probably want to load up on jars of jam, but if you don\u2019t want to carry the jars home, you can order online: Confiturerie-Tigidou.myshopify.com.<\/a><\/p>\n La Confiturerie Tigidou<\/strong>\n5508 Chemin Royal\nSaint-Jean-de-l’\u00cele-d’Orl\u00e9ans,\nQC G0A 3W0, Canada\nTigidou.ca<\/a><\/p>\n Cassis Monna & Filles kir on the deck<\/p><\/div>\n So rightfully claims the Monna family on its website for Cassis Monna & Filles, a fifth-generation business boasting a winery, gourmet product boutique, restaurant, and dairy bar. The underlying theme: the fragrant blackcurrant.<\/p>\n Blackcurrants are not to be confused with blackberries. Blackcurrants are more like blueberries in shape while blackberries resemble raspberries.<\/p>\n The Monna story began in 1872 with the founding of a distillery of fine wines and spirits by Louis Monna in H\u00e9rault, France. His son, Emile, went on to create Source Monnaguette, creating specialty alcohol and lemonades.<\/p>\n Fourth-generation Bernard Monna came to \u00cele d’Orl\u00e9ans in the early 1970s where he discovered an ideal climate for growing blackcurrants\u2014damp, rich soil near the river, devoid of much of the spring frost.<\/p>\n Today, Bernard Monna is passing along his expertise to his two daughters, Catherine and Anne, who have worked in the family business for 15-some years. The entrepreneurial daughters are putting their creative touches to everything from the La Monnaguette restaurant on a terrace overlooking the river, to the Dairy Bar that serves 18 amazing flavors of gelato and sorbets. Blackcurrant-vanilla softie their most popular summer favorite.<\/p>\n [awesome-gallery id=6850] (Clockwise from top left)\u00a0Daughters added their creative touch to the winery with a purple-toned mural of their father. Steps leading up to restaurant decorated with names of the families children. Blackcurrant plant on display. Picnic area for visitors.<\/p><\/p>\n The young women\u2019s touches can be seen in the distillery with fanciful painting on the cement wall and distillery barrels that are painted pink.<\/p>\n The blackcurrant makes not only an extraordinary wine and aperitif, known as cassis<\/em>, but it is also touted for its health benefits. Blackcurrants are rich sources of vitamin C (three times more than in oranges and twice as much as in kiwis); rich in vitamins B6, B9, and E; Calcium; iron; potassium; and fiber. They are moderately sweet.<\/p>\n Be sure to make time to have lunch on the beautiful terrace overlooking the river and to stroll through the \u201cecomusuem\u201d and gift shop.<\/p>\n Cassis Monna & Filles<\/strong>\nCassisMonna.com<\/a>\n1225 Chemin Royal\nSaint-Pierre-de-l’\u00cele-d’Orl\u00e9ans\nQC G0A 4E0<\/p>\n Zip line at Le Parc de la Chute-Montmorency<\/p><\/div>\n Zip Line at Le Parc de la Chute-Montmorency<\/a><\/strong>\nPerched at the top of the cliff, near the panoramic staircase, the zip line lets two people simultaneously cross the cove of the falls, some 272 feet high (98 feet higher than Niagara Falls), almost 1,000 feet across. Just make sure that you get a good start on the zip line, so you don\u2019t stall in the middle as we saw one person do!<\/p>\n For the faint at heart, you can take the cable car up to the top of the falls, watch, and then walk down. No matter what route you choose, you will be rewarded with a quintessential breath-taking view!<\/p>\n The park is perfect for bike rides, hiking, or picnicking. Open year-round, there isn\u2019t a fee to enter the park, but there is one for the cable car and zip lining.<\/p>\n Le Parc de la Chute-Montmorency<\/strong>\nSepaq.com\/ct\/pcm<\/a>\n5300 Boulevard Sainte-Anne\nVille de Quebec, QC G1C 1S1<\/p>\n Breakfast Recommendation:<\/strong> Restaurant la B\u00fbche<\/a><\/p>\n What would a visit to Quebec City be without a taste of maple syrup? Head over to Restaurant la B\u00fbche for an authentic, hearty Quebec breakfast in a sugar shack-style restaurant.<\/p>\n Try the cr\u00eapes sucr\u00e9es, caramel de suc\u2019 \u00e0 cr\u00e8me avec bleuets frais<\/em> (sweet crepes with caramel and blueberries); pains dor\u00e9s, pommes caram\u00e9lis\u00e9es<\/em> (French toast with maple caramelized apples); or Grandpa\u2019s Oatmeal with almond milk, fresh fruit, caramelized apples, chia seeds, grilled almonds and of course, maple syrup!<\/p>\n Restaurant la B\u00fbche<\/strong>\n49, Rue Saint-Louis,\nQuebec, G1R 3Z2\n418-694-7272<\/p>\n Dinner Recommendation:<\/strong> Le Graffiti<\/a><\/p>\n Warm and inviting, Chef Yannick Fortin offers authentic French and Italian cuisine with a creative flair. Located on the trendy Avenue Cartier, the restaurant is the perfect location for lunch or dinner after visiting galleries and shops.<\/p>\n Try the tuna tartare and tataki or the trio of salmon tartare as an appetizer, the pan-fried veal sweetbreads, or the Graffiti veal scaloppini.<\/p>\n Le Graffiti<\/strong>\nRestaurantGraffiti.com\/en<\/a>\n1191, Avenue Cartier,\nQuebec, G1R 2S9\n418-640-5802\nInfo@RestaurantGraffiti.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nearly 400 years in the making: A wellness + preservation model for the world<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6395,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[83,85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fall-2017","category-fall-2017-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6311"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7135,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6311\/revisions\/7135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Wellness Story Began Almost Four Centuries Ago<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Busque_Augustines_2014-750.jpg\")
<\/a>A Heavenly Stay<\/h4>\n
Rejuvenation Programs<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/chateau-frontenac-cw-DSC_8323.-750w.jpg\")
<\/a>Side Trips to Take While in Quebec City<\/h3>\n
Walking Tour of Quebec City With a Professional Guide<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/view-from-lunch-deck-DSC_8490.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00cele d’Orl\u00e9ans<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/DSC_8416.jpg-jam-maker-exterior-750w.jpg\")
<\/a>La Confiturerie Tigidou<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/DSC_8471.jpg-cassis-750w.jpg\")
<\/a>Cassis Monna & Filles<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/casis-sisters-DSC_8484.-450h.jpg\")
<\/a>Blackcurrant, an astonishing fruit, a family affair \u2026<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/DSC_8505.jpg-zip-line-zoom-in-750.jpg\")
<\/a>