Vallée-de-l'Or
Here, it all started with a path
The trail taken by Gabriel Commanda, an Anishinaabe man who lived on this land long before the bulldozers arrived.
In the Footsteps of Gabriel Commanda
His trail is the 3rd Avenue we know today in Val-d’Or. It was there that he guided an American prospector, unknowingly revealing the hidden riches of the soil.
He paved the way to what would become Val-d’Or, the beating heart of the Vallée-de-l’Or.
The Gold Rush in Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Not long after, the Lamaque mine began to shine brighter than all the others.
People arrived from everywhere: from Montreal, Italy, Poland, and corners of Europe where hope was scarce.
We dug, we built, we laughed, we danced. From Bourlamaque to Val-d’Or, the evenings vibrated as much as the drills in the morning. Cinemas, bars and gambling houses sprang up as fast as the mines.
La Vallée-de-l’Or: a territory shaped by its soil
And even though Senneterre existed as a trading post long before the gold rush, it was this richness of the soil that gave rise to an entire valley.
Organized at times, often chaotic, but always full of life.
The Cadillac fault has seen countless dreamers, prospectors, and workers pass through its gates.
Stories from here
that speak to you
The mining heritage is still very much alive today
And even today, some mines are still very much in operation, including Malartic, where one of the largest open-pit gold mines on the continent continues to bring glory to the region.
But here, they know that there’s more to life than just the metal!
In the Vallée-de-l’Or, they transform pebbles into nuggets of ideas.
Today’s entrepreneurs, artists, innovators and builders have kept the fire of those who dug before them.
Their playground is culture, creativity, and innovation, and they’re not lacking in audacity when it comes to showcasing the region. The festivals are bursting with energy, the streets breathe art, and people help each other.
The university proudly features a tipi in its architecture, the Foreurs (a local hockey team) electrify the stands, and nature is never far away, even in the heart of downtown.
Val-d’Or is a proud and authentic city.
No need to choose between nature and the city: we take both and own it. And if we show up at the restaurant in our boots, well… no one will judge. Because here, everyone is equal when it comes to making the Vallée-de-l’Or shine.
Proud of its mining roots, its First Peoples, its immigrants who came to build a new life. Proud of its raw side, its genuine character, its ability to blend dust with light.
Stop by if you have any questions or just want to chat about adventures.
At the tourist information office, we’re pretty good at helping people find their way around.
