PHOTO: http://www.aubergebaker.com/photo-album/

Fodor's Expert Review Auberge Baker

Name: Auberge Baker
Address: 8790 Chemin Royale, Château-Richer, QC G0A 1N0, Canada
Price range: $$

8790 Chemin Royale, Château-Richer, QC G0A 1N0, Canada

Fodors.com

This hotel is a charming 1840 French-Canadian farmhouse, built by the owners' ancestors, which lies east of Château-Richer toward Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré. Antiques and old-fashioned woodstoves decorate the auberge and dining rooms.

room

Everything is rustic, from the exposed stone walls and wooden rafters to the beds and original, wide-plank wooden floors. The seven rooms are large and some have fireplaces, dormer windows and heritage bedspreads. Two of the rooms are housed in an exterior building.

YOU SHOULD KNOW We heard another guest complain about a lumpy king-sized bed. Ask if your mattress is new.

bathroom

Updated with modern plumbing and comforts, the bathrooms aren’t big, but they’re serviceable.

lobby

Warm and welcoming, the lobby is really the entrance to the house restaurant. It’s fully in keeping with the 19^th century theme.

LOCATION

Getting Around

Only 45-minutes out of Quebec City, this auberge in Beaupré is conveniently located on the way to the region’s two major ski hills. Driving distances are short to sightsee and visit art galleries.

Restaurants

Head to Le Bistro Nordik (15-minute drive), inside Château Mont-Sainte-Anne, for an upscale dinner. Try their Nordik Onion Soup. They have a reasonable fixed-price meal.

Bars

Le Brez (15-minute drive) is a great fondue restaurant, but locals know it’s an even better place to get a drink and mingle.

WHY WE LIKE IT

Think Little House on the Prairie, but comfortable. Oozing with authenticity, this property is a gem. Set far back rom the main highway, at the back end of a large field, it’s quite and quaint. There’s something relaxing about an off-the-beaten-path rustic destination that isn’t trying to get into Architectural Digest.

We love that the auberge’s restaurant draws foodies from Quebec City. Diners and guests can buy homemade jams, bread, pea soup and their signature tourtière meat pies ($21). Ask about whale watching packages, ski packages and more.