What to See in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu - Top Sights and Attractions

History museum in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Fort Saint-Jean is a fort in the Canadian province of Quebec located on the Richelieu River. The fort was first built in 1666 by soldiers of the Carignan-Salières Regiment of France who had travelled to New France to assist the young colony. It was part of a series of forts built along the Richelieu River. Over the years, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times, but it is, after Quebec City, the military site that has been occupied non-stop for the longest time in Canada. The fort is designated as a National Historic Site of Canada, and it currently houses the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. The fort has been continually occupied since 1748, and is the core from which the city of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec grew around. Fort Saint-Jean played a crucial role in the British defense strategy during the 1775 American invasion of the Province of Quebec.^[2]

Historical landmark in Chambly, Québec. The Chambly Canal is a National Historic Site of Canada in the Province of Quebec, running along the Richelieu River past Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Carignan, and Chambly. Building commenced in 1831 and the canal opened in 1843. It served as a major commercial route during a time of heightened trade between the United States and Canada. Trade dwindled after World War I, and as of the 1970s, traffic has been replaced by recreational vessels.

It is part of a waterway that connects the Saint Lawrence River with the Hudson River in the United States. Lake Champlain and the Champlain Canal form the U.S. portion of the Lakes to Locks Passage.

The Canal has 10 bridges—8 of which are hand operated—and nine hydraulic locks.

• Draft: 6.5 ft (1.98 m)
• Clearance: 29 ft (8.84 m)
• Canal Length: 20 km (12 mi)
• Dimensions of smallest lock: 110 ft × 21 ft (33.53 m × 6.40 m)
• Passage time: 3 to 5 hours

The Général-Jean-Victor-Allard Building is part of the 2nd Division Support Group Saint-Jean Garrison in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. It hosts the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, which is the main location for basic recruit and officer training for the CAF. It is composed of three sectors: Orange, used as the main working body of the building; Green Sector, used as residence to house the Non-Commissioned Member Recruits and Blue Sector, which houses the Officer Cadets. Other notable areas inside of the Mega include the O'Mega Mess, the Patriot Club.

The building is named for General Jean Victor Allard, the first French-Canadian to become a Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest position in the Canadian Forces. He was also the first to hold the accompanying rank of (full, four-leaf) general.^[5]