Practical information
Where is Val-d’Or located?
Val-d’Or serves as the gateway to Abitibi-Témiscamingue when coming from Montréal via Route 117. The city sits in the southeastern part of the region.
Can I tour a mine in Val-d’Or?
Yes, you can. During the summer, you can visit the Cité de l’Or, which offers several guided tours per day. The rest of the year, tours are available upon reservation for groups of 10 people or more. Visit the Cité de l’Or’s webpage for more information.
You can also get a bird’s-eye view of the Canadian Malartic Mine, the largest open-pit gold mine in Canada. Head to the Malartic lookout on Rue de la Paix, right across from the Musée minéralogique de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue. It’s well worth the detour!
When can I visit the Village minier de Bourlamaque?
The Village minier de Bourlamaque is accessible year-round. This historic village is still inhabited today, so you can walk through it freely and free of charge at any time of the year. Several interpretive panels are placed throughout the village streets, giving you a glimpse into local history. We’ve marked the locations of these panels on our tourist map, available at our tourist information office or online in our Brochures section.
Where can I park my RV overnight in Val-d’Or?
Val-d’Or has two RV parking areas. For a small fee, you can park at the Cité de l’Or or the Forêt récréative.
RVs are also welcome to park behind the tourist information office (1070 3rd Avenue East) free of charge for one night. And you’re welcome to use our WiFi. Just let us know you’re there.
Lastly, you can also choose to stay in one of our campgrounds.
Where are the bike paths in Val-d’Or?
Val-d’Or’s territory includes more than 50 kilometres of bike paths. Some run through the forest on crushed stone surfaces, others are paved, and some share roadways. Check out Val-d’Or’s recreational trail map to see the full cycling network.
Can I rent a bike in Val-d’Or?
Yes, you can. Bikes and fat bikes are available for rent at the Forêt récréative de Val-d’Or and at Vélo Cyclo Pro.
What’s the best time of year to visit Val-d’Or?
You can visit Val-d’Or year-round, but if you want to experience as many attractions as possible, we recommend visiting during the summer, which runs from June 24 to September 1. Most tourist attractions are open Wednesday through Sunday.
What is the best time to see the northern lights in Abitibi-Témiscamingue?
Northern lights are a rare phenomenon. You can see some in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, but several conditions need to come together for that to happen: skies must be clear and free of light pollution from nearby towns. According to research, the best time to view northern lights is from September to March, between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. That said, Abitibi-Témiscamingue isn’t the most favourable location to view northern lights, with most of the best places for northern lights in Canada located along the 60th parallel (according to the same study). That corresponds to the James Bay area, with the Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay regions typically offering even better viewing conditions.
Newcomers
Do you have a list of rentals available in Val-d’Or?
No. Unfortunately, we’re not able to keep an up-to-date directory of available rentals in Val-d’Or. That said, we recommend looking for rentals on Facebook pages such as À louer à Val-d’Or, Logements à louer à Val-d’Or, or even on Marketplace.
Do you have a list of job openings in Val-d’Or?
No, we do not maintain a list of job openings. We do recommend, however, contacting the local employment centre services:
Val-d’Or’s Services Québec office
186 Perreault Avenue,
Val-d’Or, J9P 2H5
819-354-4842
www.localisateur.servicesquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en
or
Le Carrefour jeunesse-emploi d’Abitibi-Est
186 3rd Avenue,
Val-d’Or, J9P 1S3
819-825-5627
www.cjeae.qc.ca