Knowlton

Knowlton is the main village of Lac-Brome, settled by Loyalists from the 1790s and built up in the nineteenth century in painted clapboard and brick, with a preserved main street of shops and a Victorian theatre. Duck farming began here in 1912 with birds descended from Chinese Pekin stock, and Brome Lake Ducks became a Canadian brand; the village holds a duck festival each autumn and the bird appears on most menus. The Brome County Historical Museum holds an unusual item: a Fokker D.VII, one of a small number of surviving first world war German fighters, in a building of its own.

What you actually see

• The Fokker D.VII - a surviving first world war German fighter in the museum.
• The Loyalist streets - painted clapboard and brick from the 1800s.
• The duck farm history - the birds bred here since 1912 and the autumn festival.
• The lake - Lac-Brome with a shore road and beaches.

When to go

June to October; the duck festival runs over autumn weekends and the colour season peaks in early October. Winter is quiet with some closures.

Honest expectations

The village is small and the visit short. The museum keeps limited seasonal hours. Prices in the shops and restaurants are high.

Nearby

Mont-Orford lies east; Montreal is northwest.