Located in Orford, Domaine Mi-clos offers an exquisite natural environment in the heart of the Eastern Townships, 1.5 hours from downtown Montreal, 25 minutes from Sherbrooke, and 2 hours from Quebec City.
Situated on 40 acres of private land, the Mi-clos domes face the Parc national du Mont-Orford, offering breathtaking views of the mountain range. The estate features a small vineyard in the making (it will be a few years before the vines reach the maturity required to produce grapes), a centuries-old forest, and gardens for vegetables and medicinal plants. As part of our care for the environment, all our new buildings have been designed with the local economy in mind, and we ensure that materials are reused and last as long as possible.
“As the owners of the site, we really want to do everything we can to preserve this place, which in our eyes is exceptional, because of the view, of course, but also because of all the plants and wildlife it shelters. For example, we wait until the end of mating season to mow the meadow so that the birds can nest. We planted our gardens with permaculture in mind—we don’t use pesticides, and all the trees and flowers planted around the domes come from elsewhere on our land. We’ve simply transplanted them.”
—Donat and Lavinia
By creating living spaces that are in harmony with the landscape, we have sought to reduce our ecological footprint with buildings designed to reduce water and non-renewable energy consumption. For example, decks, furniture, and interior finishes are made entirely from Quebec timber. Fences and wood sheds were built using scrap lumber and dead cedar trunks found in our forest. Glass comes from the old glass panels of a local hockey arena (hence the occasional puck mark!) The rocks, earth, and sand used for the landscaping were extracted from the soil on our property. By using natural, recycled, and local materials, we aim to limit our ecological footprint as much as possible.
The Parc national du Mont-Orford, a neighbour of Domaine Mi-clos, is part of the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve. An area for observing and protecting the starry sky, this large-scale public space aims to reduce light pollution for scientific, educational, and cultural purposes. Facing due west, the Mi-clos domes are perfectly positioned for admiring the constellations, shooting stars, aurora borealis, and other major astral phenomena that the international reserve makes visible.
Our 25 acres of forest are criss-crossed by streams and natural ponds, offering guests the opportunity to observe a rich variety of plants and wildlife. Every major bird and mammal in southern Quebec can be found here: bears, moose, deer, coyotes, geese, great horned owls, herons, and more. Waking up to birdsong and falling asleep to coyotes and owls is not just a poetic idea at Mi-clos but a daily reality.