Forges du Saint-Maurice — Francheville's Lost Secret
Uncover the sabotage conspiracy that doomed New France's first ironworks. Decipher clues from 1730 forges ruins to expose the traitor who hid Francheville's final blueprint and almost altered colonial history.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1730, François Poulin de Francheville ignited Canada's first industrial fire at Forges du Saint-Maurice, forging iron for cannons, anchors, and the backbone of New France
Forges du Saint-Maurice — Francheville's Lost Secret
You are François Poulin de Francheville, lord and founder of the Forges du Saint-Maurice, in 1730.
Your mission: thwart the plots threatening your pioneering enterprise,
Delve into New France's industrial epic, tracing the buried secrets of the Forges du Saint-Maurice in Trois-Rivières.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins at Place Pierre-Boucher, at the foot of the Monument erected in 1925 to commemorate Pierre Boucher, governor of Trois-Rivières from 1622 to 1717. The 4-meter bronze statue, a work by Alfred La Liberté, was inaugurated on June 24, 1925, marking the city's 250th anniversary. Here, the first clues related to the establishment of the Forges du Saint-Maurice in 1730 are revealed, inviting you to follow in the footsteps of those who shaped Quebec's heritage.
Continue to the Manoir de Tonnancour, a 2-story, 18-room stone building constructed around 1690-1720 by Intendant Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Pétre and classified as a historic monument in 1969. Although the manor was linked to the Tonnancour family from 1817 and used as a presbytery until 1958, its restoration in 1984 to become an art museum attests to the persistence of Trois-Rivières' cultural heritage, a place of exchange and decision-making that influenced the region's industrial development.
Your journey then takes you to the Cathédrale de l'Assomption, consecrated in 1856. Rebuilt after the 1852 fire, its neoclassical style and 69-meter bell tower dominate the Trois-Rivières landscape. The facade adorned with Ionic columns and the interior decorated with frescoes by Napoléon Bourassa in 1886, recall the city's importance as the seat of the bishopric since 1852. This site, classified as a heritage building in 1987, is a landmark for understanding the social evolution that accompanied Canada's industrial revolution.
The Parc Portuaire, developed along the Saint-Maurice River and inaugurated in 2000, offers a 2-hectare area with docks and walking trails. Since the 17th century, it has been a vantage point for observing the maritime activities that supplied the Forges du Saint-Maurice. The Maison Hertel-De La Fresnière, built in 1734 by Joseph Hertel de La Fresnière and classified as a historic monument in 1973, is another milestone. This 2-story stone seigneurial residence, restored in 1980, represents the New France families who were key players in the local economy and the development of Boulevard des Forges.
Your exploration of Quebec heritage finally leads you to Boulevard des Forges, the main artery named after the Forges du Saint-Maurice established in 1730. This 10 km road, developed in the 19th century, connected downtown to the Forges-du-Saint-Maurice National Historic Site. These forges, Canada's first ironworks complex, operated until 1883. The site, recognized as a national historic site in 1973 after archaeological excavations, retains vestiges such as a 15 m chimney. You have uncovered Francheville's lost secret, understanding how Trois-Rivières became a pillar of Canadian history, the birthplace of Canada's first iron industry in 1730.
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
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Practical info
Why this route?
America's first industry
Discover the Saint-Maurice Forges, the New World's first iron complex
Cannons against the English
Following French armament during the Seven Years' War
Metallurgical secrets
Uncover the secret techniques of New France's forge masters
In the flames of Saint-Maurice
French industry challenges the British Empire
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01What's the difference with a regular indoor escape room?
Outdoor escape game format: no physical locks, no actor, no fixed time slot. You start when you want, progress through Downtown Trois-Rivières with your phone, and the city itself is the set. More immersive on local history, more flexible in pace.
Q02How long does it take to finish Forges du Saint-Maurice — Francheville's Lost Secret?
Plan 1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. Some finish in 1 h 10, others take 3 h in slow-mode. No pressure: the clock only counts for the leaderboard, you play at your tempo.
Q03Do we need to be several people to enjoy it?
No, solo works very well. The outdoor escape game format in self-guided mode leaves room for introspection: read the story at your pace, hunt clues like a detective. 2-6 players is more social, solo is more contemplative.
Q04Is Forges du Saint-Maurice — Francheville's Lost Secret stroller-accessible?
Depends on the exact route in Downtown Trois-Rivières. The vast majority of stops are downtown, on sidewalks or squares. If a stair or narrow passage is involved, it's flagged on the product page. Generally: yes, doable with a standard urban stroller.
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Delve into New France's industrial epic, tracing the buried secrets of the Forges du Saint-Maurice in Trois-Rivières.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
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