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flag  History of Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada

Journey back in time to Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada

Visit Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and ancestry.

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Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada - Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada - Église de Saint-Michel 105, rue Principale, Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, QUÉBEC Established 1678 Source: wikipedia

Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse: Located along the Saint Lawrence River in Chaudière-Appalaches, this picturesque village is part of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec.

Today, there are well-preserved houses dating from the 19th century. These houses, despite their diversity of styles and the addition of complementary colors, remained 85% white and this is a unique phenomenon in Quebec. This is what has allowed Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse to be listed among the most beautiful villages in Quebec, as a "white village".

At the heart of the village is the parish church with its "Napoleon Déry" organ and its presbytery dating from 1739. The Notre-Dame de Lourdes place of pilgrimage, the presbytery (one of the oldest in America) and the chapel dedicated to Saint -Anne are worth seeing. Small streets adjacent to the main street lead to the small marina or marina from where one can follow, according to the tides, the comings and goings of sailboats and, offshore, large ships. Visiting here, you can stroll the pier and enjoy the picnic areas and the beach. The heritage circuit of the Bellechasse coast allows visitors to discover points of interest highlighting the heritage, landscapes and characters of local history in three ways.
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There is MUCH more to discover about Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada. Read on!

Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards

Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada - Église de Saint-Michel
105, rue Principale, Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, QUÉBEC
Established 1678
Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada

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Église de Saint-Michel
105, rue Principale, Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, QUÉBEC
Established 1678
Source: wikipedia
Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada -
Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada

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Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada - Presbytere de St-Michel
Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Québec, Canada

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Presbytere de St-Michel

Discover Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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1672
The modern history of Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse begins in 1672, when the seigniory of Durantaye was granted to Olivier Morel de La Durantaye, officer of the Carignan-Sallières regiment and commander of Fort Michilimackinak in the Great Lakes region. The seigniory then includes the territories of the current municipalities of La Durantaye, Saint-Michel and Saint-Vallier, as well as the northern part of the municipality of Saint-Raphaël (at the height of chemin Sainte-Catherine where it crosses the Rivière du Sud ). Over the years, the territory of the seigniory was enlarged and reduced in turn, before being split into two parts. It changed hands many times and was enriched by a population from Acadia, fleeing deportation through the woods.
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1678 - Église de Saint-Michel established at Saint-Michel
It was in 1678 that a first parish was erected by Bishop Laval on this territory. It was missionaries attached to the Séminaire de Québec who roamed this vast territory at the time and acted as itinerant parish priests in the absence of any chapel or presbytery. Traveling through these lands was not an easy undertaking at the time. Indeed, small rivers that flow into the river were not provided with bridges and in 1759 the Boyer River was still crossed by "canoe at high tide and on horseback or by car at low tide". It is also the absence of bridges that led Bishop Saint-Vallier to create new parishes from the territory of the first parish, which was too vast.
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1754
It was in 1754 that the government of New France authorized the creation of a first town in Bellechasse, but only the limits were drawn, because settlement did not begin until the dawn of the 19th century.
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In the census of 1815, there are twelve houses around the church.

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In 1830, there were around thirty houses there.

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1832 - ST. MICHEL,
seigniory, in the co. of Bellechasse, is bounded N.E. by La Valliere; S.W. by Beaumont; in the rear by St. Gervais; in front by the South Channel of the St. Lawrence. - This seigniory and that of St. Valliere have been formed out of the seigniory of Durantaye and its augmentation. About one half of the seigniory of St. Michel, extending along the river, forms the parish of St. Michel; the other half, being the N. end of the seigniory, forms a part of the parish of St. Gervais...

The Parish of St. Michel extends over the half of the seigniory fronting the St. Lawrence; it is 1 1/ 2 league in width, and 2 leagues in depth. The farms in this parish are generally 3 arpents in front by 40 in depth. Correctly speaking, there are no large proprietors, for the individuals, who sometimes acquire the property of their neighbours or other properties in the parish, purchase them for the sake of settling their children and not with a view of farming on a larger scale; these acquisitions,... Read MORE...

In 1851, there were more than a hundred people living there.

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In 1854, the seigneurial regime was abolished to make way for the municipalities. Thus the municipality of Saint-Michel was born, which was chosen as the capital of the county of Bellechasse.

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1873
ST. MICHEL, a post village of Quebec, capital of the co. of Bellechasse, on the S. shore of the St. Lawrence, and on the G. T. R., 16 miles below Quebec. It contains, besides the county buildings, a church, convent, college, tannery, saw mill, and several stores, and has a large lumber trade. Pop. 700.
Lovell's gazetteer of British North America; J. Lovell; Montreal, 1873
1890 - St Michel
St Michel. vil., Quebec, chef-lieu of co. Bellechasse, on S. bank of R. St Lawrence. 21 m. by rail E. of Point Levis. P. of sub-dist. 2,099.
The Pocket Atlas and Gazetteer of the Dominion of Canada
John George Bartholomew John Murdoch Harper January 1, 1890 London : J. Walker
1895 - Saint Michel
Saint Michel, a post-village of Quebec, capital of the co. of Bellechasse, on the S. shore of the St. Lawrence, and on the Grand Trunk Railway, 16 miles be low Quebec. It contains the county buildings, a church, convent, college, tannery, saw-mill, and several stores, and has a large lumber-trade. Pop. 700.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
1906
Saint Michel, a post-village of Bellechasse co., Quebec, on the S. shore of the St. Lawrence and on the Intercolonial R., 16 miles below Quebec. It has religious and collegiate institutions and a lumber-trade.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906
In 1923, electricity made its appearance there.

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2023 - Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse has something to offer everyone. Here's a list of places to go and things to do in this lovely part of Quebec:
Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse Church (Église de Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse): Start your visit by exploring the heart of the village, where you'll find the stunning Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse Church. This beautiful place of worship features impressive architecture and serves as a significant cultural and historical landmark.

Le Domaine Forget: Just a short drive from the village, you'll discover Le Domaine Forget, a renowned music and dance academy. Check their schedule for concerts, workshops, and performances featuring talented artists from around the world.

Outdoor Activities: Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse is surrounded by natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Explore the nearby hiking trails, go biking, or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Saint Lawrence River.

Golfing: If you're a golfer, don't miss the chance to play a round at the Club de Golf de Bellechasse. The course offers scenic views and a challenging game for golfers of all ... Read MORE...

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Updated: 2/6/2025 1:10:52 PM