History of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec, Canada

1650 - Shrine Established by Fishermen
The shrine of Sainte Anne de Beaupre is established on the banks of the St. Lawrence River by the French fishermen in gratitude for deliverance from Atlantic storms.

www.many-roads.com/ 2010/ 04/ 20/ a-history-of-french-canada-1650-to-1669/

1657 - Parish Ste. Anne de Beaupre (St. Anne du Petit Cap) established

Guide to Quebec Catholic Parishes and Published Parish Marriage Records, Compiled Jeanne Sauve White

1658 - The basilica in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré was initially a shrine to honour Saint Anne.
On March 8, 1658, a man by the name of Etienne de Lessard donated two frontal acres from the West end of his property to the Catholic Church so that a chapel could be built. This chapel eventually became the site of the modern-day basilica. It was built for two reasons: to provide a place of worship for the new settlers in the area and to house a miraculous statue of St. Anne.
Wikipedia

1658 - On 13 March, 1658, therefore, the missionary, Father Vignal, came to choose the site and to bless the foundation of the proposed chapel which, by general consent, was to be dedicated to St. Anne.
The very day the Saint showed how favourably she viewed the undertaking by healing Louis Guimont, an inhabitant of Beaupré, who suffered terribly from rheumatism of the loins. Full of confidence in St. Anne, he came forward and placed three stones in the foundations of the new building, whereupon he found himself suddenly and completely cured of his ailment.
www.newadvent.org/ cathen/ 01539b.htm

1666 Census - There were 533 people living at the Cote Beaupre

www.canadiangenealogy.net/ chronicles/ new_france.htm

1678 - Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré established at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré

www.gcatholic.org

1698 - October 14 - New France census shows: Ste-Anne de Beaupré with 222 inhabitants

canadachannel.ca/ todayincanadianhistory/ index.php/ October_14

It was on March 3, 1722 that Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré was civilly constituted by an edict from the King of France.

grandquebec.com

In 1831, the school municipality of Les Crans was established there, which closed around the middle of the 20th century.

grandquebec.com

1832 - The Parish of Ste. Anne, Cote de Beaupre,
by a decree of the council of state, Mar. 3, 1722, which confirmed a regulation of Feb. 20, 1721, extends one league in front along the St. Lawrence and is bounded W. by the P. of Chateau Richer and E. by the P. of St. Joachim from which it is separated by the R. Ste. Anne, and stretches to the rear line of the S. - All the lands or farms in this P. were conceded prior to 1759, each extending 3 arpents in front by 1 1/ 2 league in depth, subject to the moderate payment of about 2 livres old currency for each front arpent as a kind of quit-rent.

Population 692
A Topographical Dictionary of The Province of Lower Canada by Joseph Bouchette, Esq., London, 1832

In the middle of the 19th century, steamboats served visitors,
but this means of transport was supplanted by the railway, built in 1889, which now provides transport to the village thanks to the Train de la Bonne Sainte-Anne. In the middle of the 20th century, the little electric train of Sainte-Anne took over.
grandquebec.com

In 1855, the territory was divided into two city councils: the parish municipality of Sainte-Anne and the village municipality of Sainte-Anne.
These met on January 16, 1973 to form a single entity, the current city of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
grandquebec.com

1873
STE. ANNE DE BEAUPRE, a post village in Montmorency co., Que., on the North shore of the St. Lawrence, at the mouth of the River Ste. Anne, 22 miles below Quebec. It contains a Roman Catholic church, and about a dozen stores. There are very picturesque falls near the village. Pop. 300.
Lovell's gazetteer of British North America; J. Lovell; Montreal, 1873

1882-84 - Ste. Anne
...At Ste. Anne, history and tradition blend with the life and manners of today in a most striking way. The first settlers in the Cote de Beaupre built a little church on the bank of the St. Lawrence, and dedicated it to La Bonne Ste. Anne, in memory, no doubt, as Ferland says, of the celebrated pilgrimage of Sainte Anne d'Auray in Bretagne. The bank, however, was carried away by the ice and the floods. So another building was commenced in 1657 upon the site pointed out by M. de Queylus, the Vicar-General, and given by Etienne de Lessard. It was finished in 1660. The Governor, M. d'Argenson, laid the first stone, and the work was done by the pjous labour of the habitants. As one of these, Louis Guimont by name, racked with rheumatism, painfully struggled to place three stones in the foundation, he suddenly found his health restored. Thenceforward, La Bonne Ste. Anne de Beaupre became famous throughout all Canada. Among the pilgrims that flocked to celebrate her fete each year, were... Read MORE...

1895 - Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
Sainte Anne de Beaupré, a post-village in Montmorency co., Quebec, on the N. shore of the St. Lawrence, at the mouth of the Ste. Anne, 22 miles below Quebec. It contains a church and a dozen stores. There are very picturesque falls near the village. , Pop.300.
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
Sainte Anne de Beaupre, a post-village of Montmorency co., Quebec, on the N. shore of the St. Lawrence, at the mouth of the Ste. Anne, 22 miles below Quebec, on the Quebec R. There are very picturesque falls near the village.
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

1922 - FAMOUS SHRINE IN RUINS. BASCILICA OF STE. ANNE DE BEAUPRE DESTROYED BY FIRE BUT STATUE AND HISTORICAL RELICS ARE SAVED.
DAMAGE SET AT $1,200,000

FLAMES BREAK OUT IN SACRISTY, SPREAD TO MONASTERY AND THEN TO BASILICA.

Apparatus Rushed From Quebec Able to Do Little to Check the Blaze -- Brothers Rush Into Blazing Structure to Save Famous Relics -- Scene of Fire Most Famous Mecca of Religious Pilgrims in North America.

Quebec, March 29. -- Fire today destroyed the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Beaupre, famous for its shrine, but the statue of Ste. Anne, with the historical relics to which miraculous cures have been ascribed, were saved.

The flames which started in the sacristy, spread rapidly to the monastery of the Redemptorist Fathers, to whose care the shrine had been entrusted, and then to the Basilica.

Apparatus sent from this city to the most famous mecca of religious pilgrims in North America, was able to do little to check the blaze.
Monastery officials estimated the property damage at $1,200,000. That a greater toll of church relics was not taken was due to the heroic efforts of the... Read MORE...

Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre
Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, Qué, Town, pop 2752 (2001c), 3023 (1996c), 3146 (1991c), 3162 (1986c), area 62.64 km2, inc 1855, located on the north shore of the St Lawrence River 35 km east of Québec City, is known worldwide for its shrine, a pilgrimage site attracting over one million visitors yearly. In 1658 Étienne Lessard, one of the first settlers, ceded some land for the construction of the first wooden chapel dedicated to Ste-Anne, who was especially venerated in New France.

Built too close to the river, it was damaged by the tides and rebuilt in 1661 at the foot of the slope. It was replaced by a stone church in 1676. Enlarged several times, the church welcomed thousands of pilgrims during almost 2 centuries. It was demolished in 1872 and replaced by the first basilica, which was destroyed by fire in 1922.

The present Roman-style basilica dates from 1926. Its treasures include sacred 18th-century vases engraved by, among others, François Ranvoyzé and Laurent Amyot and a large... Read MORE...

2023 - Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré:
Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré: Start your visit with a trip to the famous basilica, a stunning masterpiece of religious architecture. Admire the intricate artwork, sculptures, and stained glass windows that make this church a must-see. Don't forget to light a candle or attend a mass if you're interested.

Mont Sainte-Anne: If you're a nature enthusiast, Mont Sainte-Anne is a paradise for outdoor activities. In the winter, it's a renowned ski resort offering skiing and snowboarding. In the summer, you can hike, mountain bike, or take a scenic gondola ride to enjoy breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River.

Canyon Sainte-Anne: Explore the rugged beauty of the Canyon Sainte-Anne. Walk across suspension bridges that hang high above the rushing river below. The trails offer a fantastic opportunity for hiking and discovering the natural wonders of the area.

Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine: This historic site features a replica of the original chapel that was built in 1658.... Read MORE...