Île d'Orléans

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Île d'Orléans (French for Orleans Island) is located in the Saint Lawrence River about 5 kilometers (3 mi) the east of downtown Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The island was one of the first parts of the province to be colonized by the French, and a large percentage of French Canadians can trace their ancestry to the island. The island has therefore been described as the "microcosm of traditional Quebec and as the birthplace of francophones in America".^[1]

It is accessible from the mainland by ferry from Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse and Quebec City or by the Île d'Orléans Bridge from Beauport. Route 368 is the sole provincial route on the island, which crosses the bridge and circles the perimeter of the island. At the village of Sainte-Pétronille toward the western end of the island there is a viewpoint from which one can see the impressive Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls) as well as a panorama of the St. Lawrence River and Quebec City.

Orleans Island is twinned with Île de Ré in France.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Geopolitical 4 Economy 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Geography

Orleans Island is situated between the Laurentian Plateau or Canadian Shield to the north and the Appalachian Mountains to the south. Its north-eastern point marks the boundary between the St. Lawrence River and its estuary (the largest in the world), where fresh water begins to mix with salt water.^[1]

Of irregular form with jagged coves and capes, Orleans Island is 34 kilometers (21 mi) long and 8 kilometers (5 mi) wide at the widest point. It is 75 kilometers (47 mi) in circumference, with a total surface area of 190 square kilometers (70 sq mi). It has a hilly relief, small valleys, and gradual crests that reach a maximum height of about 150 meters (490 ft) at Sainte-Pétronille and Saint-Laurent in the south.^[2][3]

[edit] History

The island had long been inhabited by the indigenous tribes, and was originally called Minigo (meaning "Enchantress", because of its mysterious charm) by the Huron.^[1] The French explorer Jacques Cartier first set foot on the island in 1535 near what is now the village of Saint-François. He called it Île de Bascuz (from Bacchus) because of the abundance of wild grapes growing on the island. The name was later changed to Île d'Orléans in honour of the second son of King Francis I, Henri II, who was the Duke of Orléans. The island was also known as Grande Île, Sainte-Marie, and Saint-Laurent for certain periods in the 17th and 18th centuries.^[2]

Early French settlers, coming mostly from the Normandy and Poitou regions in France, were attracted to the island because of its fertile soil, colonizing it subject to the seigneurial system of New France, which is still evident in its layout.^[1] In 1661, the first parish was founded (Sainte-Famille), followed by another four parishes in 1679/1680. By 1685, there were 1205 inhabitants and 917 livestock.^[4]

In 1744, the 67 kilometers (42 mi) Chemin Royal (Royal Road) which encircles the entire island was completed.^[4] The Manoir Mauvide-Genest was constructed in 1734 for Jean Mauvide, a surgeon for the King of France. The manor was occupied by General Wolfe when the island was occupied by the British forces in 1759 shortly before the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

In the 19th and early 20th century, several boat-building yards were operating on the island, especially in Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans. Together with the thriving fishing industry of that era, it gave Orleans Island a maritime character.^[5]

Orleans Island retained its traditional rural way of life until 1935 when construction was completed on the Pont de l'Île bridge. The crossing connects to the Chemin Royal. In spite of this, it maintained its pastoral image and historic character, with more than 600 buildings classified or recognized as heritage property. Therefore in 1970, the entire island was designated the status of National Historic District.^[1][2][4]

Today the island is a mix of suburban communities and farms, and is a popular destination for daytrippers and bicyclists.

[edit] Geopolitical

Administratively, the island is within Quebec's Capitale-Nationale region, and constitutes the L'Île-d'Orléans Regional County Municipality. It is further subdivided in the municipalities of:

• Sainte-Famille
• Saint-François-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
• Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
• Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
• Sainte-Pétronille
• Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans

The entire island is part of the Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord federal electoral riding, and the Montmorency provincial electoral riding.

[edit] Economy

Since the days of the first settlers, agriculture has been the main economic activity. The island, known as the "Garden of Quebec",^[1] is still a very rural place famous locally for its produce, especially its strawberries, apples, potatoes and wineries. There are also sugar maple stands producing maple syrup and other products. There is even a buffalo farm.

While the old trades of fishing and boat building have been abandoned, the island's rich cultural heritage and pastoral scenery has led to a flourishing tourism industry, attracting more than 600,000 visitors each year. Orleans Island is home to a large number of bed-and-breakfast inns, regional cuisine restaurants, roadside fruit stands, art galleries and craft shops.^[1][2]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Île d'Orléans

• Pictures of Orleans Island - "Tour de l'Île"

Coordinates: 46°56′N 70°58′W / 46.933°N 70.967°W / 46.933; -70.967