Île d'Orléans

The rural, pastoral and historic Île d'Orléans represents the tidal divide of the St. Lawrence, where fresh water begins to mix with the sea at the island's northeastern point. A National Historic Site of Canada, the island has over 600 recognized heritage buildings and six municipalities:

• 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 and
• Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans.

The island is 34 km (21 mi) long and 8 km (5.0 mi) wide at the widest point. It has a hilly relief, small valleys, and gradual crests that reach a maximum height of about 150 m (490 ft) at Sainte-Pétronille and Saint-Laurent in the south.
Since the days of the first French settlers, agriculture has been the main economic activity. The island, known as the "Garden of Quebec", is famous locally for its produce, especially strawberries, apples, potatoes and wineries. Sugar maple stands produce maple syrup and other products.
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. it offers many bed-and-breakfast inns, regional cuisine restaurants, roadside fruit stands, art galleries and craft shops.
Today the island is a mix of suburban communities and farms. It is a popular destination for daytrippers and bicyclists.

History

The island had long been inhabited by the First Nations (aboriginal) peoples. The Huron called it Minigo (meaning "Enchantress", because of its charm). The French explorer Jacques Cartier first set foot on the island in 1535 near the present-day village of Saint-François. He called it Île de Bascuz (from Bacchus) because of the abundance of wild grapes growing on the island. Officials later changed the name to Île d'Orléans in honour of the second son of King Francis I, Henri II, the Duke of Orléans.
Early French settlers, immigrating mostly from the Normandy and Poitou regions in France, were attracted to the island because of its fertile soil. They colonized it according to the seigneurial system of New France, which is still evident in its layout, featuring residences close together, with outlying long, narrow fields and a common. In 1661, the first parish of Sainte-Famille was founded. By 1685, there were 1205 mostly French inhabitants.
Jean Mauvide, a surgeon for the King of France, built the Manoir Mauvide-Genest in 1734 as his residence. In 1759 it was occupied by British General Wolfe when his forces occupied the island shortly before the Battle of the Plains of Abraham during the Seven Years' War.

By car

The island is accessible from the mainland via the Île d'Orléans Bridge from Beauport. Route 368 is the sole provincial route on the island. It crosses the bridge and circles the perimeter of the island.

By bus

There is a weekday commuter bus (the PLUMobile) which makes three trips a day M-F between Québec City and the island.
Many tour buses from Québec City visit the island, often with a stop at Montmorency Falls or the Sainte Anne de Beaupré church on the north shore in the same region.

Due to its rural nature, a car is likely the best way around the island; cycling is also an option

• Taxi de l'Ile

  phone: +1 418-828-0033
  address: 272 chemin Royal, Saint-Pierre-de-l'Ile-d'Orleans

• Parc maritime de Saint-Laurent

  phone: +1 418-828-9673
  address: 120, chemin de la Chalouperie, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
  Historic shipyard and museum.
• At the village of Sainte-Pétronille toward the western end of the island, a viewpoint overlooks the impressive Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls), as well as a panorama of the St. Lawrence River and Quebec City.

The island is a popular destination for daytrippers and bicyclists.

• Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau

  phone: +1 418-828-9316
  address: 1868, chemin Royal, Saint-Pierre -de-l'Île-d'Orléans
  Cider house and orchard making ice cider, sparkling wine, mistelle wine and maple cider. Apple and maple products. Free sampling. Pick-your-own apples, petting zoo and gift shop.

• Vignoble Isle de Bacchus

  phone: +1 418-828-9562
  address: 1335, chemin Royal , Saint-Pierre -de-l'Île-d'Orléans
  Its first vineyard was founded in the 1990s. Today, it has more than 11 hectares (27.2 acres) of vineyard, and an annual production of approximately 40,000 bottles. Wines (red, white and rosé), aperitifs and liqueurs and ice wine.

• Vignoble du Mitan

  phone: +1 418-829-0901
  address: 2608, chemin Royal, Sainte-Famille-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
  White, rosé, red, fortified, ice and late harvest wines

• La Roulotte du Coin

  phone: +1 418-829-COIN
  address: 4495 Chemin Royal, Sainte-Famille

• La Monnaguette/Cassis Monna & Filles

  phone: +1 418-828-2525
  address: 1225, chemin Royal, Saint Pierre d'Orleans
  Restaurant, liqueur shop and gourmand boutique, specializing in Cassis (black currant) proucts.

• La Boulange

  phone: +1 418-829-3162
  address: 2001, Chemin Royal, Saint-Jean-de-l'ile-d'Orleans
  Bakery and cafe. Pizzas, sandwiches, soup, pastries.

• Pub Le Mitan Micro D'Orleans

  phone: +1 418-829-0408
  address: 2471 Royal Ste. Famille Road, Sainte-Famille-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
  Local beers from the Microbrasserie of Île d'Orléans and beers imported from Belgium.

• Resto-Pub L'O2 L'ile

  phone: +1 418-991-0615
  address: 1025, Prevost Road, Saint Pierre d'Orleans
  Steaks, pizzas, pastas, salads, sandwiches, poutines.

Sainte-Famille

• Au Toit Bleu

  phone: +1 418-829-1078
  address: 3879 chemin Royale, Ste -Famille
  Five rooms, some with private bath. Wi-fi. Full breakfast and vegetarian breakfast.

• Gîte à la Brunante

  phone: +1 418-829-2624
  address: 3469, chemin Royal, Sainte-Famille
  Three rooms, some with private bath, full breakfast.

Saint-Jean

• Au Giron de l'Isle

  phone: +1 418-829-0985
  address: 120 chemin des Lieges, Saint-Jean-de-I'lle-d'Orleans
  Three rooms with private bath, garden or river views, some have balcony or TV.

• Dans les bras de Morphée

  phone: +1 418-829-3792
  address: 225, chemin Royal, Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
  Four rooms with private bath.

• Gîte la Cinquième Saison

  phone: +1 418-203-0558
  address: 1742, chemin Royal, Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans

Saint-Laurent

• Auberge l'Ile Flottante

  phone: +1 418-828-9476
  address: 1657, chemin Royal, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Ile-d'Orleans
  Waterfront terrace, five rooms with private bath in 1836 ancestral home, open year-round. French, English, Italian. Cottage $150-187 for two to five people.

• Auberge Les Blancs Moutons

  phone: +1 418-828-1859
  address: 1317, chemin Royal, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Ile-d'Orleans
  Under common ownership with La Marée Montante art gallery.

• Gîte à la Maison du Mesnil

  phone: +1 418-829-0058
  address: 401, chemin Royal, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Ile-d'Orleans
  Manor on the waterfront

• Gîte à la Vieille Maison Fradet

  phone: +1 418-991-0771
  address: 1584, chemin Royal, St-Laurent de l'Île d'Orléans
  Ancestral house (1832).

Sainte-Petronille

• À la Dauphinelle

  phone: +1 418-828-1487
  address: 216 ch. du Bout de l'Ile, Sainte-Petronille
  125-year-old Victorian cottage, three B&B rooms.

• Montmorency Falls and Beauport
• Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
• Quebec City