In 1672, Intendant Jean Talon granted the seigneury of Beaumont to Charles Couillard, grandson of Louis Hébert, and the neighbouring seigneury of Vincennes to François Bissot. The land had been settled since about 1680, and the parish of Saint-Étienne was founded in 1692. A first wooden church was built in 1694.
The town at a glance
RCMBellechasse
South Shoreeast of Lévis
Life in Beaumont
The vibe
A quiet heritage village on the river, surrounded by fields and woods, about 15 km from Lévis.
The housing
Mostly single-family homes: older houses in the old village and newer residential areas.
Nearby
Sainte-Anne procession chapel · Bibliothèque Luc-Lacourcière · Grande plée Bleue
Good to know
Beaumont is about 15 km from Lévis. Highway 20 crosses the municipality south of the village, and Route 279 connects it to Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse.
Landmarks
- Saint-Étienne church
- Moulin de Vincennes
- Chemin du Domaine
History
The history of Beaumont
- 1672Seigneury of Beaumont granted
- 1692Parish of Saint-Étienne founded
- 1733Stone church opens for worship
- 1759Wolfe’s proclamation posted on the church
- 1998Municipality renamed Beaumont
The first resident priest arrived in 1713. In 1721, Intendant Michel Bégon ordered a stone church built, and it opened for worship in 1733. The 1722 stone presbytery is the oldest remaining presbytery on the South Shore of Québec City. The Péan seigneurial mill was built in 1744 at the foot of the Chute-à-Maillou.
In June 1759, Colonel Robert Monckton seized the church before marching on Pointe-Lévy. The British posted General Wolfe’s proclamation on its door, announcing the coming fall of Québec. According to a local legend, their torches kept going out on their own, and only the church door burned.
The parish municipality was created in 1845, abolished in 1847 and re-established in 1855. Around 1950, Route 132 was built to bypass the village. The municipality was renamed Saint-Étienne-de-Beaumont in 1969, then Beaumont in 1998.
Frequently asked questions about Beaumont
Where is Beaumont?
On the south shore of the St. Lawrence, about 15 km east of Lévis, at the northwest end of the Bellechasse RCM. Highway 20 crosses the municipality south of the village.
What is there to see in Beaumont?
The Saint-Étienne church, opened for worship in 1733, the Sainte-Anne and Sainte-Vierge procession chapels, both classified as historic monuments in 1981, and the Moulin de Vincennes, rebuilt in 2006. Chemin du Domaine, which follows the cliff, is lined with old houses.
Where does the name Beaumont come from?
It honours Charles Couillard (1647-1715), Sieur des Islets et de Beaumont, who received the seigneury from Jean Talon in 1672. Until 1998, the municipality’s official name was Saint-Étienne-de-Beaumont.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Beaumont?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Beaumont will soon be listed on the site, along with the online rental application. In the meantime, Cléo can notify you as soon as a unit is posted.
Other areas
