In 1672, Captain Alexandre Berthier of the Carignan regiment received a seigneury carved out of Bellechasse. Since he also named a second seigneury upriver Berthier, today’s Berthierville, the first became known as Berthier-en-Bas. The seigneury later passed to the Bergères de Rigauville family.
The town at a glance
RCMMontmagny
South Shoreeast of Québec City
Life in Berthier-sur-Mer
The vibe
A riverside village, quiet in winter and busy in summer, when nearly 1,000 seasonal residents join the population.
The housing
Single-family homes, including many year-round and seasonal homes along the river, and farms inland.
Nearby
Roadside rest area with a river view · Parc Jean-Lesage · Cruises to Grosse-Île
Good to know
The village is about 35 minutes from the Québec City bridges. Route 132 (Boulevard Blais) runs through it, and the Route verte bike route passes through the village centre.
Landmarks
- Parc fluvial and marina
- Berthier-sur-Mer beach
- Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption church
History
The history of Berthier-sur-Mer
- 1672Seigneury of Berthier granted
- 1719First stone church
- 1859Current church completed
- 1971Name Berthier-sur-Mer adopted
- 1992Nicknamed the sailing capital
A first stone church was built in 1719, and Bishop de Saint-Vallier erected the parish of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption in the early 1720s. Residents lived from farming and shipping, and several ship captains lived in the village. Its sailors, known for their stubbornness, were nicknamed the Casques de fer (iron helmets).
A wharf was built in 1853. The municipality was created in 1855 as Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption-de-Bellechasse, but people kept calling it Berthier-en-Bas. The current church, designed by Louis-Thomas Berlinguet, was completed in 1859, away from the river and erosion. A model three-masted ship, given by local sailors, has hung from its vault since 1873.
From the 1940s to the 1960s, the wharf was home port to schooners carrying pulpwood to Québec City. In 1971, the municipality took the name Berthier-sur-Mer to set itself apart from Berthierville. The word mer (sea) refers to the width of the river, its salt water and its strong tides. Former premier Jean Lesage spent his summers here, and a park bears his name.
Frequently asked questions about Berthier-sur-Mer
Where is Berthier-sur-Mer?
On the south shore of the St. Lawrence, in the Montmagny RCM in Chaudière-Appalaches, about 60 km east of Québec City. The village faces the northeastern tip of Île d’Orléans.
How do you get to Grosse-Île from Berthier-sur-Mer?
Guided cruises leave from the Berthier-sur-Mer marina, at 100 Rue de la Marina, from May to October. Grosse-Île served as a quarantine station from 1832 to 1937, and visits are led by Parks Canada guides.
Why is it called Berthier-sur-Mer?
Berthier recalls Alexandre Berthier, the first seigneur in 1672. The current name, adopted in 1971, sets the village apart from Berthierville. Mer (sea) refers to the width of the river, its salt water and its tides at this point.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Berthier-sur-Mer?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Berthier-sur-Mer 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.
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