The area covers part of the seigneury of Lauzon known in the 18th and 19th centuries as the Hêtrière concession. Its dense forest and average-quality soil made it unsuitable for settlement, and the first lots were granted between 1790 and 1830. Seigneur John Caldwell is said to have granted land to encourage logging near the Chaudière River.
The neighbourhood at a glance
BoroughCity of Lévis
Central Lévison the east bank of the Chaudière
Life in Charny
The vibe
A residential district shaped by the railway, with large parks and several sports facilities.
The housing
Mostly single-family homes, including many streets developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Nearby
Québec Bridge · Pierre-Laporte Bridge · Saint-Rédempteur
Good to know
The district is served by the Société de transport de Lévis and by the Via Rail station on the line between Montréal and the Maritimes.
Landmarks
- Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière
- Joffre Roundhouse
- Parc Maréchal-Joffre
History
The history of Charny
- 1854First Quebec & Richmond Railway train
- 1880The roundhouse goes into service
- 1903The parish of Charny is founded
- 1965Charny becomes a town
- 2002Merged into the city of Lévis
The first train of the Quebec & Richmond Railway, linking the Eastern Townships to Pointe-Lévy, ran here on November 13, 1854. A first station, a modest wooden shack, was likely built in 1855 at the place called Chaudiere Curve. On July 17, 1879, the Intercolonial bought the Grand Trunk section between Hadlow and Rivière-du-Loup, and Chaudiere Junction became a repair, supply and transfer centre. The roundhouse went into service in 1880.
Families settled around the rail junction. In 1903, the parish of Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours de Charny was founded, separated from Saint-Jean-Chrysostome; the area became a village municipality in 1924. In 1932, Dr. Paul Gilbert had the 12-bed Notre-Dame-de-Charny hospital built, transferred in 1948 to the Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres. Charny became a town in 1965, with 4,564 residents.
The Paul-Gilbert hospital opened in 1987, and new neighbourhoods were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1992, the Joffre Roundhouse was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. In 1998, the Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière was transferred to the towns of Charny and Saint-Nicolas. On January 1, 2002, Charny was merged with eight other municipalities to form the new city of Lévis.
Frequently asked questions about Charny
Where is Charny?
On the east bank of the Chaudière River, not far from the Québec Bridge, in Lévis. It is one of the four districts of the Les Chutes-de-la-Chaudière-Est borough.
Where does the name Charny come from?
It honours Charles de Lauson, sieur de Charny, who arrived in New France in 1652. He held this title through his grandmother, daughter of Guillaume Lottin, lord of Charny, in France.
What can you see at the Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière?
The 35-metre Chaudière Falls and a 113-metre suspension footbridge, 23 metres above the river. The park also has about 4.5 km of trails and a bike path.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Charny?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Charny 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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