In 1629, Champlain named the spot Cap de Lévy in honour of Henri de Lévis, viceroy of New France. The seigneury of Lauzon was created in 1636, and Guillaume Couture settled at Pointe-Lévy in 1647. The Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-de-Lévy mission, from which Lauzon and Saint-Joseph later grew, was founded in 1679.
The borough at a glance
BoroughCity of Lévis
East Lévisacross from Québec City
Life in the Desjardins borough
The vibe
The urban core of Lévis, with Vieux-Lévis and Vieux-Lauzon near the river, residential neighbourhoods on the plateau and a more rural landscape toward Pintendre.
The housing
Older houses and plexes in Vieux-Lévis and Vieux-Lauzon, rental buildings along Route du Président-Kennedy and more single-family homes toward Pintendre.
Nearby
Galeries Chagnon · Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis · Parc régional de la Pointe-de-la-Martinière
Good to know
The Québec-Lévis ferry leaves from Quai Paquet. The Société de transport de Lévis also runs buses to Parliament Hill and Université Laval, and Route du Président-Kennedy (Route 173) links central Lévis to Highway 20.
Landmarks
- Quai Paquet
- Maison Alphonse-Desjardins
- Route du Président-Kennedy
History
The history of Desjardins
- 1647Guillaume Couture settles at Pointe-Lévy
- 1759Québec City shelled from Pointe-Lévy
- 1861City of Lévis founded
- 1900Desjardins movement founded
- 2002Borough is created
In the summer of 1759, British troops set up camp at Pointe-Lévy. Their cannons, placed on the cliff, bombarded Québec City for 70 days. After the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, General Wolfe’s body was laid for a few hours in the Saint-Joseph church, then used as a military hospital.
The City of Lévis was founded on May 18, 1861, at the initiative of parish priest Joseph-David Déziel. In 1867, the village of Lauzon split from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-de-Lévy, and the Davie shipyard expanded there in the 1880s. Between 1865 and 1872, the British built three forts on the heights to protect Québec City and its port. Further south, the Saint-Louis church in Pintendre was built in 1899, and the municipality of Pintendre was created in 1901.
In 1900, Alphonse Desjardins founded the co-operative movement that bears his name in Lévis. Lévis merged with Lauzon in 1989, then with Saint-David-de-l’Auberivière in 1990. On January 1, 2002, Pintendre and Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-de-Lévy joined the new city, and the borough was named after Alphonse Desjardins.
Frequently asked questions about Desjardins
Which sectors are in the Desjardins borough?
Three sectors: Pintendre, Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-De Lévy and Lévis, which includes Vieux-Lévis, Lauzon and Saint-David. The borough covers the east end of the city, between the Rivière Etchemin and Beaumont.
Where does the name Desjardins come from?
It honours Alphonse Desjardins (1854-1920), a journalist and the founder of the caisses populaires. In 1900, he founded the co-operative movement that bears his name in Lévis. His house, at the corner of Rue Guenette and Rue Mont-Marie, is now an interpretation centre.
How do you get to Québec City from the Desjardins borough?
The Québec-Lévis ferry leaves from Quai Paquet in Vieux-Lévis. By car, Highway 20 leads to the Québec Bridge and the Pierre-Laporte Bridge in the west end of the city. The Société de transport de Lévis also runs buses to the North Shore.
How do I find an apartment for rent in the Desjardins borough?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in the Desjardins borough 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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