The name recalls Jean de Lauson, who obtained the Lauzon seigneury in 1636 and governed New France in the 1650s. The first settler, Guillaume Couture, arrived at Pointe-Lévy on May 15, 1647. In 1690, he led the local militia that drove back Admiral William Phips’s troops near the shore, on the site of today’s Davie shipyard.
The neighbourhood at a glance
BoroughCity of Lévis
East Lévisacross from Île d’Orléans
Life in Lauzon
The vibe
A historic neighbourhood with a working-class character, shaped by the shipyard and rue Saint-Joseph.
The housing
Older houses, plexes and apartment buildings, mostly around rue Saint-Joseph.
Nearby
Fort Numéro-Un · Old Lévis · Québec–Lévis ferry
Good to know
The Québec–Lévis ferry links nearby Old Lévis to Old Québec. The Parcours des Anses bike path also runs through the neighbourhood.
Landmarks
- Rue Saint-Joseph
- Davie shipyard
- Parc de la Paix
History
The history of Lauzon
- 1647Guillaume Couture arrives
- 1867The village of Lauzon is created
- 1882The Davie shipyard is born
- 1910Lauzon becomes a town
- 1989Merged into the city of Lévis
The parish of Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy was canonically created on September 18, 1694; the 1675 chapel became the Église Saint-Joseph in 1721. In 1759, the British used the church as a military hospital, and General Wolfe’s body was laid there after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. In 1763, La Corriveau’s body was displayed in a cage in the village.
On January 1, 1867, the village of Lauzon broke away from the parish; the name avoided confusion with the neighbouring town of Lévis, founded in 1861. Between 1865 and 1872, the Royal Engineers built Fort Numéro-Un. In 1882, George Taylor Davie bought the anse aux Sauvages, where the shipyard was born, and the Lorne dry dock was completed in 1886.
Lauzon became a town on November 3, 1910, and annexed part of the village of Bienville in 1924. On October 27, 1955, a fire razed the Davie shipyard and left more than 1,000 employees out of work. With about 14,500 residents, Lauzon merged with Lévis on September 1, 1989; it is now part of the Desjardins borough.
Frequently asked questions about Lauzon
Where is Lauzon?
On the South Shore, on the St. Lawrence River, facing Île d’Orléans, in the Desjardins borough of the city of Lévis. It is a former town that merged with Lévis in 1989.
Where does the name Lauzon come from?
It recalls Jean de Lauson, the first grantee of the Lauzon seigneury in 1636 and governor of New France. The name was chosen in 1867 to avoid confusion with the neighbouring town of Lévis.
How do I get to Québec City from Lauzon?
The Québec–Lévis ferry leaves from nearby Old Lévis and lands in Old Québec. By car, the Québec Bridge and the Pierre-Laporte Bridge are in western Lévis.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Lauzon?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Lauzon 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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