The territory was carved out of the seigneury of Sainte-Marie, long owned by the Taschereau de Linière family. The parish of Saint-Elzéar-de-Linière was canonically erected in 1835. Most of the first settlers arrived around 1845 from Île d’Orléans, Beauport, Château-Richer and Sainte-Marie, and Irish families joined them.
The town at a glance
RCMLa Nouvelle-Beauce
South Shorenear Sainte-Marie
Life in Saint-Elzéar
The vibe
A lively village with about a hundred businesses and the Fêtes de chez nous every Labour Day weekend.
The housing
Mostly single-family homes in the village, with a few duplexes and small buildings. A third of the population lives in the farming area.
Nearby
Mont-Cosmos trails · Municipal library · Sainte-Marie, 7 km away
Good to know
The village is 7 km from Sainte-Marie and 56 km from Québec City. Route 216 runs through the municipality.
Landmarks
- Saint-Elzéar church
- Observatoire du Mont-Cosmos
- Rivière Beaurivage
History
The history of Saint-Elzéar
- 1835Parish canonically established
- 1854Church completed
- 1855Parish municipality created
- 1960Church and sacristy classified
- 1994Village and parish merge
The name honours Henri-Elzéar Juchereau Duchesnay (1809-1871), seigneur of Sainte-Marie at the time, a lawyer and later a senator. A municipality of Saint-Elzéar was created in 1845 and abolished two years later. The post office opened in 1853, and the parish municipality was created in 1855.
Residents built the stone church from 1852 to 1854. Léandre Parent created the interior decor from 1855 to 1860, and Ferdinand Villeneuve added an altarpiece in 1893-1894. The church and sacristy were classified historic monuments in 1960.
In 1955, the village split from the parish municipality. The two reunited on November 30, 1994 under the name Saint-Elzéar. The Observatoire du Mont-Cosmos, linked to Université Laval, acquired a new telescope in 2024.
Frequently asked questions about Saint-Elzéar
Where is Saint-Elzéar?
On the South Shore, in the Nouvelle-Beauce RCM in Chaudière-Appalaches, 7 km from Sainte-Marie and 56 km from Québec City. The village is built on a hill near the Rivière Beaurivage.
Where does the name Saint-Elzéar come from?
It honours Henri-Elzéar Juchereau Duchesnay (1809-1871), seigneur of Sainte-Marie, legislative councillor and senator. The parish was first called Saint-Elzéar-de-Linière, after the Taschereau de Linière family.
What is there to do in Saint-Elzéar?
Visit the classified church, built from 1852 to 1854, watch the sky at the Observatoire du Mont-Cosmos or walk its trails. The Fêtes de chez nous take place every year on Labour Day weekend.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Saint-Elzéar?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Saint-Elzéar 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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