The land is part of the seigneury of Île-d’Orléans, granted on January 15, 1636. A wooden chapel was built here in 1675. From 1680, Saint-Jean was a mission served by the parish priest of Sainte-Famille, and it became a parish in 1714.
The town at a glance
RCML’Île-d’Orléans
Île d’Orléanssouth side of the island
Life in Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
The vibe
A riverside village with a farming and seafaring past, known as a village of St. Lawrence river pilots. A walkway runs along the shore.
The housing
Homes and farms along chemin Royal. Several older houses and barns have heritage status.
Nearby
Musée maritime de l’île d’Orléans · Tour d’observation de Saint-François · Église de Saint-François
Good to know
The village is about 26 km northeast of Québec City as the crow flies. The island is reached by the Pont de l’Île-d’Orléans, in Saint-Pierre, and PLUmobile offers public transit Monday to Friday.
Landmarks
- Manoir Mauvide-Genest
- Église de Saint-Jean
- Chemin Royal
History
The history of Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
- 1680Mission served from Sainte-Famille
- 1714Parish established
- 1734Manoir Mauvide-Genest is built
- 1993Manor named a National Historic Site
- 2003Current name adopted
In 1734, the surgeon Jean Mauvide and his wife, Marie-Anne Genest, built a stone house that they later enlarged into a manor. Having grown wealthy in maritime trade, Mauvide bought the southwest half of the seigneury in 1752. Work on the church also began in 1734 and ended in 1737. In 1759, the manor was one of the few homes spared by Wolfe’s troops.
A municipality was created in 1845 under the name Saint-Jean, Isle d’Orléans, followed by the parish municipality of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in 1855. In 1852, the church was enlarged to plans by the architect Louis-Thomas Berlinguet, who gave it a neoclassical façade. Saint-Jean is also a village of river pilots, who guide ships on the St. Lawrence.
Jean-Charles Bonenfant, later director of the Legislature library, was born here in 1912. In 1926, Judge Joseph-Camille Pouliot bought the run-down manor and restored it. The church was classified in 1957 and the manor in 1971. In 2003, the municipality took the name Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans.
Frequently asked questions about Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
Where is Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans?
On the south side of Île d’Orléans, between Saint-Laurent and Saint-François. The village is about 26 km northeast of Québec City as the crow flies.
What is the Manoir Mauvide-Genest?
A seigneurial manor built in 1734 for the surgeon Jean Mauvide and his wife, Marie-Anne Genest. A National Historic Site of Canada since 1993, it houses an interpretation centre on the seigneurial system.
Where does the name Saint-Jean come from?
According to the Commission de toponymie, the name likely recalls Jean de Lauson, seneschal of New France, who died at the mouth of the Maheu River in 1661. It may also come from Saint John the Baptist, the parish’s patron saint.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans 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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