The land was first part of the La Durantaye seigneury, granted to Olivier Morel de La Durantaye in 1672. The first settlers, militiamen from Île d’Orléans, arrived around 1700. A cross just west of the village recalls Prisque Bélanger, considered the first settler.
The town at a glance
RCMBellechasse
South Shoreon the river in Bellechasse
Life in Saint-Vallier
The vibe
A riverside village that belongs to the Association des plus beaux villages du Québec, surrounded by farmland. A cheese dairy, an artisan bakery and craft studios keep the village centre lively.
The housing
Mostly single-family homes, including several old houses along Avenue de l’Église, with a few duplexes and small buildings in the village.
Nearby
Parc du Faubourg · Bibliothèque Marie-Joseph Corrivaux · Multipurpose hall
Good to know
Highway 20 (exit 356) and Route 132 serve the village. The Bellechasse RCM runs on-demand shared transportation to Lévis, Montmagny and Sainte-Marie, mainly for medical appointments.
Landmarks
- Saint-Philippe et Saint-Jacques church
- Maison du docteur Joseph-Côté
- Rivière Boyer
History
The history of Saint-Vallier
- 1714Parish created east of the Rivière Boyer
- 1720Seigneury handed to the hospital nuns
- 1845Municipality incorporated
- 1932Current church built
- 1993Village and parish merge
In 1714, the bishop split the seigneury’s parish in two, on either side of the Rivière Boyer. The eastern part became the parish of Saint-Philippe-et-Saint-Jacques, where a first stone church had been started in 1712. In 1720, the nuns of the Hôpital général de Québec took over this part of the seigneury, acquired through Bishop de Saint-Vallier, whose name it took.
The nuns managed the seigneury until 1767. Marie-Josephte Corriveau, known as La Corriveau and later a figure of Québec folklore, was born in Saint-Vallier in 1733. The municipality was incorporated in 1845, and the presbytery, one of the finest buildings in the village, dates from 1850.
A new church built in 1901 burned down in 1931. The current church was built in 1932 with stone from the old one, to plans by architect Joseph-Aurèle Bigonesse. In 1958, the village split from the parish, and the two municipalities were reunited in 1993.
Frequently asked questions about Saint-Vallier
Where is Saint-Vallier?
On the south shore of the St. Lawrence, in the Bellechasse RCM in Chaudière-Appalaches. The village is 8 km east of Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, facing Île d’Orléans, and Highway 20 has an exit there (356).
Where does the name Saint-Vallier come from?
It honours Bishop Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier, the second bishop of Québec and founder of the Hôpital général de Québec. He acted as intermediary when the hospital nuns acquired the seigneury in 1720.
What is there to see in Saint-Vallier?
The Saint-Philippe et Saint-Jacques church, built in 1932, and the Maison du docteur Joseph-Côté, a classified Regency cottage. The village also has a cheese dairy, an artisan bakery and craft studios.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Saint-Vallier?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Saint-Vallier 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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