The land is part of the seigneury of Île-d’Orléans, granted on January 15, 1636. On April 2, 1656, Guillaume Baucher dit Montmorency received a three-arpent lot here. His descendants took the name Morency.
The town at a glance
RCML’Île-d’Orléans
Île d’Orléansnorth side of the island
Life in Sainte-Famille-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
The vibe
A farming municipality known for its stone houses from the French Regime. Apples, strawberries and vegetables are the main crops.
The housing
Homes and farms along chemin Royal. Several older houses have high heritage value, and some are classified by the Québec government.
Nearby
Maison de nos Aïeux · Tour d’observation de Saint-François · Espace Félix-Leclerc
Good to know
The Pont de l’Île-d’Orléans lands in Saint-Pierre, the neighbouring municipality to the southwest. PLUmobile offers public transit Monday to Friday, with connections to Québec City.
Landmarks
- Église de la Sainte-Famille
- Maison Drouin
- Chemin Royal
History
The history of Sainte-Famille-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
- 1656Land granted to Guillaume Baucher
- 1661Parish founded
- 1669First stone church
- 1743Church construction begins
- 2017Current name adopted
Founded in 1661, Sainte-Famille was the island’s only parish until 1679 and was then called the Paroisse de l’Île. A first stone church was built as early as 1669. The name comes from Bishop de Laval’s devotion to the Holy Family of Nazareth, and the parish was canonically erected in 1684.
The sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame opened a convent here in 1685. In 1698, after an economic crisis, the Conseil souverain set up the Bureau des pauvres de Sainte-Famille to help those in need. The current church was built between 1743 and 1747. In 1759, English soldiers took over the church and removed the bell so parishioners could not sound the alarm.
The parish municipality was created in 1845 as La Sainte-Famille, Isle d’Orléans, and became La Sainte-Famille ten years later. In 1996, the Fondation François-Lamy bought the Maison Drouin and turned it into an interpretation centre, classified in 2010. On December 9, 2017, the municipality took the name Sainte-Famille-de-l’Île-d’Orléans.
Frequently asked questions about Sainte-Famille-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
Where is Sainte-Famille-de-l’Île-d’Orléans?
On the northeast side of Île d’Orléans, between Saint-Pierre and Saint-François, facing the Côte-de-Beaupré. It is the seat of the L’Île-d’Orléans regional county municipality.
What is the oldest parish on Île d’Orléans?
Sainte-Famille, founded in 1661. It was the island’s only parish until 1679.
Can you visit the Maison Drouin?
Yes. Built around 1730, the Maison Drouin belongs to the Fondation François-Lamy, which turned it into an interpretation centre open to the public. It stands at 2958 chemin Royal, near the boundary with Saint-François.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Sainte-Famille-de-l’Île-d’Orléans?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Sainte-Famille-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.
Other areas
