The land is part of the seigneury of Île-d’Orléans, granted to Jacques Castillon on January 15, 1636. In 1651, the Jesuit Chaumonot settled Wendat (Huron) refugees here, probably near today’s wharf. The following year, Éléonore de Grandmaison married Jacques Gourdeau de Beaulieu here, and he gave his name to the fief.
The town at a glance
RCML’Île-d’Orléans
Île d’Orléanssouthwest tip of the island, facing Québec City
Life in Sainte-Pétronille
The vibe
A small resort village known for its views of Québec City, Lévis and Montmorency Falls. It belongs to the Association des plus beaux villages du Québec.
The housing
Older and newer homes, including large cottage-style summer houses built along chemin Royal in the 19th century by well-off Québec City families.
Nearby
Chocolaterie de l’île d’Orléans · St Mary’s Chapel · Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
Good to know
The Pont de l’Île-d’Orléans, in Saint-Pierre, links the island to Beauport. The PLUmobile transit service runs on the island Monday to Friday, with connections to Québec City.
Landmarks
- Chemin Royal
- Quai de Sainte-Pétronille
- Église Sainte-Pétronille
History
The history of Sainte-Pétronille
- 1651Wendat refugees settle at the point
- 1759Wolfe sets up a military post
- 1868First golf club in North America
- 1870Parish established
- 1980Village takes the name Sainte-Pétronille
For two centuries, the area was split between the parishes of Saint-Pierre to the north and Saint-Laurent to the south. The soil is less fertile than elsewhere on the island, and little of it was farmed. In 1759, General Wolfe set up one of his posts here to lead the siege of Québec. Around 1820, a shipyard built two large vessels here, the Colombus and the Baron Renfrew.
From the mid-19th century, hundreds of Sunday visitors came over by ferry. Well-off Québec City families, including the Boswells, who were brewers, built summer homes along chemin Royal. The painter Horatio Walker worked in his studio here until his death in 1938.
In 1870, the area was separated from Saint-Pierre and made a parish under the name Sainte-Pétronille de Beaulieu. A village municipality was created in 1874 under the name Beaulieu, in honour of Jacques Gourdeau de Beaulieu. It officially took the name Sainte-Pétronille in 1980.
Frequently asked questions about Sainte-Pétronille
Where is Sainte-Pétronille?
At the southwest tip of Île d’Orléans, in the L’Île-d’Orléans regional county municipality. The village faces Old Québec and Lévis and borders Saint-Pierre and Saint-Laurent.
How do I get to Sainte-Pétronille from Québec City?
Highway 40 leads to Beauport, where Route 368 crosses the Pont de l’Île-d’Orléans. Once on the island, in Saint-Pierre, chemin Royal leads southwest to the village.
Where does the name Sainte-Pétronille come from?
Petronilla was a Roman martyr of the 1st century. Legend made her the daughter, real or spiritual, of Saint Peter, patron of the mother parish. The village was called Beaulieu from 1874 to 1980.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Sainte-Pétronille?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Sainte-Pétronille 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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