Cap-Santé, Quebec
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Cap-Santé is a town in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is the county seat of Portneuf Regional County Municipality.
The name of the town means, literally, "Cape Health". It is situated just west of the nearby Jacques-Cartier River on the shore of the St Lawrence River; the earliest settlement here seems to have been a military fort established in 1759 on the 'Plateau Jacques-Cartier' district of the municipality just at the mouth of the Jacques-Cartier River.
Cap-Santé stands proudly overlooking the northern bank of the Saint Lawrence River, forty kilometres west of Quebec City. Legend has it that this community’s name was coined when soldiers suffering from an unknown disease miraculously recovered from a cure discovered in the village.
The first settlers arrived around 1679, and in 1714 the village became an official parish. The present-day church, a historical-registered building, was built from 1754 to 1767. Interrupted during construction by the Seven Years’ War (1756-63), it is one of the last buildings to be constructed under French regime. Tours are available upon request. The church is a magnificent showcase comprised of an imposing façade and two tours, a baroque interior, a neoclassical reredos, and two-tiers of openings on the bell tower, as well as a presbytery (designed by architect Charles Baillargé in 1849) featuring five neatly lined dormer windows. A cemetery encircles the expansive square, leading to the river below.
From the square, which is crowned with old wells dating back to 1799, follow along to reach Vieux Chemin street. This historical and commemorative street was built along the same geographical line as that Chemin-du-Roy¸ the first road linking Montreal and Quebec City in the 18th century. Wooden and stone homes dot the narrow and shaded street that borders the cape, displaying its unique charm, particularly in the fall season, when the gold and red colours of autumn shimmer in the sunlight. Don’t miss the chance to plan a leisurely walk along this street, which was designated as one of Canada’s most beautiful streets by the national newspaper, the Globe and Mail. Many inns and hotels can also be found here.
From the church square (Place de l’Église) stroll down to the quay, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Saint Lawrence (which bends and narrows at this point) and of Pointe-Platon cape, on the opposite bank.
In 1759, during the English conquest, the horseman of Lévis built Fort Jacques Cartier at the mouth of the Saint-Lawrence (also named after the famous explorer) from materials originally destined for construction of a church. The following year, in the same place, Lévis attempted unsuccessfully together with 7000 men to recapture Quebec City from the English. Today, virtually nothing remains of the fort, which is also no longer open to the public. Close by, Allsopp House (late 18th century), once a seigneurial manor, is now a registered historical building and private property.
The founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Pasteur, Marie Fitzbach, lived in Cap-Santé from 1826-1840. Gérard Morisset, architect and art historian, was also a resident, and designed the interiors of many of the region’s churches.
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