Cap-Rouge, Quebec City
Cap-Rouge (English: Red Cape) is located in central Quebec, Canada on the Saint Lawrence River within the Borough Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge in Quebec City. The site of the first attempted permanent European settlement in North America, Cap-Rouge was long a town on its own before being incorporated within Québec on January 1, 2002.
History
In 1541 Jacques Cartier established a settlement of 400 people at present-day Cap-Rouge. Named Charlesbourg-Royal, the encampment survived its first winter but was abandoned in June 1542 due to harsh weather and attacks from neighbouring Iroquoians of Stadacona and other villages.
In August 2006, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Canadian archaeologists under Yves Chretien announced the discovery of this long-lost settlement. Chretien identified its location from fragments of a decorated c.1540-1550 Italian style ceramic plate and six wood timber samples dated to the mid-16th century by a United States laboratory.[1]
Re-occupied during the French colonisation effort of the 17th century, the area remained agricultural until the 1960s when residential developments transformed it into a suburb of Québec City.
Attractions
In addition to its long history, the main attraction of Cap-Rouge is the towering "Tracel" rail-road bridge. Built in 1907-1908 with the participation of Gustave Eiffel, the steel trestle was constructed under the authority of the National Transcontinental as part of the Winnipeg-Moncton trunk. It spans 3,335 feet at an average of 172 feet above ground and is still in use today.
See also
References
- ↑ Canwest News Service (August 22, 2006). "Pottery shard unearths North America's first French settlement". Canada.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates: 46°45′N 71°21′W / 46.750°N 71.350°W