This summer, you’ll want to go for a stroll along the water’s edge, enjoying the cool breeze, and perhaps with your pockets full of strawberries. On the lovely Île d’Orléans, across from Quebec City, you can do just that in one of the region’s most beautiful villages—the village of Sainte-Pétronille.
Don’t forget your fishing rod, binoculars, sunscreen, and hat, because the wind is cool off the river and the sun is hot along the St. Lawrence.
Île d’Orléans, heritage, and strawberries
Île d’Orléans is one of the first places where the French established a colony, in 1648. It is a fairly large island, just across from Quebec City, and is almost entirely covered with farmland—vineyards, orchards, and strawberry fields.
The strawberries from Île d’Orléans are the best in the region, and we recommend stopping on your way to Sainte-Pétronille to buy some from a roadside fruit vendor. Everywhere you look, there are farmers’ stands where you can stock up on strawberries and summer fruits.
The village of Sainte-Pétronille, located at the tip of the island on the Quebec side, was founded in 1874 and offers one of the most beautiful summer strolls, with charming houses featuring wraparound porches and tall trees bent by the river winds.
Sainte-Pétronille—our itinerary
To visit the tiny village of Sainte-Pétronille, park your car in the lot behind Sainte-Pétronille Church and walk down to the riverbank to reach the Horatio-Walker Promenade. It’s a stroll that takes you all the way to the very tip of the island, paved with stones and partially shaded by trees. It’s windy, it’s very colorful, and it feels absolutely wonderful.
We recommend making a few stops along the way;
- on the riverbank, to dip your toes in—unfortunately, you can’t swim there
- at Auberge la Goéliche for lodging, eggs Benedict, tea, or a cocktail / at 22 Rue du Quai, Sainte-Pétronille
- at the Sainte-Pétronille Vineyard, to enjoy a pizza overlooking the vineyards, to stroll among the grapevines, or to taste the delicious wine of Île d’Orléans / at 8705 Chemin Royal, Sainte-Pétronille
- at Marché Plante, to pick and buy strawberries and other fruits directly from the farmer / at 8683 Chemin Royal, Sainte-Pétronille
