When we think of Quebec in the summer, we think of vast fields of golden wheat and the cool water of the lakes, campfires, and neighborhood festivals. But the region along the St. Lawrence River also has a well-established maritime heritage. Or perhaps a maritime-river heritage? In any case, some of Quebec’s most beautiful and oldest villages are located along the river.
On Île d’Orléans, you can visit a village founded in the 16th century with a beach where you can dip your toes, a café with a large garden for lunch, and a heritage tour to take. It’s also one of the most beautiful road trips we recommend this summer.
Île d’Orléans, Heritage, and Strawberries
Île d’Orléans was 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 the way to Saint-Jean to buy some from a roadside fruit vendor. Everywhere you go, there are farmers’ stands where you can stock up on strawberries and summer fruits.
Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
The village of Saint-Jean is one of the oldest on Île d’Orléans and boasts one of the island’s few and most beautiful beaches. It is said that the village, whose church and the very well-preserved Manoir Mauvide-Genest were built in 1734, was “shaped by the land and the sea” (“the land and the sea shaped it”).
In addition to the stunning view of the river, the village is made up of 19th-century neoclassical houses in bright colors that are perfect for strolling through. The sea breeze is cool, the strawberries are juicy—it’s a perfect day to spend on Île d’Orléans.
- at La Midinette, for a quiche and coffee to enjoy in the garden, in the shade / 4624 Chemin Royal, Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
- on the beach at Quai de Saint-Jean, to dip your toes, a stroll along the rocks, and a nap in the sun if you’ve brought a lounge chair / Quai de Saint-Jean, Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
- by visiting the Church of Saint-Jean and the maritime cemetery / Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans
