Free large scale map area of Bellechasse, Quebec Canada

Bellechasse      

Ancestral homes, seigneuries, water mills, timeless i ghost  stories-attractions like these at every turn serve as pleasant reminders  that Bellechasse is one of the oldest regions of French settlement in  North America. Nestled between the scenic St. Lawrence River to the  north, the Chaudiere region to the west and the rugged summits of the  Appalachians to the southeast, Bellechasse is a living record of French  history. The many churches, chapels, and presbyteries you will see along  the backroads here tell the tale of life in the early 17th century,  when the first seigneuries were granted during the French regime. Keep  your eyes open for the snow geese, another local attraction. They flock  to the region every year, stopping to feed on the South Shore before  continuing their long migration between Baffin Island and South  Carolina.      

Berthier-sur-Mer [A2]      

Life in Berthier-sur-Mer centers around the St. Lawrence  River. Visitors are drawn to "The Capital of Sail-boating" for its  beach, wharf, marina, and the many beautiful islands nearby, easily  accessible by daily boat cruises. The Irish Memorial National Historic  Site on Grosse lie was an immigrant quarantine station during the 1832  cholera epidemic and the 1847 typhus epidemic. In March, the inhabitants  of lie aux Grues disguise themselves in costume for a week in their  annual celebration of mi-caremc (mid-Lent).      

Massif du Sud Regional Park [D4] This breathtaking park, with  Mont du Midi as its highest point (915 m), provides over 75 km of paths  for family strolling, cycling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and  horseback riding. At the Massif du Sud Ranch and Gold Rush Museum, you  can become a prospector for a day; relive the Gold Rush on horseback,  and visit a completely restored gold mine.      

Saint-Damien-de-Buckland [D2] Saint-Damien was founded in 1882  by Father Onesime Brousseau, and this rural town maintains much of its  religious heritage today. Visit the historical center run by the Sisters  of Notre-Dame-du-Perpetuel-Secours to view fine architecture and  fascinating exhibits on the order's history and the nun's daily lives.      

Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse [A1] Upon entering this town, stop  to admire the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Chapel (1879), a replica of its  namesake in France, and the church and presbytery, rebuilt in 1759 after  they were destroyed by the British. A haven for water sports  enthusiasts, Saint-Michel boasts a large marina, pier, and sandy beach.  In summer, you can catch a good play at the Beaumont/Saint-Michel  Theatre. Nearby vineyard Vignoble Angile offers ambrosial wines and  aperitifs made from strawberries.      

Saint-Valuer [A1]      

Home to the infamous spooky legend of La Corriveau,  Saint-Vallier is also a temporary home to thousands of snow geese during  their annual migration. Be sure to stop by the roadside rest area to  watch them groom and feed. At the local Horse-Drawn Carriage Museum, you  can view 65 summer and winter carriages, harnesses, farm tools, and  other examples of man and horse working together.      

LOCAL LORE      

The Legend of La Corriveau      

In the village of Saint-Vallier on January 27, 1763, the body  of farmer Louis Dodier was found in his stable, his head crushed.  Despite strong evidence of foul play, it was decided that he was  tragically killed by his horse.      

His widow, Marie-Josephte Dodier, and her father, Joseph  Corriveau, were shortly thereafter accused of murdering Dodier. A first  trial found them both guilty, yet afterward Joseph Corriveau confessed  that his daughter alone did the killing, unable to endure her husband's  merciless beatings.    

A second trial was held, and Marie-Josephte Corriveau was  found guilty and sent to the gallows on April 15, 1763. As was the  custom, her body was put on display, suspended in an iron cage held by  chains at the crossroads in Pointe-Levis. The ghastly sight of her  rotting corpse swaying in the wind became the inspiration for The Legend  of La Corriveau, the witch of Saint-Vallier.