A network of authentic heritage villages, located in remarkable landscapes

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Delicately laid upon the northern shore of the Saint-Lawrence River at some 20 kilometres east of Trois-Rivières, Champlain is one of the oldest localities of Québec where the first settler, Jean Laborde, established himself in 1645 and gave the village its original name. He was followed by other families attracted by the proximity of the river and the fertility of the surrounding land. In 1664, the Seigniory is conceded to Étienne Pézard de la Touche who gave Champlain its actual name in honour of Samuel de Champlain, founder of La Nouvelle-France and of  Quebec City in 1608

The attacks from the Iroquois resulted in the building of a fort with a chapel now destroyed, but the first church was built in 1671 even if the actual church dates from 1879.

The village is situated on Le Chemin du Roy, first road of La Nouvelle-France built in 1737 to link Montréal, Trois-Rivières and Québec on the northern shore of the Saint-Lawrence River.

As early as the 19th century, the village of Champlain became a resort place thanks to  clean air and access to the river where a view of large vessels passing through the navigation channel close to the village can be appreciated. Besides, Champlain was home to sailors since, in the past, 300 men left the village in the spring to board ships on the river until fall. Indeed, the village still boasts a wharf with a belvedere that offers picnicking along the water. In spite of the 500 kilometres separating Champlain from the Saint-Lawrence estuary, tides are still apparent.

Champlain offers a rich patrimony with more than 200 building of patrimonial interest.

The village’s church (Notre-Dame de la Visitation), classified as a historical monument, is rather impressive with its 53 metres in height (170 feet) for a village of 1600 inhabitants. The richness of its interior architecture can be discovered on the website: www.eglisedechamplain.qc.ca . This church was designed by the 25 year old architect Jean-Baptiste Bourgeois (somewhat modeled on the church of the neighbouring village of Saint-Stanislas) and decorated by Édouard Meloche using a trompe-l’oeil technique (the ancestor of 3D rendering...) Elements of the first church of 1671 can still be found : a painting of Brother Luc, the oldest sanctuary lamp in Quebec, one of Quebec’s oldest sculptures and an engraving of the baptism of Jesus, one of the two oldest found in the province. A few paintings from the 17th and 18th century still decorate the walls. The church’s neighbourhood offers beautiful architectural specimens, especially the presbytery along with a very fine example of architectural integration with... the Sonic service station. The municipality also has recently buried all service cables underground.

The Chartier House, dating from 1835, used to be a trading relay between Trois-Rivières and Saint-Anne-de-la-Pérade.

On the shore of the Saint-Lawrence River, one of the oldest villages of Nouvelle-France

Jean-Robert Barnes, maire,

Municipalité de Champlain

Photo: Nathalie Rheault

You are cordially invited to explore the patrimonial diversity of the village of Champlain. The Saint-Lawrence Seaway, our Church and the architecture of our historical houses.

Come enjoy the hospitality of Champlain's citizens !!!

M. Jean-Robert Barnes,

Mayor of Champlain and active member of the AMBVQ died on February 13 from cancer.

We offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends and all the emplyees and elected officials that worked with him in Champlain.

The Board of Directors of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec in the name of the 35 mayors of the member villages