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Île d'Orléans (French pronunciation: ​[il d‿ɔʁleɑ̃]; English: Island of Orleans) is an island located in the Saint Lawrence River about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of downtown Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It was one of the first parts of the province to be colonized by the French, and a large percentage of French Canadians can trace ancestry to early residents of the island. The island has been described as the "microcosm of traditional Quebec and as the birthplace of francophones in North America."[3]

For the territory around New Orleans, see Île d'Orléans, Louisiana.
Island of Orleans
Native name:
Île d'Orléans
Île d'Orléans' pastoral character is well preserved
Île d'Orléans
Location within Quebec
Île d'Orléans
Île d'Orléans (Canada)
Geography
Coordinates46°55′06″N 70°58′35″W
Adjacent toSaint Lawrence River
Area192.85 km2 (74.46 sq mi)[1]
Length34 km (21.1 mi)[2]
Width8 km (5 mi)[2]
Highest elevation150 m (490 ft)[2]
Administration
Canada
ProvinceQuebec
Regional countyL'Île-d'Orléans
Demographics
Population7,082 (2016)[1]
Pop. density37/km2 (96/sq mi)

It has about 7,000 inhabitants, spread over 6 villages.

The island is accessible from the mainland via the Île d'Orléans Bridge from Beauport. Route 368 is the sole provincial route on the island, which crosses the bridge and circles the perimeter of the island. At the village of Sainte-Pétronille toward the western end of the island, a viewpoint overlooks the impressive Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls), as well as a panorama of the St. Lawrence River and Quebec City.

Île d'Orléans is twinned with Île de Ré in France.


Geography


Detailed map of Île d'Orléans
Detailed map of Île d'Orléans

The Island of Orleans is situated between the Laurentian Plateau or Canadian Shield to the north and the Appalachian Mountains to the south. Its north-eastern point marks the boundary between the St. Lawrence River and its estuary (the largest in the world), where fresh water begins to mix with salt water.[3]

The island is separated from the mainland by 2 channels; to the north-west is the Île d'Orléans Channel[4] and to the south-east is the Grands Voiliers Channel.[5]

Of irregular form with jagged coves and capes, the Island of Orleans is 34 kilometres (21 mi) long and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) wide at the widest point. It is 75 kilometres (47 mi) in circumference, with a total surface area of 190 square kilometres (73 sq mi). It has a hilly relief, small valleys, and gradual crests that reach a maximum height of about 150 metres (490 ft) at Sainte-Pétronille and Saint-Laurent in the south.[2][1]

The main streams of Île d'Orléans are:[6]

Administratively, the island is within Quebec's Capitale-Nationale region, and constitutes the L'Île-d'Orléans Regional County Municipality. It is further subdivided in the municipalities of:

. The entire island is part of the Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord federal electoral riding, and the Charlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré provincial electoral riding.

Satellite image of Île d'Orléans in the Saint Lawrence River
Satellite image of Île d'Orléans in the Saint Lawrence River
Lots of land in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans
Lots of land in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans

History


The island had long been inhabited by Indigenous peoples. The Huron called it Minigo (meaning "Enchantress", because of its charm).[3] The French explorer Jacques Cartier first set foot on the island in 1535 near the present-day village of Saint-François. He called it Île de Bascuz (from Bacchus) because of the abundance of wild grapes growing on the island. Officials later changed the name to Île d'Orléans in honour of the second son of King Francis I, Henri II, the Duke of Orléans. The island was also known as Grande Île, Sainte-Marie, and Saint-Laurent for certain periods in the 17th and 18th centuries.[2]

Early French settlers, immigrating mostly from Normandy and other provinces in northwest France, were attracted to the island because of its fertile soil. They colonized it according to the seigneurial system of New France, which is still evident in its layout, featuring residences close together, with outlying long, narrow fields and a common.[3] In 1661, the first parish of Sainte-Famille was founded, followed by another four parishes in 1679/1680. By 1685, there were 1205 mostly French inhabitants and 917 livestock.[7]

In 1744, colonists completed the 67 kilometres (42 mi) Chemin Royal (Royal Road), which encircles the entire island.[7] Jean Mauvide, a surgeon for the King of France, built the Manoir Mauvide-Genest in 1734 as his residence. In 1759 it was occupied by British General Wolfe when his forces occupied the island shortly before the Battle of the Plains of Abraham during the Seven Years' War. Great Britain was victorious.

In the 19th and early 20th century, several boatbuilding yards operated on the island, especially in Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans. Together with the thriving fishing industry of that era, it gave the Island of Orleans a maritime character.[8]

In 1935 the Pont de l'Île bridge was completed, bringing much more traffic. In spite of this, the island has maintained its pastoral image and historic character, with more than 600 buildings classified or recognized as heritage property. In 1990, the entire island was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.[3][2][7][9]

Today the island is a mix of suburban communities and farms. It is a popular destination for day trippers and bicyclists.


Economy


Since the days of the first French settlers, agriculture has been the main economic activity. Potatoes, strawberries, apples, blueberries, raspberries and maple syrup is produced. There is also viticulture and cheese production. The island, known as the "Garden of Quebec",[3] is still an essentially rural place famous locally for its produce, especially strawberries, apples, potatoes and wineries. Sugar maple stands produce maple syrup and other products.

While the old trades of fishing and boat building have been abandoned, the island's rich cultural heritage and pastoral scenery has led to a flourishing tourism industry. It attracts more than 600,000 visitors each year. Numerous bed-and-breakfast inns, regional cuisine restaurants, roadside fruit stands, art galleries and craft shops also attract visitors:[3][2]

Also for years there has been a strong movement of the inhabitants of city of Quebec, who own second homes around the periphery of the island of Orleans.


Notable people


Félix Leclerc is buried in Saint-Pierre. There is the Espace Félix Leclerc, today a museum and performance hall, in his honor.


In art and culture


Several chansonniers have made reference to Île d'Orléans in their songs, in particular:




See also



References


  1. "Census Profile, 2016 Census: L'Île-d'Orléans, Municipalité régionale de comté [Census division], Quebec". Statistics Canada. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  2. "Île d'Orléans" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  3. "Welcome to Île d'Orléans". Île d'Orléans Tourism. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  4. "Chenal de l'Île d'Orléans". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  5. "Chenal des Grands Voiliers". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  6. Poirier, J. (1962). La toponymie de l'Ile d'Orléans. Cahiers de géographie du Québec, 6(12), 183–199S.
  7. "Discover the Island". Courtepointe et Cafe Association of B&Bs on the Island of Orleans. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  8. "Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans (Municipalité)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  9. Île d'Orléans Seigneury. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 31 March 2012.

Further reading



Documentaries




  1. "Ciné-Fȇte - La révolution du dansage". www.cinefete.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-13.

На других языках

[de] Île d’Orléans

Die Île d’Orléans ist eine Insel im Südosten der kanadischen Provinz Québec. Sie liegt im Mündungsbereich des Sankt-Lorenz-Stroms, etwa fünf Kilometer nordöstlich der Provinzhauptstadt Québec. Nach der Île de Montréal ist sie die zweitgrößte Insel im Strom.
- [en] Île d'Orléans

[fr] Île d'Orléans

L’île d'Orléans est une île du fleuve Saint-Laurent située à environ 5 km en aval du centre-ville de la ville de Québec[1]. L'île a été l'un des premiers endroits à être colonisé en Nouvelle-France, et un grand pourcentage des Québécois, Métis, Franco-Canadiens et Franco-Américains peuvent retracer leur ascendance aux premiers habitants de l'île. Elle a été décrite comme le « microcosme du Québec traditionnel et le lieu de naissance des francophones en Amérique du Nord[2] » et compte environ 7 000 habitants, répartis sur 6 villages. L'Île d'Orléans est jumelée avec l'Île de Ré en France.

[it] Isola d'Orléans

L'isola d'Orléans è un'isola fluviale situata poco più a valle della città di Québec, lungo il fiume San Lorenzo, in Canada.

[ru] Орлеан (остров)

Орлеан (Орлеанский остров; фр. Île d'Orléans) — остров в устье реки Святого Лаврентия. Расположен в Квебеке, Канада.


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