Batiscan is a municipality of Les Chenaux Regional County Municipality, Mauricie. Along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, this picturesque municipality is crossed by Chemin du Roy (route 138); this road infrastructure links Trois-Rivières and Quebec City.

Batiscan is a member of the "Association des plus beaux villages du Québec" (Association of the most beautiful villages of Quebec). This locality has many ancestral and well restored houses. In the summer season, many boaters enjoy boating on the Saint Lawrence River and Batiscan River.

Understand

• 1 Bureau d'accueil touristique (Tourist office), 1000, rue Principale, tourisme@batiscan.ca. (updated Oct 2021)

History

In 1639, the seigneury of Batiscan was granted to the Jesuits; their objective was the evangelization and the settling of the Indigenous communities living there. The territory of the seigneury is more or less consistent with the current territory of the municipalities of Batiscan and Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. The first row lots along the river were allocated to the censitaires by the seigneury.

The territory of Batiscan has three rows which are arranged parallel to the river; these ranges extend to the south bank of the Batiscan river. The civil erection of the municipality was promulgated in 1855.

Geography

The municipality of Batiscan is on the northwest shore of the St. Lawrence River, more or less between the confluence of the Champlain and St. Lawrence rivers on the west side and the limit of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade on the east side. Batiscan is opposite the confluence of the Rivière aux Originaux and Saint-Pierre-les-Bescquets which are on the south shore.

At Pointe à la Citrouille (north shore) and the rivière aux Originaux (south shore), the Saint-Laurent river forms a curve to direct itself downstream to the northeast. A temporary lighthouse had been installed in 1892 at Pointe à la Citrouille, comprising a shelter for the keeper and a light. This tower rose 12 m above the water level at high tide. It should be visible for 18 km on a clear day. In the spring of 1896, the ice breakup moved the lighthouse and its wooden foundations. The lighthouse was replaced by providing it with a stone foundation 4 m high. In 1949, this tower was replaced by a new tower 16 m high.

Throughout history, the confluence of the Batiscan River served as a refuge for small boats in the event of high winds on the St. Lawrence River.

Economy

In the past, agriculture, forestry and fishing were the engines of the local economy. Until 1930, a boat transport service linked the municipalities of Batiscan and Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. From Batiscan, it was possible to reach Quebec and Montreal by waterway. The fishing industry has developed throughout history, particularly because of the Atlantic tomcod; nevertheless, after 1950, the tomcod abandoned the Batiscan river and only sport fishing continued.

A port was built on the Batiscan river and a village of the Station was formed. After the mid-20th century, vacationing took off significantly along the river. Several second homes have become permanent residences.

In the 21st century, the economy of the town of Batiscan is focused on recreational and tourism activities (resorts, boating, fishing, swimming, marinas, docks, museum), agriculture, local businesses and certain services.

Get in

The village of Batiscan is accessible by road, boat (via Batiscan River and Saint Lawrence River), snowmobile and all terrain vehicles.

By car

• From Montreal (209 km (130 mi). Time: 2 hr 29 min.), take highway 40 (north shore) heading east, to Batiscan (exit 229); take route 361 (southbound); take route 138 (westbound) to the village of Batiscan.
• From Quebec City (102 km (63 mi). Time: 1 hr 14 min.), take highway 40 westbound to Batiscan (exit 229); take route 361 (southbound); take route 183 (westbound) to the village of Batiscan.

Get around

Service station for motor vehicles

• 1 Station service - Dépanneur le Relais, 1240, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-3066. (updated Oct 2021)

Charging station for electric vehicle

• 2 Municipal terminal for electric vehicle (Electric vehicle terminal), 1000, rue Principale. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Borne municipale pour véhicule électrique (Municipal terminal for electric vehicle), 795, rue Principale. (updated Oct 2021)

See

• 1 Vieux presbytère de Batiscan (Old rectory of Batiscan), 340, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418 362-2051, communication@presbytere-batiscan.com. End of May to end of September: 10:00-18:00. Former presbytery built in 1816 on the foundations of the first presbytery built in 1696. Permanent exhibition relating the story of a country priest and his housewife at 19th century. $3.50. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Office des signaux de Batiscan, 1000, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418 362-3137, tourisme@batiscan.ca. From June 24 to Labour Day: 10:00-17:00. Former registration office for ships passing on the river, which has become a tourist office for the municipality. An exhibition presents the vagaries of the profession of the employees of the office. $2. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Église Saint-François-Xavier de Batiscan, 691 rue Principale. Church built in 1866 by architect Zéphirin Perreault, the oldest church with plaster interior in Quebec free. (updated Oct 2021)

Heritage tour

• 4 Sacred circuit, 1000, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-325-2475, tourisme@batiscan.ca. 4th Sunday in June to 3rd Sunday in August, Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00-17:00. This tourist circuit on the Chemin du Roy allows you to appreciate the religious heritage of three Catholic churches (Champlain, Batiscan and Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade), an old presbytery (Batiscan) and a unique crypt (Sainte-Anne- de-la-Pérade). Entrance to churches: free; entrance to the crypt of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade: $1.40/person; admission to the Old Presbytery of Batiscan: $5/person.. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade: Erected from 1855, over 14 years, the church of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade has exterior walls made of stones from Deschambault and transported to the corvée. It was finalized in 1869. The bell towers measure 110 feet. The distance from the floor to the top of the arch is 54 feet. The architecture of this church is similar to the Gothic style: pointed arches associated with the height of the place; the light appearance of the general architecture, and generous lighting provided by the large windows. Its architectural and grandiose elegance is similar to the style of the great cathedrals. The magnificent stained-glass windows from 1877, from France, characterize the symbols of Christianity. The large portico of the church has in its vault the granite statue of Saint Anne which stands 96 feet above the ground. One of the great treasures of the church is the statue of Saint Anne carved in oak from Belgium. Visitors can admire the Stations of the Cross, the old organ from 1902, the bells and interior renovations from 1951.
  • Batiscan: church erected in 1866 reflecting a neo-Gothic architecture of great value. Visitors will appreciate the exuberant interior design: height of the chancel and the nave, the ribbed vault, the interior decoration, the interior reliefs. A large outdoor statue perched on a raised plinth and decorated with a magnificent flower arrangement on the ground, guards the front facade of the church. The Batiscan presbytery reflects a great history of the locality, with its objects, old furniture and architecture.
  • Champlain: Champlain Church is an exceptional listed heritage building. During the interior visit, use digital technology (e.g., tablet, smartphone) to view story sections in augmented reality. Discover the daily life of Champlain residents around 1908. By moving the tablet towards the vault, the woodwork, the works of painters and the stained-glass windows, visitors will discover the architectural and design secrets of this picturesque church. In addition, play "Halte là salle jerk" in augmented reality, helping the character Lucien the dog hauler to find dogs that have infiltrated the church... under the benches.

Do

• 1 Marina Village Batiscan, 1030, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-2722, info@marinavillagebatiscan.com. Resort on the banks of the Batiscan, at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River, at the foot of the iron bridge on route 138 (rue Principale) in Batiscan. The marina has 60 docks with a capacity of between 75 and 80 boats. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Plage de Batiscan (Batiscan Beach), 1030 Main Street, ☏ +1 418-362-2043. A municipal beach on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Rampe municipale de mise-à-l'eau (Municipal boat launch), 1020, rue Principale. Municipal boat launch on the St. Lawrence River free. (updated Oct 2021)
• Parc du millénaire (Millennium Park). Municipal park inaugurated in 2000 to showcase a unique element of the local religious heritage: Calvaire Lacoursière. This calvary was built in 1905. This park has historical information panels on maritime life and the Lacoursière calvary. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Events

• 4 Batiscan, village dans le vent (concours de cerfs-volants) (Batiscan, village in the wind (kite competition)), 181, rue de la Salle, tourisme@batiscan.ca. In 2021, this kite competition was not held because of the global Covid-19 pandemic. (updated Oct 2021)
• 5 Batiscan, village gourmand, 340, rue Principale, tourisme@batiscan.ca. In 2021, this activity of "Batiscan Ville Gourmand" was not held because of the global Covid-19 pandemic. (updated Oct 2021)
• 6 Marché aux puces, 1000, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-0002, tourisme@batiscan.ca. The Batiscan Village Gourmand is a one-day agri-food market on the picturesque site of the Old Presbytery of Batiscan. About fifteen producers from the region offer their products in a unique market, full of delicacies. (updated Oct 2021)
• 7 Great Ecotone fishing challenge, 1000, rue Principale, ☏ +1 819-375-5777, tourisme@batiscan.ca. This event is an initiative of the Ecotone stores in Trois-Rivières with the partnership of the municipality of Batiscan. (updated Oct 2021)

Buy

• 1 Gîte au Bois Dormant, 1521, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-3182, giteauboisdormant@cgocable.ca. W-Su 10:00-17:00. Antique and craft shop. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Le Maraîcher de Batiscan, 171, rue Principale. mid-May to early September: 09:00-18:00. Fruit and vegetable kiosk. Possibility of self-picking strawberries. (updated Oct 2021)

Eat

• 1 Restaurant Au P'tit Relais, 1242, rue Principale. April to October. Seasonal restaurant. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Casse-croûte la Florida - Route 138, 350, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-0332. Snack-style restaurant (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Chez les Coyac, 601, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-0546, chezlescoyac@hotmail.fr. French restaurant and delicatessen. (updated Oct 2021)
• 4 Manoir Batiscan, 1120, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-2403. Meals on site. (updated Oct 2021)
• 5 Resto Rio, 1500, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-0314, info@marinavillagebatiscan.com. (updated Oct 2021)

Sleep

Camping

• 1 Marina Village Batiscan, 1500, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-2722. Campsite with 43 sites. $20-40. (updated Mar 2018)

Chalet, gîte, inn

• 2 Gîte au Bois Dormant, 1521, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-3182, giteauboisdormant@cgocable.ca. $60-100 per room. (updated Mar 2018)

Connect

• 8 Bibliothèque municipale de Batiscan (Batiscan municipal library), 1020, rue Principale. Library of 4,500 books for adults: novels, magazines, comics and documentaries. Over 1,500 books, magazines, albums, comics and documentaries for children and adolescents. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Go next

• 1 Parc de la rivière Batiscan Quebec regional park whose area straddles Saint-Narcisse, Saint-Stanislas and Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. Established in 1992, this 362-hectare recreational tourism park stretches along both banks of the Batiscan River. Services offered: camping (rustic, semi-finished, furnished tents, yurts and prospectors), 25 km of marked trails with ecological and historical interpretation panels, mountain biking, canoeing, nature and history interpretation rooms with animations.
• 2 Saint-Prosper-de-Champlain Located in the MRC des Chenaux, Saint-Prosper-de-Champlain has agricultural land in the Saint-Laurent plain, straddling the moraine that delimits the Laurentians. The economic vocation is mainly agricultural, partly forestry, with a significant increase in recreational tourism activities (sugar maple groves especially in the moraine, resort).
• 3 Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan Located in the MRC des Chenaux, Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan has agricultural land in the Saint-Laurent plain, overlapping part of the moraine that delimits the Laurentians. Its economy is mainly agricultural, partly forestry, with a significant increase in recreational tourism activities (sugar maple groves especially in the moraine, resort).
• 4 Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes In the heart of the MRC des Chenaux, Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes offers its citizens, in particular a library, a Golden Age club, a recreation and social committee, the parish of St-Laurent-de-la-Moraine (church of Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes), the historical society and a flying meal.
• 5 Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade A municipality of the MRC des Chenaux whose village is divided by the course of the Sainte-Anne river. In winter, a village of fishermen's huts offers the public to tease the tomcod. The Catholic Church was built on the model of the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.
• 6 Champlain (Quebec) Located in the MRC des Chenaux, Champlain includes agricultural land in the Saint-Laurent plain. The economic vocation is mainly agricultural, partly forestry, with a significant increase in recreational and tourism activities (vacationing and boating on the St. Lawrence River).