Saint-Sévère is a municipality of the Maskinongé Regional county municipality (MRC), in Mauricie, in Quebec.

The majority of the residents of Saint-Sévère live along the chemin du rang Saint-François-de-Pique-Dur; and the other part, along the chemin du rang de Bellechasse, which runs parallel and on the north side to the first.

Understand

History

The parish of Saint-Sévère is located in the territory of the former Dumontier stronghold, a seigneury granted in 1708 to Sergeant François Dumontier. From 1800, inhabitants occupied the middle of this stronghold on the Pic-dur range where the church of Saint-Sévère was erected. In 1828, by diocesan decree, the St-Joseph, Bellechasse and Pic-dur ranks were detached from the parish of Sainte-Anne d'Yamachiche to form the Catholic parish of Saint-Barnabé. Finally, considering the reaction of the parishioners, there was rather the constitution of two Catholic parishes: Saint-Barnabé and Saint-Sévère. Finally, the Catholic parish of Saint-Sévère was incorporated on January 23, 1850.

Geography

The locality is crossed by the rivière du Loup (from north to south) and by the Petite rivière Yamachiche (tributary of the north shore of lake Saint-Pierre). The serpentine course of the latter mainly drains the agricultural lands of the St. Lawrence plain. While the Loup river has its source in the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve; its course forms the western limit of Saint-Sévère and the eastern limit of Saint-Léon-le-Grand.

The territory of Saint-Sévère is part of the Saint-Laurent plain. It is mainly made up of agricultural land, apart from the areas near the Rivière du Loup and the Petite Rivière Yamachiche which are mostly wooded.

The village is located at the junction of the rang de Bellechasse (coming from the northeast) and the route de Saint-Sévère (south side) or the chemin Saint-François-de-Pique-Dur (north side). As you cross the village and the rest of the parish, you can see many old, well-restored houses, as well as houses from different eras. In the rows, the old farm buildings mingle with the more modern.

Economy

The economic activities of Saint-Sévère are centred on agriculture and a little forestry. Recreational tourism activities are restricted to a "Rien ne se perd, tout se crée" (Nothing is lost, everything is created) shop, and two agri-food businesses: "La lavanderaie Passion Lavande" and the "Domaine et Vins Gélinas vineyard".

Get in

The village of Saint-Sévère is accessible by road, bicycle, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicles.

By car

• From Montreal (128 km (80 mi), 1 hr 22 min). Take Highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Yamachiche; take road 153 (northbound) to the hamlet Vide-Poche; take the road to Saint-Sévère (northbound) which becomes the rang de Saint-François-de-Pique-Dur, to the village of Saint-Sévère.
• From Quebec City (152 km (94 mi), 1 hr 35 min). Take Highway 40 (westbound), to Yamachiche; take road 153 (northbound) to the hamlet Vide-Poche; take the road to Saint-Sévère (northbound) which becomes the rang de Saint-François-de-Pique-Dur, to the village of Saint-Sévère.

See

• 1 Presbytère et église de Saint-Sévère (Presbytery and church of Saint-Sévère), 57, rue Principale (presbytère), ☏ +1 819-264-2875. Place of Catholic worship, the church was built from 1853 to 1855. The cemetery is behind the church. (updated Nov 2021)

Do

• Tournée des artisans (Craftsmen tour). Annual tour organized to visit the artisans' workshops and boutiques, in particular: "Nothing is lost, everything is created", "La lavanderaie Passion Lavande" and the "Domaine et Vins Gélinas vineyard". (updated Nov 2021)
• Parc la Culbute (Culbute Park), 59, rue Principale (Located near Chalet Dumontier). Park with a children's play area and an ice rink. (updated Nov 2021)
• Parc du presbytère (Culbute Park) (in front of the town hall and the Denise L Noël library). Park with a gazebo, swings and a community garden. (updated Nov 2021)

Buy

Foods

• 1 Domaine & Vins Gélinas, 267, rang de Saint-François-de-Pique-Dur, ☏ +1 819-264-5511, info@domainegelinas.com. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Passion Lavande, 190 Rang Saint-François-de-Pique-Dur. This agrifood sector cultivates, transforms and sells lavender products. Usually, lavender blooms from late June to mid-July. Besides lavender, Passion Lavande also cultivates other vegetable crops. This agritourism business offers guided tours, an interpretation center, a picnic area, hiking trails, a café-bistro and the boutique. (updated Nov 2021)

Other types of stores

• 3 Rien ne se perd, tout se crée (Nothing is lost, everything is created), 91, rue Principale. Collection of clothes and accessories made by hand in their workshop, mainly in organic cotton fabrics from their loom. Clothing store for women, men, babies & children, offering accessories, jewellery, shoes, and gift cards. (updated Nov 2021)

Cope

• 1 Bibliothèque Denise L. Noël (Denise L. Noël municipal Library), 59, rue Principale, ☏ +1 819 264-5656 ext 2. Public library. (updated Nov 2021)

Go next

• 1 Trois-Rivières Located at the mouth of the Saint-Maurice River, Trois-Rivières is the capital of the administrative region of Mauricie. Founded in 1634, it is the second oldest city in Quebec. Due to its historical character and its infrastructures, this city offers many recreational and tourist activities: museums, Vieux-Trois-Rivières, golf, sports or boating activities, hiking or heritage, artistic activities, theatres, festivals, major events, and the Cogeco amphitheater.
• 2 Saint-Barnabé Locality mainly agricultural. Cycle tourism has developed well there. Several old, well-restored residences reflect local history.
• 3 Saint-Léon-le-Grand The main economic activity of the territory is agriculture.
• 4 Sainte-Ursule The Sainte-Ursule Falls Park on the Maskinongé River is a tourist attraction.
• 5 Louiseville Municipality bordering Lac Saint-Pierre, Louiseville has great agricultural and recreational tourism activities (vacationing, swimming, hunting, fishing, boating). Every spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop off by landing on Lac Saint-Pierre (and its tributaries) and the surrounding land.
• 6 Yamachiche Municipality bordering Lac Saint-Pierre, Yamachiche has great agricultural and recreational tourism activities (vacationing, swimming, hunting, fishing, boating). Every spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop off by landing on Lac Saint-Pierre (and its tributaries) and the surrounding land.