Saint-Séverin is a picturesque locality of the Moyen-Mauricie at the south-eastern limit of the Laurentian shield, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River, in the Mékinac Regional County Municipality. This locality has a territory of 62 km² (24 sq mi) where 846 inhabitants reside.

This locality has many houses dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Understand

Economy

Historically, its economy was based on agriculture, mills (flour, saw and card), some public services (primary school) and local businesses. Forestry was a secondary activity after the land was colonized.

Route 159 connecting Saint-Tite and Saint-Stanislas passes through the heart of the village (boulevard St-Louis). A section of railway linking Hérouxville (via Lac à la Tortue) and Saint-Stanislas included a station at Chemin de la Côte-St-Paul.

History

In 1889, the current territory of Saint-Séverin was detached from the parishes of Saint-Tite and Saint-Stanislas. The roads of the time were often difficult to pass in bad weather or flooding. Nevertheless, in winter, the ice road (when it was well taken) on the Des Envies river allowed an access route between Saint-Stanislas and the foot of the village waterfall at Saint-Séverin; as well as between the top of the fall and Saint-Tite. The church opened its doors in 1897.

The first bridge (formerly known as "Pont Bordeleau") spanning the rivière des Envies at this point was erected in 1875, the same year of the opening of the Côte Saint-Paul road to which it gives access. This bridge was aimed at facilitating the passage between the villages of Saint-Tite, Saint-Stanislas and Saint-Narcisse. In 1932, the Ministry of Colonization had the bridge rebuilt with a roof to ensure an extended lifespan.

Among the worst tragedies in local history was the fire of ten houses which occurred in 1921. In 1944, another fire destroyed 33 buildings including 18 houses in the village.

The falls of the rivière des Envies, one located downstream from the village and the other upstream, have been a vector of economic development. During its history, there were two flour mills; people came from afar to grind their grains. In addition, there were at least ten sawmills in the history of Saint-Séverin, nine of which were powered by the power of water. The most important is the Crête mill (now operated by Kryger), the only one to run on electricity. The card mill, also powered by water, accommodated families; a tour was made in the region to collect from door to door (even as far as Lac-aux-Sables and Saint-Ubalde) the bales of sheep's wool.

The Kapibouska electrical centre was built on the rivière des Envies in the village of Saint-Séverin. This plant supplied electricity mainly to the houses of the village of Saint-Séverin and those of the Grand Rang de Saint-Tite.

The book Saint-Séverin de Proulxville, 100 ans d'histoire (two editions) was published during the centenary festivities of Saint-Séverin.

Geography

Saint-Séverin is part of the Batiscanie (hydrographic basin), being crossed by the river of Envies, a tributary of the Batiscan River.

Taking its source at Lac de la Traverse in Sainte-Thècle, the Rivière des Envies flows over 74 km (46 mi) crossing Sainte-Thècle, Saint-Tite, Hérouxville, Saint-Séverin and Saint-Stanislas. It flows into the Batiscan River at Saint-Stanislas. The Rivière des Envies passes through the northwestern part of the territory of Saint-Séverin. This river has been a vector of economic development, in particular through its ice roads in winter, transport by light boats, mills (flour, saw and card) and for fishing activities. The great floods washed away many bridges and created great floods.

The Tortue river has its source at Lac à la Tortue in Hérouxville. It flows over 20 km (12 mi) especially in agricultural areas, crossing Hérouxville, Saint-Séverin and Saint-Stanislas. Finally, it flows into the Desvies river in Saint-Stanislas.

Get in

The village of Hérouxville is accessible by road, snowmobile and all terrain vehicles.

By car

• From Montreal (194 km (121 mi). Time: 2 hr 17 min. From Montreal, take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Trois-Rivières; take highway 55 (northbound) to Grand-Mère, which becomes route 155 and cross the Saint-Maurice river bridge; take route 153 to Hérouxville; take rang St-Pierre (southbound); take the Lefebvre road; take Chemin de la Rivière-des-Envies Sud-Ouest, as far as the village of Saint-Séverin.
• From Quebec City (119 km (74 mi). Time: 1 hr 26 min. From Quebec City, take highway 40 westbound to Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade; then take road 159 (northbound) through the village of Saint-Prosper and Saint-Stanislas, to the village of Saint-Séverin.

By trail

• The Quad trail (www.quadmekinac2011.com) passes through Saint-Séverin.
• The equestrian trail (www.tourismemauricie.com) passes through Saint-Séverin.

Get around

• 1 Borne véhicule électrique - Municipalité de Saint-Séverin, 1986 rue de la Place du Centre. Battery charging station for electric vehicles. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Borne véhicule électrique, 260, boul. St-Louis. Battery charging station for electric vehicles. (updated Oct 2021)

See

• 1 Église de Saint-Séverin (Church of Saint-Séverin), boul. St-Louis. Catholic church in Saint-Séverin. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Cimetière de Saint-Séverin (Cimetary of Saint-Séverin). Local cemetery located behind the church. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Bordeleau Covered Bridge, route Dessureault. Covered bridge spanning the Rivière des Envies, between Hérouxville and Saint-Tite (at the limit of Saint-Séverin), or on the Dessureault de Saint-Tite Road. (updated Oct 2021)

Do

• Salle de conditionnement physique (Fitness room). free. (updated Oct 2021)

Scenic routes

• Panoramic route of the mills of the Des Envies river (from the village of Saint-Sévérin). From the church of Saint-Séverin, take the bridge (northbound) spanning the Rivière des Envies; this bridge, which is the signature of the village, was renovated in 2012, giving it back its cachet of yesteryear. Take Chemin des Moulins (north-east direction) which was a segment of the main road before the development of this large curve of Route 159 bypassing the mountain; cross the small hamlet on the north side of the river, near the old sawmill and the hydroelectric power station which served the homes of Saint-Séverin and Saint-Tite; take the Rivière des Envies Nord-Est path, as far as the Pont Veillette road; take this road from the Pont Veillette which has been washed away by the flooding on numerous occasions that the government takes it in May in 1944 when it was rebuilt in concrete. It is designated Veillette because six generations of Veillette have lived on the lot where this small road passes. Continue on the Rang de la Rivière des Envies Nord-Est road to route 159 where the Tortue River empties. The travelers will pass in front of the waterfall at Goulet where a hamlet has formed; then the fall to Prince; continue until road 352 where it is suggested to turn right and cross the village of Saint-Stanislas a village whose architecture is a good mix of history and modernity. After the village, cross the metal bridge spanning the Rivière des Envies; then turn right immediately to take the small street along the Des Envies river and stop to contemplate the fall at Cossette. In reverse, travellers will be able to repeat the same route by taking Route 159 to the Rang de la Rivière-des-Envies Sud-Ouest route which runs along the Rivière des Envies. Thus, they will return by the other side. A few mills had been operated near the mouth of the Rivière des Envies. This course of the river was used in winter in the nineteenth and early twentieth century as an ice road between Saint-Stanislas and the village of Saint-Séverin, before the development of sufficiently passable roads on each bank. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Buy

• 1 Marché Pronovost, 12, rue Saint-Georges, ☏ +1 418-365-5934, marchepronovost@live.ca. Food market. Everyday groceries, ready-made meals, homemade products, catering service and many other convenience store products. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Ferme la Chouette Lapone, 10, route de la Tortue (between Saint-Séverin and Saint-Narcisse), ☏ +1 418-365-0366, info@fermelachouettelapone.ca. Open in summer. Organic vegetable farm with a kiosk selling market garden products and local products. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Ferme Hogue et Huot SENC, 1601, chemin de la Côte St-Louis (route 159) (near the limits of Saint-Tite), ☏ +1 819-538-4504, info@fermehogueethuot.com. Founded in 2014. Kiosk selling fruits and vegetables, meats, homemade products, and a catering service (snack bar style). (updated Oct 2021)

Eat

• 1 Relais de la Station, 240, chemin de la Côte-Saint-Paul, ☏ +1 418-365-3885. Concept of relay (snowmobile and mountain bike trails), restaurant, bar and accommodation. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Ferme Hogue et Huot SENC, 1601, chemin de la Côte St-Louis (route 159) (near the limits of Saint-Tite), ☏ +1 418-365-6150, info@fermehogueethuot.com. Founded in 2014. Kiosk selling fruits and vegetables, meats, homemade products, and a catering service (snack bar style). (updated Oct 2021)

Drink

• 1 Relais de la Station (Station relay), 240, chemin de la Côte-Saint-Paul, ☏ +1 418-365-3885. Concept of relay (snowmobile and mountain bike trails), restaurant, bar and accommodation. About fifteen places around the bar. Chansonniers Saturdays, occasionally. The events are posted on Facebook. (updated Oct 2021)

Sleep

Chalet, gîte, inn

• 1 Relais de la Station (Station relay), 240, chemin de la Côte-Saint-Paul (from the village of Hérouxville, take the chemin du rang St-Pierre (northbound)), ☏ +1 418-365-3885, relaisdelastation2009@hotmail.ca. Concept of relay (snowmobile and mountain bike trails), restaurant, bar and accommodation. Accommodation in a wood-heated "Prospector's Tent". Rustic style. (updated Oct 2021)

Connect

• Bibliothèque municipale de Saint-Séverin (Saint-Séverin municipal library), 1986, place du Centre, ☏ +1 418-365-6417, biblio008@reseaubibliocqlm.qc.ca. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Go next

• 1 Festival Western de Saint-Tite Western-style festival that takes place annually over ten days, from the second weekend to the third weekend in September. It has international fame.
• 2 Saint-Stanislas It is one of the oldest parishes established at the top of the moraine which stretches more or less parallel to the St. Lawrence River (north shore). The architecture of this picturesque locality reveals a variety of ancient styles. Recreational tourism activities (e.g., resorts, nautical activities, Batiscan River Park) are developed along the Batiscan River which divides this parish in two.
• 3 Saint-Adelphe The municipality of Saint-Adelphe is distinguished by its agricultural and forestry economy and recreational tourism activities (vacation, boating, hunting & fishing). The municipality is separated in two by the course of the Batiscan river.
• 4 Hérouxville Hérouxville stands out particularly thanks to the Tavibois domain (belonging to the Daughters of Jesus community) and the Val Notre-Dame Camp summer camp.
• 5 Saint-Narcisse Recreational tourism activities include camping, hunting and sport fishing, ATVs, snowmobiles, especially in the Parc de la Rivière-Batiscan.
• 6 Saint-Tite Its Western festival is internationally renowned.