Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan is an ancestral, a recreational and tourist locality, in Les Chenaux in Mauricie. It has a picturesque charm with a great history since the beginning of the seigneury of Batiscan.

Understand

It is located in Basse-Mauricie and Basse-Batiscanie, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, in the regional county municipality (MRC) Les Chenaux. The village is located at the confluence of the rivière-à-Veillet and Batiscan River.

This locality has a territory of 100 km² (39 sq mi) where 1060 inhabitants reside. The main village is on the north bank of the Batiscan River; nevertheless, a hamlet is established on the south bank opposite the village.

This municipality is relatively close to shops and services. The village is 5 minutes by car from Highway 30 and about 20 minutes from shopping centres in the Cap-de-la-Madeleine sector of Trois-Rivières. It is the central municipality of the MRC des Chenaux.

Route 361 runs along the south bank of the Batiscan River. Perpendicular to the first road, the chemin de la rivière à Veillet (continuation of the rue de l'Église) provides a direct link between Saint-Prosper-de-Champlain from the north and the bridge spanning the Batiscan River; on the south side this road is designated "Champlain village road".

Economy

The local economy used to be based on forestry, agriculture and partly on navigation by the Batiscan River to reach the river, because the roads were generally primary and difficult to pass, especially in spring or in the event of heavy rains. In the 19th century, Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan was the business centre of the current Mauricie territory and the capital of Batiscanie.

In the 21st century, its economy is based on recreational and tourism activities (vacationing, hunting and sport fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiles, nautical activities, boating on the Batiscan river, Batiscan river park, Parc de la Péninsule campsite), agriculture, forestry, several public services (including a credit union (caisse populaire) and a post office) and some local shops.

History

The colonization of the current territory of Sainte-Geneviève de Batiscan began in 1685 with the grant of a first lot of land. The construction of a first church began after 1723 on the lot of Jean Veillet. The first cemetery begins in 1729 or before. The construction of the second church took place in 1755. In 1798, the Forges de Batiscan opened. The canonical erection of the parish took place in 1833 and the civil erection in 1841. In 1933, the church was burnt down and rebuilt the same year. In 2018, the Catholic parish of Sainte-Élisabeth was formed, thus merging the parishes of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan, Saint-Prosper-de-Champlain and Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade.

Geography

The locality of Saint-Narcisse is part of the Batiscanie (hydrographic basin), because of the watersheds of the rivière des Chutes and the rivière à la Tortue, which flow into the Batiscan River. Covering an area of 104.87 km (65.16 mi), the municipal territory is subdivided by seven ranges.

The Batiscan River flows from north to south over 196 km (122 mi) starting from lac Édouard in Mauricie. It drains into the St. Lawrence River at Batiscan. The Batiscan River divides the parish of Saint-Stanislas in two. Beginning in 1852, the Price Brothers and Company began to harvest the forest in the Batiscan valley. The transport of wood by flotation on the Batiscan River was abandoned in 1963.

With a length of 11.3 km (7.0 mi), the river at Veillet draws its source in the moraine at Saint-Prosper (a mountainous line extending parallel to the Saint Lawrence river). It then flows into the agricultural plain and enters Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan where it flows into the Batiscan River in the centre of the village.

Flowing mainly in agricultural land, the rivière à la Lime drains a basin of 25.86 square kilometres (9.98 sq mi). It flows on the south side of the Batiscan River where it will flow, either facing the Parc de la Péninsule, upstream from the village of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan.

Get in

The village of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan is accessible by road, boat (via Batiscan River), snowmobile and all terrain vehicles.

By car

• From Montreal (176 km (109 mi). Time: 1 hr 56 min. From Montreal, take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, up to the exit to take route 361 (ie before the bridge spanning the Batiscan river); take road 361 (westbound) to the village of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan.
• From Quebec City (101 km (63 mi). Time: 1 hr 7 min. From Quebec City, take highway 40 westbound to the exit to take route 361; take route 361 (westbound) to the village of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan.

Get around

• 1 Electric vehicle terminal (Electric vehicle terminal), 32, rue St-Charles. Battery charging station for electric vehicles. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Station-service Sonic (Sonic gas station), chemin de la Rivière-à-Veillette, ☏ +1 800-207-6642. Service station for motor vehicles. (updated Oct 2021)

See

• 1 Église de Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan (Church of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan), rue de l'Église. Catholic church in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Cimetière de Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan (Cemetery of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan), chemin Haut de la Grande Ligne. Local cemetery. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Calvaire de la rivière-à-Veillet (Calvary of the Rivière-à-Veillet), rue du Centre. Calvary sculpted around 1827 and located since 2006 behind the church of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. (updated Oct 2021)
• 4 Centrale hydro-électrique de Saint-Narcisse (Saint-Narcisse hydroelectric power station), chemin du barrage. Built in 1897 on Batiscan River by the North Shore Power Company, the Saint-Narcisse hydroelectric centre has a great history. It was enlarged in 1904. The dam was rebuilt in 1926. In July 2021, Hydro-Québec announced the final shutdown of the plant. The best way to view this dam, the falls and rapids downstream, is through the Batiscan River Park. Several forest trails in the moraine allow you to appreciate the landscapes and the force of the water current of the Batiscan river. (updated Oct 2021)

Cope

• 1 Bibliothèque Clément-Marchand (Clément-Marchand Library), 91, rue de l'Église, ☏ +1 819-840-0476. This toponym evokes Clément Marchand (1912-2013) a writer born in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. From the age of 20, he was co-owner of Bien Public, a newspaper of which he was also editor-in-chief. Its community involvement in social and cultural animation and in the publishing business is well recognized. The David Prize was awarded to him in 1939 for Les soirs rouge and in 1942 for Courrier des villages. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Do

• 2 Batiscan River Parc, 522, rang des Forges, ☏ +1 418-328-3599, parcbatiscan@xplornet.com. Regional park covering the municipalities of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan, Saint-Stanislas and Saint-Narcisse. Offer of services: camping (rustic cabins and yurts, grouped sites, ready-to-camp, unusual refuges), Via Batiscan (high adventure course, in particular a course in the trees including several zip lines or the large zip line) or the Via Ferrata (route on a rock wall) and marked trails for hiking. free. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Camping Parc de la Péninsule, 20 route de la Grande Pointe, ☏ +1 418-362-2043. Family campsite with 598 sites, the largest in Mauricie. Established on a large peninsula bypassed by the Batiscan River, it has a water park (equipped with the highest water slide in Mauricie), a mini-golf course, a small train, a swimming pool. It also offers sandy beach activities, fishing, and kayaking. The community hall has a capacity of 600 people. This campsite has a whole program of social events including musical shows and singing. The campsite offers three rental cabins and trailers. free. (updated Oct 2021)
• 4 Halte Desjardins (Desjardins Rest Area) (in the village, on rue Duval, near the bridge and along the Batiscan river). Public park with sanitary service, picnic table, dock and launching ramp for pleasure craft. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Buy

• 1 SAQ Agence - Café - Dépanneur Le Gourmet, 170 rue de l'Église, ☏ +1 833-5877-2727. Liquor store. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Ferme Paquette Dessureaux, 371, chemin de la Rivière à Veillet, ☏ +1 418-362-2829. May to September. Family market garden since 1976. Wide variety of fruits and vegetables sold by pick-your-own, at kiosks or wholesale. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Pranasens inc, 90b rue de l'Église, ☏ +1 418-362-2499, serviceclient@pranasens.com. Organic farm since 2010. Organic cultivation. Orée is a professional brand that was created by Pranasens. (updated Oct 2021)

Sleep

Camping

• 1 Parc de la Rivière Batiscan (secteur Grand Bassin) (Batiscan River Park (Grand Bassin sector)), 522, rang des Forges, ☏ +1 418-328-3599, parcbatiscan@xplornet.com. Regional park offers services: camping (rustic cabins and yurts, grouped sites, ready-to-camp, unusual refuges), Via Batiscan (high adventure course, in particular a course in the trees including several zip lines or the large zip line) or the Via Ferrata (route on a rock wall) and marked trails for hiking. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Camping Parc de la Péninsule (Batiscan River Park (Grand Bassin sector)), 20 route de la Grande Pointe, ☏ +1 418 362-2043. Family campsite with 598 sites, the largest in Mauricie. Established on a large peninsula bypassed by the Batiscan River, it has a water park (equipped with the highest water slide in Mauricie), a mini-golf course, a small train, a swimming pool. It also offers sandy beach activities, fishing, and kayaking. The community hall has a capacity of 600 people. This campsite has a whole program of social events including musical shows and singing. The campsite offers three rental cabins and trailers. (updated Oct 2021)

Chalet, gîte, inn

• 3 Parc de la Rivière Batiscan (secteur Grand Bassin) (Batiscan River Park (Grand Bassin sector)), 522, rang des Forges, ☏ +1 418-328-3599, parcbatiscan@xplornet.com. Regional park offering accommodation services in rustic cabins and yurts, or unusual refuges. (updated Oct 2021)
• 4 Camping Parc de la Péninsule (Batiscan River Park (Grand Bassin sector)), 20 route de la Grande Pointe, ☏ +1 418 362-2043. Family campsite offering accommodation in three cabins and trailers. (updated Oct 2021)
• 5 Gîte du notaire (Notary's gîte), 110, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-362-1362. Picturesque gîte in the early 20th century style located in the village of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. Former home of the notary David Tancrède Trudel who had it built in 1896. His notary office was located in this house. At the end of the 20th century, the building was used as a residence for seniors. Four rooms available to visitors; each room has its own character and history. (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-Ubalde Renowned across Canada for its potato cultivation; its sandy soils favour this kind of culture.
• 3 Saint-Prosper-de-Champlain 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).
• 4 Saint-Stanislas (Les Chenaux) 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.
• 5 Batiscan Batiscan includes agricultural land in the St. Lawrence 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).
• 6 Saint-Narcisse Saint-Narcisse has a rural and ancestral character. Its economy is based on a group of manufacturing industries, agriculture, partly forestry, certain public services (primary school), recreational and tourism activities (Batiscan River park, resorts, camping, hunting and sport fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiles) and local shops.
• 7 Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade A village is divided by the course of the Sainte-Anne river. In winter, a village of fishing huts offers the public to tease the tomcod. The Catholic Church was built on the model of the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.