Day 19 A drive to Sainte Anne de Beaupre and Ile d’Orleans

Overcast all day, with a few light drops of rain.

A great sleep last night and breakfast, which included a delicious Gf bagel. Sarah’s toe was still looking black and blue.

We set off for a drive to Beaupre to see the cathedral and then to the large island (Ile d’Orleans) in the middle of the St Lawrence River. We drove past the industrial area near the port. One large cruise ship was in port and the mill was processing wood chips. The road that ran along the side of the river met small communities now and then, several large caravan sales places and a few other light industrial shops.

We went past the impressive Montmorency Falls.

Montmorency Falls

I could see the gondolas going up from the base to the chalet at the top, even if they were quite a distance from the road. We continued onto Beaupre. You couldn’t miss the cathedral. On the car journey we had past so many small churches with tall spires, but this was huge.

 We stopped at the Cyclorama of Jerusalem- no photos allowed. It is America’s largest panorama and has been on display as part of St. Anne’s since 1885. It was made in Munich from 1878 – 1882. 14 M high and 110 M in circumference, showing 80 kms around Jerusalem. Interesting, but I think the price of entry ($11 per adult) was far too high.

Cyclorama of Jerusalem

 

Next we went to the cathedral. They were having a celebration around it. The basilica was built to honour St Anne. The first chapel was built in 1658, followed by the second church in 1661, the third church in 1676, the first basilica in 1876 and the present one in 1923. The Romanesque architecture is outstanding in the way that is combined with a 1920/30 approach to mosaics, paintings, carvings and stain glass windows. The building covers 45,000 square feet. As we went into the church, mass was about to begin and no photos were allowed. So I stayed for mass (in French) and as soon as it finished started taking photos. It is one of the most beautiful churches.

The church is part of a huge complex, complete with information centre, inn and restaurant, monastery, shops, blessings office, toilet block, stations of the cross statues/ centre going up the hill, cemetery, and there is also a camping ground over the road.

St Anne de Beaupre

After taking our photos, we had lunch on the lawn watching Lachie play with his truck and the strange game of zorb ball soccer. We continued our drive back to the bridge, but used the high road behind the churches for a while where we saw some lovely farms and more homes with tin roofs/ sides- some just plain and some pressed into patterns.

We crossed the bridge to Ile d’Orleans, in the middle of the St Lawrence River. The island settled by the French back in the 1600's is 34 kms x 5 kms, so that gives you an indication of the size of the river. We bought petrol and drove right around the island. Again many churches and some tiny ones that looked like shrines? The countryside was lovely.

One of the little villages on the island.

They were growing apples, wheat, strawberries, blue berries, vegetables, cattle and dairy, vineyards and lots of the most beautiful homes and interesting barns. (some cows/ cattle were in the fields , some stay inside.) Note that there was not one home on the island that had an untidy lawn? It was quite surreal.

 After the island we drove back to Quebec, via the port area on the way home. An area that I definitely need to explore. We stopped at the park to give Lachie a chance to play after a long time in the car. Tim stayed with him and Sarah and I walked down to the shops to get a few supplies to cook for dinner.( Meat is VERY expensive. A small steak was $8)) There are so many places to see in the town.

We came home to cook dinner and I sat down to download photos. Another late night finishing typing today’s diary.

Picking strawberries on the island