Chemin du Roy
Encyclopedia
The Chemin du Roy is a historic road along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec
. The road begins in Repentigny
and extends almost 280 kilometres (174 mi) eastward towards Quebec City
, its eastern terminus. Most of the Chemin du Roy today follows along the present-day Quebec Route 138
.
decreed that a road be built to connect the settlements along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Work began in 1731, under the supervision of Grand Voyer (senior road surveyor) Eustache Lanouiller de Boisclerc, and was completed in 1737. Upon completion, the Chemin du Roy was 7.4 metres (24.3 ft) wide, over 280 kilometres (174 mi) long, and crossed 37 seignories
. The Chemin du Roy was the longest road in existence at the time north of the Rio Grande River.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The road begins in Repentigny
Repentigny, Quebec
Repentigny is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in the province of Quebec, located north of Montreal, on the lower end of the L'Assomption River and on the Saint Lawrence River. Repentigny and Charlemagne are the first towns off the island of Montreal.-History:...
and extends almost 280 kilometres (174 mi) eastward towards Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, its eastern terminus. Most of the Chemin du Roy today follows along the present-day Quebec Route 138
Quebec route 138
Route 138 is a major highway in the Canadian province of Quebec, following the entire north shore of the Saint Lawrence River past Montreal to the eastern terminus in Natashquan on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The western terminus is in Elgin, at the border with New York State south-west of Montreal...
.
History
In 1706, the Conseil supérieur (Grand Council) of New FranceNew France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
decreed that a road be built to connect the settlements along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Work began in 1731, under the supervision of Grand Voyer (senior road surveyor) Eustache Lanouiller de Boisclerc, and was completed in 1737. Upon completion, the Chemin du Roy was 7.4 metres (24.3 ft) wide, over 280 kilometres (174 mi) long, and crossed 37 seignories
Seignory
In English law, Seignory or seigniory , the lordship remaining to a grantor after the grant of an estate in fee simple....
. The Chemin du Roy was the longest road in existence at the time north of the Rio Grande River.
Communities along the Chemin du Roy
- RepentignyRepentigny, QuebecRepentigny is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in the province of Quebec, located north of Montreal, on the lower end of the L'Assomption River and on the Saint Lawrence River. Repentigny and Charlemagne are the first towns off the island of Montreal.-History:...
(western terminus) - Saint-SulpiceSaint-Sulpice, QuebecSaint-Sulpice is a municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the L'Assomption Regional County Municipality. It is located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River and includes most of Verchères Islands.-History:...
- L'AssomptionL'Assomption, QuebecL'Assomption is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the L'Assomption River. It is the seat of the Regional County Municipality of L'Assomption. It is located on the outer fringes of the Montreal urban area....
- LavaltrieLavaltrie, QuebecLavaltrie is a city located within the D'Autray Regional County Municipality in the southern part of the region of Lanaudière, Quebec, Canada, northeast of Montreal outside of the suburban sprawl of the northern crown...
- LanoraieLanoraie, QuebecLanoraie is a town in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the D'Autray Regional County Municipality.-History:When Jacques Cartier passed through in the 16th century, the Iroquois had already established themselves in the area, calling it Agochanda or Agouchonda, meaning "place where...
- Sainte-Geneviève-de-BerthierSainte-Geneviève-de-Berthier, QuebecSainte-Geneviève-de-Berthier is a town in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the D'Autray Regional County Municipality.-Demographics:Population:* Population in 2006: 2307 * Population in 2001: 2387...
- BerthiervilleBerthierville, QuebecBerthierville is a Canadian town located between Montreal and Trois-Rivières on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in the province of Quebec. Berthierville is the seat of D'Autray Regional County Municipality, and is served by Autoroute 40, and is the junction of Routes 138 and 158...
- Saint-CuthbertSaint-Cuthbert, QuebecSaint-Cuthbert is a municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the D'Autray Regional County Municipality.-Demographics:Population:* Population in 2006: 1938 * Population in 2001: 1899...
- Saint-BarthélemySaint-Barthélemy, QuebecSaint-Barthélemy is a parish municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the D'Autray Regional County Municipality.-Demographics:Population:* Population in 2006: 2037 * Population in 2001: 2000...
- MaskinongéMaskinongé, QuebecMaskinongé is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada.- References :...
- LouisevilleLouiseville, QuebecLouiseville is a town in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada. It is located near the mouth of the Wolf River on the north shore of Lac Saint-Pierre....
- YamachicheYamachiche, QuebecYamachiche is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada.-Etymology:The name Yamachiche was first used to identify the Little Yamachiche River which runs through the town. It came from the Native American words iyamitaw and achichki...
- Trois-RivièresTrois-RivièresTrois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
- ChamplainChamplain, QuebecChamplain is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada.-Demographics:Population trend:* Population in 2006: 1566 * Population in 2001: 1623* Population in 1996: 1608...
- BatiscanBatiscan, QuebecBatiscan is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada. It is located along the Saint Lawrence River at the mouth of the Batiscan River.-History:...
- Sainte-Anne-de-la-PéradeSainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, QuebecSainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade is a municipality in the Les Chenaux Regional County Municipality, in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada. The town is located near the mouth of the Sainte-Anne River along the Chemin du Roy, a historic segment of Quebec Route 138 that stretches from...
- Deschambault-Grondines
- PortneufPortneuf, QuebecSouthern main part...
- Cap-Santé
- DonnaconaDonnacona, QuebecDonnacona is an industrial town located about west of Quebec City in Portneuf County, Quebec, Canada.Some people believe the city was named after Donnacona, a 16th century Wendat chief who was taken to France...
- NeuvilleNeuville, QuebecNeuville is a village on the north shore of the Saint Laurence River, just west of Quebec City, part of the Portneuf Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1684, and has remained quite picturesque throughout these years....
- Saint-Augustin-de-DesmauresSaint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QuebecSaint-Augustin-de-Desmaures is a city in central Quebec, Canada, on the Saint Lawrence River, adjacent to Quebec City.The town was founded in 1691 by three families...
- Quebec CityQuebec CityQuebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
(eastern terminus)