Château-Richer is a suburban municipality of the City of Quebec in Quebec Region.
Château‑Richer’s streets are a quiet testament to the longevity of French‑Canadian settlement patterns. The layout still mirrors the 17th‑century seigneurial strips that ran from the river inland, each narrow lot stretching back to the hinterland. Visitors who linger on the modest lanes can spot stone foundations and modest farmhouses that have been adapted over centuries, offering a palpable sense of continuity. The subtle contrast between these historic parcels and the newer residential zones illustrates how the town balances preservation with modest growth, something rarely conveyed in guidebooks focused on larger urban centres.
While the region is famed for its maple syrup, Château‑Richer’s culinary identity leans heavily on river‑influenced fare. Small, family‑run establishments serve locally caught whitefish and trout, often smoked using traditional wood‑smoke methods passed down through generations. Pair the fish with a side of freshly baked tourtière made from locally sourced pork, and you’ll taste a micro‑cuisine that reflects both the river’s bounty and the agrarian roots of the surrounding farms. Seasonal menus shift with the river’s rhythm, making a visit in late summer especially rewarding when the catch is at its peak.
Most travellers focus on the Saint‑Lawrence shoreline, yet Château‑Richer offers immediate access to the foothills of the Laurentians. A short drive brings you to the wooded trails of the Parc régional de la Forêt Ouareau, where the terrain rises gently, providing panoramic views of the river valley and the distant outline of Quebec City. Early‑morning hikes reveal mist‑veiled fields and a chorus of songbirds, while autumn brings a riot of colour across the mixed forest. These inland excursions complement the town’s riverine charm, presenting a diverse landscape within a single day’s reach.
City in Quebec, CanadaChâteau-RicherCityLa Visitation-de-Notre-DameMotto: Union et PaixLocation within La Côte-de-Beaupré RCMChâteau-RicherLocation in central QuebecCoordinates: 46°58′N 71°01′W / 46.967°N 71.017°W / 46.967; -71.017Country CanadaProvince QuebecRegionCapitale-NationaleRCMLa Côte-de-BeaupréConstitutedJuly 1, 1855Government • MayorGino Pouliot • Fed. ridingMontmorency—Charlevoix • Prov. ridingCharlevoix–Côte-de-BeaupréArea • Total139.51 km2 (53.87 sq mi) • Land126.6 km2 (48.9 sq mi)Population (2021) • Total4,425 • Density19.3/km2 (50/sq mi) • Pop (2016-21) 7.2% • Dwellings2,064Time zoneUTC−5 (EST) • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)Postal code(s)G0AArea codes418 and 581Highways R-138 R-360Websitewww.chateauricher.qc.ca Château-Richer (French pronunciation: [ʃato ʁiʃe]) is a small town situated in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec, Canada. Located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River east of Quebec City. It is the seat for the Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality. The first rural parish in New France was established in 1678, by the members of La Compagnie-des-Cents-Associés. Château-Richer was the first home to Quebec's oldest families (les Greniers, Giroux, Vachons, Bélangers, Juchereaux, Cloutiers) with descendants remaining to this day. In fact, a fairly large segment of the town's population can be traced back to those enterprising pioneers tasked with establishing a fur-trading post while increasing the population. The town stretches for several miles alongside Route 138. This road, originally known as Le Chemin du Roy (The King’s Road) or Le Chemin-Royal (The Royal Road), would later be renamed l’Avenue Royale . It is among the first roads to be built in North America. In addition to the main namesake population centre, the municipality also includes the hamlets of Le Moyne (46°57′20″N 71°2′42″W / 46.95556°N 71.04500°W / 46.95556; -71.04500), Rivière-Cazeau (46°56′56″N 71°3′0″W / 46.94889°N 71.05000°W / 46.94889; -71.05000), Sault-à-la-Puce (46°58′39″N 71°0′36″W / 46.97750°N 71.01000°W / 46.97750; -71.01000), Saint-Achillée (47°3′4″N 71°1′42″W / 47.05111°N 71.02833°W / 47.05111; -71.02833), and Saint-Ignace (47°2′7″N 71°3′3″W / 47.03528°N 71.05083°W / 47.03528; -71.05083).
[edit] In 1626, Samuel de Champlain established in Château-Richer the first farm in the Saint Lawrence valley, to feed the people of Quebec city. Jean Bourdon's map of 1641 is the earliest source that mentions the name "Chateau Richer", referring only to the cape or headland on which stands the present church. But the origin of this name remains uncertain. In 1646, Olivier Letardif, Lord and Chief Prosecutor, granted 20 concessions to the inhabitants of Château-Richer so that they could officially establish themselves properly. In 1678, the local parish was formed, named La Visitation-de-Notre-Dame. On March 15, 1753, Château-Richer became very first organized village in New France. In 1832, the post office opened. In 1845, the municipality was first established but abolished in 1847. It was reestablished in 1855 when it was incorporated as a parish municipality. Château-Richer was the county town of defunct Montmorency County. In 1968, it changed its status to "town" and became Ville de Château-Richer. In 1971, a part of Château-Richer was dissolved and returned to unorganized.
[edit] In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Château-Richer had a population of 4,425 living in 1,918 of its 2,064 total private dwellings, a change of 7.2% from its 2016 population of 4,126. With a land area of 228.84 km2 (88.36 sq mi), it had a population density of 19.3/km2 (50.1/sq mi) in 2021. Historical census populations – Château-Richer, QuebecYearPop.±% 1871 1,618—     1881 1,820+12.5% 1891 1,587−12.8% 1901 1,595+0.5% 1911 1,773+11.2% 1921 1,857+4.7% 1931 2,250+21.2% 1941 2,348+4.4%YearPop.±% 1951 2,787+18.7% 1956 2,947+5.7% 1961 3,113+5.6% 1966 3,118+0.2% 1971 3,111−0.2% 1976 3,075−1.2% 1981 3,628+18.0%1986 3,802+4.8%YearPop.±%1991 3,690−2.9%1996 3,579−3.0%2001 3,442−3.8%2006 3,563+3.5%2011 3,834+7.6%2016 4,126+7.6%2021 4,425+7.2%Population counts are not adjusted for boundary changes.Source: Statistics Canada Mother tongue (2021): English as first language: 0.8% French as first language: 97.7% English and French as first language: 0.7% Other as first language: 0.7%
[edit] List of former mayors: Lemoine, H.: 1845–1848 Huot, Michel: 1849–1851 Renaud, Jean: 1852–1854 Rheaume, Charles: 1855–1857 Bernier, L.P.: 1858–1859 Gravel, Alexandre: 1860–1871 Cloutier, Vincent: 1872–1873 Tremblay, Onésime: 1874–1875 Cauchon, Pierre: 1876–1876 Cloutier, Edouard: 1877–1885 Gravel, Louis-Nérée: 1886–1887 Premont, Joseph: 1888–1888 Cloutier, Joseph. P.: 1889–1890 Gariepy, Edouard: 1890–1891 Simard, Etienne Romain: 1891–1891 Cote, François: 1882–1892 Laplante, François Xavier: 1883–1895 Cloutier, Nazaire: 1896–1899 Dick, Herménégilde: 1900–1900 Lefrancois, Amédée: 1901–1901 Jobidon, Julien: 1902–1902 Cloutier, Joseph: 1903–1916 Cloutier, Emile: 1917–1920 Cloutier, Joseph: 1921–1924 Lefrancois, Jules A.: 1925–1931 Jobidon, Hilaire: 1931–1933 Gravel, Edouard Lazare: 1933–1935 Jobidon, Pierre: 1935–1937 Cauchon, Léonidas: 1937–1939 Rheaume, Lucien: 1939–1959 Gagnon, Philippe: 1959–1965 Laplante, Omer: 1965–1967 Bolduc, Jean-Guy: 1967–1973 Premont, Paul-Emile: 1973–1977 Bolduc, Jean-Guy: 1977–1978 Verreault, Noël: 1978–1985 Laplante, Léo: 1985–1993 Cloutier, Jean-Guy: 1993–2005 Dancause, Frédéric: 2005–2017 Robitaille, Jean: 2017–2021 Pouliot, Gino: 2021–present
[edit] Louis-Théodore Besserer, a prominent businessman of Ottawa, was born in Château-Richer.