LAVAL, QC
Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Saint-François and Sainte-Rose
The Pearls of Jesus Island
Here are 3 of the founding villages of Laval, QC. This suburb is widely known for its famous Clockzilla (TM), endless sprawl and poor urban planning. However, as an island that started being settled around 1636, Laval has its bright sides. I decided to take the car and to follow the northeastern shores of the island and to discover the neighbourhoods of St-Vincent-de-Paul, St-François and Ste-Rose.
1. Saint-Vincent-de-Paul
Saint-Vincent-de-Paul was founded in 1740, on
des Prairies river, and amalgamated to Laval in 1965. The village has some typical narrow streets lined with modest
canadian style houses, centered around a monumental 19th century neo-classical stone church. The neighbourhood is famous for its penitentiary, located right behind the catholic church.
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1.6 - The penitentiary
1.7 The streets of St-Vincent made me love Laval
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2. The countryside between Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Saint-François
2.1 Olivier-Charbonneau bridge crosses
des Prairies river
2.2 On the other side of the river : Montréal-Nord
2.3 The best agricultural land of the province
2.4 The eastern tip of Jesus island (yes, that's the real name of the island)
3. Saint-François
Saint-François, though being in the municipality of Laval, is still a small residential and farming village : a church and a few dozen houses along
Mille-Îles river. The place was officially founded in 1677.
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3.5 The cemetery : unusually pleasant.
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4. The countryside between Saint-François and Sainte-Rose
4.1 On the other side of the river : Terrebonne
4.2 Mille-Îles river
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5. Sainte-Rose
It was almost night by the time I arrived in Sainte-Rose, one of the best parts of Laval. The small village is known for its art galleries and cultural amenities. It was formerly famous for its beaches on the river, which were accessible from Montreal by train. Sainte-Rose was also founded in 1740 and amalgamated to the other municipalities of Jesus island in 1965.
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