Château-Richer

Château-Richer
La Visitation-de-Notre-Dame
Motto: 
Union et Paix
Location within La Côte-de-Beaupré RCM
Château-Richer
Location in central Quebec
Coordinates: 46°58′N 71°01′W / 46.967°N 71.017°W / 46.967; -71.017
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionCapitale-Nationale
RCMLa Côte-de-Beaupré
ConstitutedJuly 1, 1855
Government
  MayorGino Pouliot
  Fed. ridingBeauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix
  Prov. ridingCharlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré
Area
  Total
139.51 km2 (53.87 sq mi)
  Land126.6 km2 (48.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
  Total
4,425
  Density19.3/km2 (50/sq mi)
  Pop (2016-21)
7.2%
  Dwellings
2,064
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area code(s)418 and 581
Highways R-138 R-360
Websitewww.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).