The seigneurial mill at Les Éboulements

Les Éboulements carries violence in its very name. The village was named in memory of the violent earthquake of February 1663, which shook the entire Charlevoix region and triggered a massive landslide at the present site of Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive. The village is now a member of the Association of Quebec's Most Beautiful Villages — a recognition that owes nothing to chance.

The seigneurial mill

In 1710, Pierre Tremblay II acquired both sections of the seigneury for 650 livres. The following year, between 1710 and 1711, he had the seigneurial manor and banal mill built on either side of the Rivière des Boudreault, near the St. Lawrence estuary. It is one of the oldest mills in the region.

In 1790, a new banal mill was built upstream by Jean-François Tremblay. In 1810, Pierre de Sales Laterrière purchased the seigneury, and his family erected a new manor between 1811 and 1812, on a plateau overlooking the mill — a position that reflected both social status and the strategic view it afforded.

A living heritage site

The seigneurial mill at Les Éboulements is today a historic site bearing witness to Charlevoix's agricultural and milling past. Visitors discover period architecture, how water mills operated, and local history, conveyed by guides who know every stone of the building.

It is an ideal outing for a cultural half-day with the family — children are fascinated by the mill's mechanism, and adults appreciate the historical depth of a place that tells three centuries of settlement.

Nearby

Les Éboulements is approximately thirty minutes from the chalet Le Littoral in Cap-à-l'Aigle, La Malbaie, Charlevoix. The drive itself is worth the trip, with panoramas over the river and mountains that recall why Charlevoix was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. For a complete overview of the region, see our Charlevoix chalet rental guide.

Combine the mill visit with a stop at the McLaren Chapel in Port-au-Persil and an exploration of the region's historic sites for a full cultural day. Upon return, the property's wood fireplace and a good glass from the SAQ in La Malbaie are the natural conclusion.