Cap-Saint-Ignace () is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

in the Montmagny Regional County Municipality within the

Chaudière-Appalaches Chaudière-Appalaches (, ) is an administrative region in Quebec, Canada. It comprises most of what is historically known as the " Beauce" (; compare with the electoral district of Beauce). It is named for the Chaudière River and the Appalachia ...

region of

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. It is located on the south shore of the

St. Lawrence River The St. Lawrence River (, ) is a large international river in the middle latitudes of North America connecting the Great Lakes to the North Atlantic Ocean. Its waters flow in a northeasterly direction from Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St. Lawren ...

, east of

Quebec City Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...

on Route 132.

Geography

Cap-Saint-Ignace is located on the scenic chemin des Pionniers Ouest, also known as Highway 132, at the Junction of the route du Petit-Cap which is accessible from provincial Autoroute 20, the Autoroute Jean-Lesage. The town's total area is and borders the scenic St. Lawrence River with access to the river and migratory bird sanctuaries.

Demographics

Motto and emblems

The town's motto, ''Mets le cap sur la vaillance'', translates as "Vigilance is your bearing" and provides the people of Cap-Saint-Ignace with the popular nickname of "les Vaillants". Named after its protector, Saint

Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola ( ; ; ; ; born Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; – 31 July 1556), venerated as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a Basque Spaniard Catholic priest and theologian, who, with six companions, founded the religious order of the S ...

, the town's emblems are the native blue flax and the eastern bluebird. The blue flax, native to the countryside, is attributed many qualities both as clothing linen and for its medicinal properties. The eastern bluebird frequents the local orchards, farms, hedgerows and rock dikes in the area and is renowned for its

songbird A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5,00 ...

qualities.

Local attractions

The Petit-Cap ("Little Cape") and the ancient government pier are amongst the local attractions (parking on-site but foot-access only). The area is dotted with trails, observations posts and rest areas with interpretive panels on the local fauna, flora and the areas' rich and colourful history. The fall migration of

snow geese The snow goose (''Anser caerulescens'') is a species of goose native to North America. Both white and dark morphs exist, the latter often known as blue goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The species was previously placed ...

, amongst other species, is most spectacular. For cyclists, the chemin des Pionniers Ouest provides countless hours of scenic riding. Locally, there are four main cycle circuits: Route Verte or Green circuit follows the River through the Town; the Route des pommes or Apple circuit (11 km) takes cyclists by the orchards; the Campagnard or Country trek (21 km) brings cyclists through the local

maple sugar Maple sugar is a traditional sweetener in Canada and the Northeastern United States, prepared from the sap of the maple tree ("maple syrup, maple sap"). Sources Three species of maple trees in the genus ''Acer (plant), Acer'' are predomina ...

and produce areas; and the Seigneurial trek (14.7 km) takes cyclists to and near the historical landmarks. Many of these are natural and preserved sites, pleasant to view and enjoy, but travellers are requested to respect private property. Cycling circuits include rest areas and places where travellers can purchase meals, snacks, refreshments and souvenirs. There are many events throughout the year in Cap-Saint-Ignace. Not the least is the Feast of the Saint-Hubert (1–3 Sep) held in honour of the Saint and patron of hunters, complete with a procession and solemn

mass Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...

to the sound of

French horn The French horn (since the 1930s known simply as the horn in professional music circles) is a brass instrument made of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. The double horn in F/B (technically a variety of German horn) is the horn most o ...

s accompanying the great

organ pipe An organ pipe is a sound-producing element of the pipe organ that resonator, resonates at a specific Pitch (music), pitch when pressurized air (commonly referred to as ''wind'') is driven through it. Each pipe is tuned to a note of the musical ...

s, meal, clay pigeon shoot, equestrian demonstrations and other activities related to the hunt.

Notable natives

* Léo-Pol Morin, pianist, music critic, and composer

References

External links

Cap-Saint-Ignace website
{{authority control Municipalities in Quebec Incorporated places in Chaudière-Appalaches