Notre-Dame-des-Pins, Quebec: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Notre-Dame-des-Pins is a Beauce parish municipality in Quebec’s Chaudiere-Appalaches region. It sits on the Chaudière River between Beauceville and Saint-Georges, with its travel identity centred on Pont couvert Perrault, local parks, the river crossing and Beauce heritage.
How Notre-Dame-des-Pins Started
The Commission de toponymie records older local names tied to pines, including Touffe-de-Pins and La Pointe-aux-Pins. The municipality was created in 1926 under the name Notre-Dame-de-la-Providence, following the parish created in 1925. In 1978, the name became Notre-Dame-des-Pins because the earlier name had not taken root in local usage.
The river crossing became the community’s strongest landmark. The municipal bridge history says a first covered bridge was built in 1926 but carried away by spring flooding two years later. The replacement bridge was built in 1928 at the expense of the Quebec government and named Pont Perrault for the minister of Colonization associated with the reconstruction.
What Notre-Dame-des-Pins Is Like Today
The 2021 Census recorded 1,812 residents. Notre-Dame-des-Pins remains a small Beauce community, but Pont couvert Perrault gives it a clear visitor anchor. The municipality describes the bridge as 150.9 metres long, the longest closed covered bridge in Quebec and the second in Canada.
The bridge is more than a photo subject. It was classified as cultural property in 2004, closed for safety reasons in 2018, restored in 2022, and remains an active crossing for walkers, runners, cyclists, quad users and snowmobilers. That mix of heritage, transport and recreation explains why the riverfront feels central to the municipality rather than decorative.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Begin at Pont couvert Perrault and the nearby halte area. Read the bridge history before you arrive, then take time to view the Chaudière River and the structure from permitted public areas. The municipal attractions page also points to a historic fresco and a replica of the 1926 ferry under the Pierre-Bourque bridge, which helps explain how people crossed the river before the current bridge became the main landmark.
Add a short local loop if time allows. The municipal attractions list includes the Sentier des Jarrets noirs cycling route, and the parks page lists Parc de la 36e rue, the community-centre park, the rail glider at the covered-bridge halte and seasonal opening notes for the halte. Notre-Dame-des-Pins is strongest as a bridge, river and Beauce village stop, not as a rushed pass-through.
Quick Facts
- Community type: parish municipality
- Province: Quebec
- Region: Chaudiere-Appalaches
- 2021 census population: 1,812
- Main landmark: Pont couvert Perrault over the Chaudière River
- Other local anchors: riverfront halte, historic fresco, parks and Sentier des Jarrets noirs
Travel Notes
Check current bridge and halte access before planning photos, walking time or cycling connections. Parking and shoulders can be tight near small river crossings, so use signed areas and stay clear of private property. Winter users should confirm snowmobile or quad access separately from pedestrian access. A car is the easiest way to combine the bridge, village streets and nearby Beauce services, but leave enough time to stop safely on both sides of the river.