Quebec City Blog #29:What is Orleans Island? and a Copper Stop

Orleans Island

In this blog about our trip to Old Quebec City, the second part of our bus trip took us to nearby Orleans Island. Here we'll explain some interesting facts and then take you to a famous artistic copper shop.

WHERE IS IT? Île d'Orléans or Orleans Island, is located in the Saint Lawrence River about 3 miles (5 kilometers) east of downtown Quebec City, Quebec, and there's a bridge that connects it to the mainland. There are 1,100 residents.

Chocolaterie

ORIGINAL NAME- It was called the "Island of Baccus" who was the Roman God of Wine. That's because grapes are grown on the island and made into wine.  

ODDITIES - There is nothing industrial or commercial on the island. No grocery stores and no high schools. Construction is also limited.  

A "station of the cross" in copper

FUN FACTS - It's a humid continental climate, and humidity sticks around the the valley. There's an average of 9 feet of snow each year. Main crops include strawberries, raspberries, corn and apples. One of the main attractions was a chocolate shop called the Chocolaterie.   
  
After leaving the island we stopped at the ALBERT GILES COPPER MUSEUM - It's a family run artistic copper museum and shop. There we saw a demonstration of how to carve copper into artwork. In one room there were 12 large copper engravings of the christian "Stations of the Cross" that were 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide. The took 15 years to do.  

Making a rooster in copper

FUN FACT- This craftsman and his family did a lot of work for the Walt Disney Company, although we don't recall what they did. For more information:
albertgilles-copper-art.com/en/

NEXT: MASSIVE CATHEDRAL IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE