Grandes-Piles, a village municipality in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, is a place of rich history and stunning natural beauty. This small village, located in Radnor Township, is perched on a cliff overlooking the Saint-Maurice River and offers a wealth of attractions for visitors.
Grandes-Piles is situated on the east bank of the Saint-Maurice River, facing the village of Saint-Jean-des-Piles. The village is known for its annual ice bridge, which connects the two villages from December to March. The northwestern part of the municipality faces the La Mauricie National Park, located on the west bank of the Saint-Maurice River.
The village is historically significant as the birthplace of floating timber in Mauricie, a practice that continued for 150 years until 1996. Since then, the Saint-Maurice River has become a haven for water sports and boating, particularly between the dam of Grand-Mère and the dam of La Tuque. In winter, the frozen river and snowy cliffs transform into a playground for winter sports.
The lakes of Grandes-Piles flow into one of three rivers: the Saint-Maurice River, the North Mékinac River, and the South Mékinac River. The territory of Grandes-Piles is part of the watershed of the Batiscanie, despite its proximity to the Saint-Maurice River.
The name Grandes-Piles, which translates to "large piles," has an uncertain origin. Some believe it refers to a stack of logs on the rocks of the Saint-Maurice that inspired early settlers, while others suggest it refers to the large rocks used by indigenous Americans to grind grain. Another theory is that it refers to the stack of stratums, or horizontal sedimentary layers, exposed in this part of the Mauricie. Since 1996, Grandes-Piles has been twinned with the city of Clamecy, Nièvre in France.
The first settlers of Grandes-Piles arrived around 1850, attracted by the large stands of white and red pine. In 1852, the Norcross & Philips Company obtained logging rights in the area, and Grandes-Piles became the gateway to lumberjacks and log drivers. The village's first sawmill was built in 1878, sparking an industrial boom that led to the construction of a railway between Trois-Rivières and Grandes-Piles.
In 1885, the village was incorporated as the Parish Municipality of Saint-Jacques-des-Piles, named in honour of Jacques Buteux. It served as the main transportation hub for the interior areas of the Mauricie, boasting warehouses and rail access. In 1966, Saint-Jacques-des-Piles was renamed to Grandes-Piles, and in 1988, it changed its status to Village Municipality. In 1997, the industrial waterfront of Grandes-Piles was reclaimed for tourism.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Grandes-Piles had a population of 493 living in 258 of its 324 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 18.8% from its 2016 population of 415. With a land area of 116.97 km2, it had a population density of 4.2/km2 in 2021. The mother tongue of the majority of residents is French, with 97% of the population speaking it as their first language.
Grandes-Piles offers several attractions for visitors. The Musée du Bûcheron (Museum of lumberjack) is a major tourist destination in Mauricie, telling the story of the log drive and the region. The City Park offers a panoramic view of the Saint-Maurice River, and the Aire Nature Grandes-Piles (Lac Clair) offers outdoor activities such as canoeing, kayaking, and hiking. The Marina Grandes-Piles provides services for boaters, and the Domaine Tavibois offers accommodation and outdoor activities. The Villa du Lac du Castor, a second home built by Pierre Thibault, is another notable attraction.
