Les Éboulements, a charming municipality in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec, Canada, is a place where history and nature intertwine. This picturesque community is home to several population centres, including Les Éboulements, Éboulements-Est, Cap-aux-Oies, Sainte-Marie-de-Charlevoix, and Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive. The latter, located on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, serves as the departure point for ferries to L'Isle-aux-Coudres. Recognized for its rich heritage and stunning architecture, Les Éboulements is a proud member of the Association of Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec.
Situated in the heart of the Charlevoix impact structure, Les Éboulements is a geographical marvel. The eastern part of the municipality is dominated by Mount Éboulements, a 770-meter high mountain that is considered the central rebound of the Earth's crust following a meteor impact some 350 million years ago. The municipality is also home to the Boudreault and Seigneur Rivers, both small tributaries of the Saint Lawrence River.
The history of Les Éboulements dates back to February 1663 when a strong earthquake triggered a large landslide in the Charlevoix region. This event led to the area being known as Les Éboulements, French for "the landslides". In 1683, the Éboulements Seignory was granted to Pierre Lessard, marking the beginning of the area's development. The parish was founded in 1732, and the seignory was sold to Pierre de Sales Laterrière in 1810. The municipality was originally established as L'Assomption-de-Notre-Dame-des-Éboulements in 1845, renamed to L'Assomption-de-la-Sainte-Vierge in 1855, and finally renamed to Les Éboulements in 1956. In 2001, Les Éboulements and Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive merged to form the new Municipality of Les Éboulements.
The community of Les Éboulements has been featured in several films by the National Film Board of Canada, including "On the Sea" (1960) by René Bonnière and Pierre Perrault, and "Terre de nos aïeux" (1943) directed by Jane Marsh.
The population of Les Éboulements has seen steady growth over the years. As of 2021, the municipality is home to 1,465 residents, a 10.1% increase from 2016. The majority of residents speak French as their first language (97.3%), with a small percentage speaking English (0.3%) or other languages (2.0%). The community is made up of 643 private dwellings, out of a total of 925.
