Saint-Casimir, a quaint municipality nestled in the Portneuf Regional County Municipality in Quebec, Canada, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Home to approximately 1800 residents, this charming town is situated on the Sainte-Anne River, approximately 80 kilometres southwest of Quebec City and 50 kilometres northeast of Trois-Rivières.
Founded in 1836 by settlers from Ste-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Saint-Casimir was named in honour of Mr. Casimir Déry, a notary who generously funded the construction of the town's church. This stunning church ranks among the top 10 most beautiful churches in Quebec. The town and the church are both named after Saint Casimir, the patron saint of Poland, Lithuania, and youth.
Saint-Casimir is a hub of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. Five rivers flow through the town: Sainte-Anne, Niagarette, Petite Niagarette, Blanche, and Noire. Two provincial numbered roads, Route 354 and Route 363, traverse the town, leading to Autoroute 40, the Montreal-Québec City link on the north shore.
One of the town's most popular attractions is the "Trou du Diable" ("Devil's Hole"), the second-longest cave in Québec, stretching 980 metres. Formed by a former tributary of the Sainte-Anne River, this cave attracts numerous tourists every summer.
Saint-Casimir is also the birthplace of renowned poet Alain Grandbois, who was born here in 1900.
The population of Saint-Casimir has seen slight fluctuations over the years. In 2011, the population was 1500, a slight decrease from 1528 in 2006 and 1582 in 2001. The total population in 1996 was 1783. The town is predominantly French-speaking, with 99% of residents reporting French as their first language.
Saint-Casimir has also witnessed its share of tragedies. On March 23, 1997, five members of the Order of the Solar Temple tragically ended their lives in a house fire. In the summer of 1973, a wave on the Niagarette River devastated a small area where it joins the Sainte-Anne River, destroying several houses due to heavy rain and debris that blocked the river for several hours.
