Trois-Rivières, Quebec

Trois-Rivières (2001 population 46,264; metropolitan population 137,507) is a city on the St. Lawrence River at the mouth of the Saint-Maurice River in central Quebec, Canada, located in the densely-populated Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.

Description

Trois-Rivières is the center (and unofficial capital) of the Mauricie region. Its inhabitants are known as "Trifluviens" (Trifluvians). It was known to early English settlers as Three Rivers (the name of the Three Rivers High School is a historical witness of this) and is the famous birthplace of poet and Parti Québécois minister Gérald Godin, writer Madeleine Ferron and Premier of Quebec Maurice Duplessis. Songwriter Félix Leclerc also worked in a Trois-Rivières radio station.

It is a world capital of the pulp and paper industry. Notable historic landmarks include the Ursulines monastery and the Saint-Maurice forge. Trois-Rivieres hosts the Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivieres, the Trans-Am series, and the Formula Atlantic [1]. It is officially the "National Poetry Capital of Quebec". Numerous plaques displaying poetic verses are installed across the center of the city and its International Festival of Poetry honors this title.

History

The city was second to be founded in New France, in 1634 by the Sieur de Laviolette, (after Quebec City, before Montreal) and played an important role in the colony. On June 8, 1776, it was the theater of the Battle of Trois-Rivières (part of the Invasion of the province of Quebec by Americans) during the American Revolutionary War. It has now relinquished some of its importance to the two major cities of Quebec, the metropolis of Montreal and capital of Quebec City but remains one of the principal medium-sized cities of Quebec, along with Saguenay, Sherbrooke and Gatineau.

See also

• Laviolette Bridge
• Trois-Rivières City Council
• List of mayors of Trois-Rivières
• List of Mauriciens

External links

• Official site of Trois-Rivières
• Troisrivieresplus.net
• Trois-Rivières in pictures