Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes is an attractive locality with an agricultural cachet as well as its architecture mixing ancestral and modern buildings. It is located in Lower-Mauricie, in the plain of the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, in the regional county municipality of Les Chenaux.
The village is located at the junction of route 359 (connecting Champlain to Saint-Georges de Grand-Mère) and chemin du rang St-Alexis (stretching parallel to the river, between Saint-Louis-de-France and the road from Champlain village).
In New France, the first period of colonization of the north shore of the St. Lawrence River focused on the first row along the river. A vast strip of marsh extending over approximately 18 km (and a maximum width of 2 km) between Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap and the Champlain River (today in the zone along Highway 40), slowed down the colonization of the second and third rows. The centre of the village of Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes is located 8.3 km from the shore of the St. Lawrence River, on the north side of this marsh area and at 0.74 km northwest of the course of the Champlain River.
The first church of Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes, built on the edge of the small Champlain river, had to be moved because of the risk of scree on the banks. The old presbytery (located along Rang St-Alexis, after its move) and the new one (erected in 1911 and located next to the church) have become private residences.
During the colonization period (19th century), the local economy was based on forestry and agriculture. In the 21st century, its economy is based on agriculture, partly forestry, certain public services (head office of the MRC Les Chenaux) and certain recreational tourism activities (vacation, mountain biking, snowmobiles).
This locality has a territory of where 545 inhabitants reside. Many residents will work in the surrounding municipalities/cities (including Trois-Rivières) because of the proximity (either 5.1 km) to highway 40, via route 359. In addition, Route 359 connects the Lac-à-la-Tortue and Grand-Mère sectors to the north.
The hydrographic slope of Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes is centered on the Champlain River, which will flow onto the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.
The Champlain river mainly drains the territory of Saint-Maurice, Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes, Saint-Narcisse and Champlain. It flows over 50 km. In its course first to the northeast, then the southeast, this river is often meandering.
Taking its source at Plé de Saint-Narcisse, the Forks river flows over 27 km crossing Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, Saint-Narcisse, Saint-Maurice and Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes. It flows on the northwest shore of the Champlain River in the municipality of Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes.
The village of Saint-Narcisse is accessible by road, snowmobile and all terrain vehicles.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division