As summer begins to come to an end here, we embraced this gorgeous day and embarked on a 12 minute ferry ride from Old Québec to Old Lévis.

Old Lévis is also the birthplace of the largest movement of credit unions in North America and one of the strongest financial institutions in the world: Desjardins Group.

We learned more about this fact at the Maison Alphonse Desjardins.This Victorian Gothic Revival home was built around 1883 for Alphonse and Dorimène Desjardins. It would be their family home for the next 50 years, and it was where the couple would raise their 10 children. On December 6, 1900, it also became the site of the first caisse populaire, marking the beginning of Desjardins, a broad cooperative movement which today has an international reach. The house has been declared a historic monument.

Built in 1900, this building is an important part of Desjardins' history and also played a key role in the development of life insurance in Québec. Alphonse eventually outgrew the family home as a place of business. From 1916 to 1920 it was home to Caisse populaire de Lévis. From 1939 to 1948, it housed the head office of Compagnie d'assurance-vie La Laurentienne and then Assurance-vie Desjardins. Those names do not mean much to me but around here they are quite prominent.

Wandering about town, we discovered such rich architectural wonders.

I wish the Bibliothèque Pierre-Georges-Roy had been opened. Note to self: Never go to a small town on a Monday!

Collège de Lévis is a private secondary school and has been since 1853. Alphonse Desjardins attended classes there and is on the top of the 'renowned students' list.

Again, I wish we were there to see the inside of Notre-Dame-de-la-Victoire (1850). Its stained glass is supposed to be exceptional.

Some things just need to be shared. I agree with the No Hats sign above and the stop sign below leaves no ambiguity!

Lunch was at the Mom & Pop Délicatesse Aux P'tits Onions. A return ride across the St. Lawrence River and a stroll through Vieux-Québec made our day complete.

"Aventure : elle est au coin de soi-même.

À condition de s’attendre au tournant."

 – Philippe Bouvard

Translation: Adventure is at the next corner.

Providing you’re willing to take the turn.