Located in Sainte-Famille-de-l'Île-d'Orléans and managed by the Fondation François-Lamy, the Maison de nos Aïeux (an accredited museum institution in Quebec) and the Maison Drouin are two must-visit museums to explore the history of Île d'Orléans, the cradle of French North America. Your visit is complemented by the Parc-des-Ancêtres (Ancestors' Park), which pays tribute to the first families who settled on the island.

These two heritage sites in Sainte-Famille offer complementary experiences:

• Maison de nos Aïeux: An interpretation centre on the history of Île d'Orléans and a leading genealogy reference centre featuring exhibitions on founding families, the settlement of New France, and the evolution of the island's six parishes.
• Maison Drouin: An authentic ancestral home built in the early 18th century and preserved in its original condition, showcasing traditional architecture and the rural way of life of early Île d'Orléans residents.

Plan for 20 to 45 minutes to tour the exhibitions at either the Maison de nos Aïeux or the Maison Drouin. Visitors wishing to conduct genealogy research or browse specialized books in our boutique should allow extra time.

Yes. The Maison de nos Aïeux is a premier destination for genealogy researchers and North American descendants looking to trace their roots on Île d'Orléans. Over 300 North American founding families have an ancestor who lived on the island, and our resources help connect your surname to ancestral lands.

The Maison de nos Aïeux provides visitors and researchers with:

• Personalized genealogy consultations and custom family tree creation (direct lineage or full ancestral charts) by appointment.
• Ancestor profiles (fiches d'ancêtres), family monographs, and specialized publications on founding families and the Filles du Roy (King's Daughters).
• Historical maps (including maps of Île d'Orléans from 1689 and the Quebec City region from 1709) to locate the exact plots of land granted to the first settlers.

Admission to the exhibitions on founding families is open without an appointment during regular operating hours. For an assisted genealogy consultation or to commission a family tree, we recommend booking in advance by email at info@fondationfrancoislamy.com or by phone at 418-829-0330.

Yes. The Fondation François-Lamy regularly welcomes tour groups, motorcoach operators, travel agencies, founding family associations, school groups, and social clubs.

We offer customized guided tours tailored to your group's interests, as well as venue rentals for private events.

Our facilities in Sainte-Famille are designed to streamline logistics for organized tours around Île d'Orléans:

• Parking: Dedicated access and parking suitable for motorcoaches and minibuses.
• Smooth group rotation: Ability to divide large groups into smaller sub-groups rotating between the Maison de nos Aïeux, the Maison Drouin, Sainte-Famille Church, and the Parc-des-Ancêtres.
• Amenities: On-site restrooms, landscaped outdoor areas at the Parc-des-Ancêtres, and a boutique featuring history and genealogy books.

Group reservations can be made directly with the Fondation François-Lamy team by email at info@fondationfrancoislamy.com or by phone at 418-829-0330. Custom guided tours are available throughout the summer season, by reservation in spring and fall at the Maison Drouin, and year-round by reservation at the Maison de nos Aïeux.

Yes. Our exhibitions, interpretive panels, and guided tours (by reservation for groups) are offered in both English and French to welcome international visitors and North American travellers tracing their New France ancestry.