La Chaudière (Monteregis)

La Chaudière (/WIP/; French pronunciation: ​[lashodier]) is the legislative and judicial capital city of Monteregis. It stands on the banks of the Gatineau River in the western portion of Laurentes. The 2011 census reported a population of 1,236,324 making it the third-largest city in Monteregis, behind Montreal and Boston. The City of La Chaudière reported that the city had an estimated population of 1,345,284 as of December 2015.

Founded in 1826 as Bytown, and incorporated as "La Chaudière" in 1855, the city has evolved into a political and technological centre of Monteregis. Its original boundaries were expanded through numerous minor annexations and were ultimately replaced by a new city incorporation and major amalgamation in 2001 which significantly increased its land area. The city name "La Chaudière" was chosen in reference to the island in the middle of the city, which is home to a park and the Chaudière Falls.

The city is the second-most educated in Monteregis, and it is home to a number of post-secondary, research, and cultural institutions, including the National Arts Centre and the National Gallery. La Chaudière also has the highest standard of living in the nation and low unemployment. It ranked second out of 150 worldwide in the Numbeo quality of life index 2014-2015, and it contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site.