Things to see and do Saint Pierre And Miquelon

Uninhabited since the 1960s, Île aux Marins once had a population of nearly 600 and was an important economic center for cod fishing. To visit this island, its landscapes and its restored fishermen's houses, an accompanied excursion is preferable and allows you to spend a very pleasant moment (departures are from the shuttle dock to the island in Saint-Pierre). Don't forget your picnic! The Notre-Dame-des-Marins church is a curiosity, but is only accessible through a guided tour. For those who wish to extend their stay on the island, it is possible to stay in the SPA house (capacity of 15 persons) and the Marie-Ange house (capacity of 20 persons), both fully equipped (rental available only from May to mid-October, rates per person, reservation required).

To learn more about this small island transformed into a sort of ecomuseum of the fishermen of the past, a visit to the Archipelitude museum is a must. It presents a collection of everyday objects used at the time. You can also visit other rehabilitated buildings, such as the Maison grise (kitchen of the past and a room dedicated to dory engines) and the Maison Jézéquel, which is now a cafeteria on the island but also an exhibition place (sail making tools and salt works of the past), the town hall, the school, the wash house, the Garage des Pompes or the municipal workshop.

You can also see the bow of the Transpacific wreck, a cargo ship whose carcass moves with the tides.

L'Arche includes the museum and the archives department. The permanent exhibits include prehistoric remains discovered in the soil of Anse à Henry and the bicentennial history of the archipelago. One of the most notable pieces is a guillotine that arrived in Saint-Pierre following a resounding trial in 1889. Several cultural events are organized there, not to mention the various walking tours offered from May to October.

North of the commune of Miquelon, this cape is beautiful and has a particular geology, with cliffs reaching 100 meters. It goes without saying that the panorama is breathtaking! Accessible on foot from Miquelon (a bit steep at the beginning), the walk lasts a few hours, or even longer if you take your time to enjoy the magnificent scenery. Guided hikes are offered by the Maison de la Nature et de l'Environnement and the Miquelon Tourist Information Center and include access to the MNE's permanent exhibition.

The PHOCA association offers excursions aboard its Zodiac to discover the Grand Barachois of Miquelon. The departure is from the village of Miquelon where you will board a bus before joining your boat and the open sea. A superb excursion with a naturalist guide to discover the lagoon and the Grand Barachois, but also to observe the seals and the seabirds that frequent the surroundings. A must do!

A witness of the Basque origin of many inhabitants of the archipelago, this typical pediment is the place of practice of several traditional sports of the same origin, such as the Basque pelota. The pediment is built on the place Richard Briand, a place of festivities at the Basque Party.

The website of the tourist office is a mine of information to prepare your stay in the French archipelago. There is even an application for smartphones, SPM Exception. For suggestions of tours and visits, consult the "Travel ideas" section. You can download the tourist brochure. Two tourist information centers are open to the public, one in Saint-Pierre on Place du Général de Gaulle and the other in Miquelon on Place des Ardilliers.

Once the center of economic activity on the island of Saint-Pierre, the Place du Général de Gaulle is now very quiet, but still remains the main square of the city, a real meeting place and gathering place for the inhabitants. Located just in front of the port of Saint-Pierre, it is the scene of the raising of the flag and the festivities during the national holiday of July 14, which is perhaps even more moving here in this small French corner of the American coast.

At the beginning of the 18th century, a fortress was built on this point, facing the sea, to defend the city from attackers. In the 19th century, the fortress no longer existed, but was replaced by a cannon battery during the Crimean War, which of course is no longer in use but symbolically guards the port. Next door, the Salines are huts that serve as shelters for the fishermen's equipment. Then not far away is a lighthouse accessible on foot. It is not open to the public, but it is located at the end of a jetty, which makes for a pleasant stroll.

Its surface area covers 91 km2 and it is connected to the island of Grande Miquelon by a sandy isthmus where there are numerous shipwrecks (a road crosses the isthmus). Langlade is sparsely wooded due to overexploitation of the forest and there is only one river, the Belle Rivière. Its steep cliffs which flow into the sea offer however a superb spectacle. Uninhabited all year round, there are however a few second homes in the Anse du Gouverneur area, a peaceful vacation spot for islanders.

Located on the west coast of the Cape de Miquelon, this lighthouse was built in 1883 and is one of the last built by France overseas. He revived a beauty in the summer of 2015 to withstand the weather and continue his work as a "guard" for boats. However, the interior does not visit.

Connecting Langlade to Grande Miquelon, this sandy barrier beach is 12 kilometers long and a road crosses it entirely (it connects the commune of Miquelon to the north of the Langlade peninsula). A part of it is protected by the Conservatoire du littoral. The isthmus appeared on the surface of the water towards the end of the 18th century and was reinforced by the numerous boats (more than 600!) that ran aground around it. The islanders will surely tell you many stories of ghosts and hidden treasures related to these strandings.

North of the isthmus is a beautiful shallow lagoon of 9 km2 nicknamed the Grand Barachois. A brackish water lagoon separated from the ocean by a sand dune, in this case named Buttereaux, is called a barachois. The lagoon is a notable seal breeding site, with many species of birds and some free-roaming horses frequenting the area.

Guided excursions are offered by the Maison de la Nature et de l'Environnement (entrance to the permanent exhibition of the MNE included), but also Zodiac trips in the Grand Barachois with the Phoca association. The municipality of Miquelon-Langlade also welcomes you in the Observatory of the Grand Barachois. Enjoy a panoramic view of the whole site, which is a privileged place for the observation of seals and migratory birds. The Observatory is open to all, provided that you respect a few rules.

After the liberation of the Archipelago by the Forces of France Libre and the French Free Naval Forces in 1941, this small fort was built as observation post on the city of Saint-Pierre. Here you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.