Hafen
Saint-Pierre

OVERVIEW

Cruise via a Zodiac along the shore of Saint-Pierre and the neighboring islands, admiring the seascape and the bountiful marine life that inhabits these waters. You can expect to spot harbor seals along the rugged coastline, and if you see them diving, you may notice that they exhale before going under. That’s because harbor seals use the oxygen in their blood and muscles while underwater, instead of the oxygen in their lungs. Atlantic white-sided dolphins frequent these waters, as well. They are easy to recognize from the white patch along the sides of their dorsal fins. Seabirds are also plentiful around Saint-Pierre so keep your eyes peeled for shearwaters, gannets and rough-legged hawks. These beautiful hawks are named for the feathering that covers their legs, which helps them stay warm in cold weather. Chances are, you will also see Atlantic puffins in the cliffs and rocky outcrops as you cruise past treeless Grand Colombier Island.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle into a small but stable Zodiac boat and look for marine life in the surrounding waters.
• Enjoy the Zodiac’s ability to navigate into areas other vessels can’t, affording you close-up views.
• Listen to the naturalist guide describe the marine life such as harbor seals and dolphins.
• Observe countless seabirds, including easy-to-recognize puffins, which nest in the rocky cliffs.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an enlightening driving tour of Saint-Pierre, the capital of the islands Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, which comprise the last remaining French territory in North America. The first permanent French fishing settlement was established here in 1604 and the importance of fishing is still evident around the harbor. As you drive along streets named for French notables such as Jacques Cartier and Louis Pasteur, you will see a high wall where residents play the Basque game pelote and the modest Cathedral of Saint-Pierre. Saint-Pierre also played a key role during Prohibition in America when bootleggers used it as a base of operations. Reminders of this raucous period include the Cutty Sark cottage, which was built entirely of Scotch whisky cases, and Al Capone’s straw hat, which is on display in the museum in the Hotel Robert, where he once stayed. Just outside of Saint-Pierre, you will find Savoyard Lake, which is depicted on a local postage stamp.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delight in Saint-Pierre’s ambiance, which has the look and feel of a rural French village.
• Notice the French influence in the architecture, street names and even outdoor games.
• See the cathedral’s stained-glass windows that French President Charles de Gaulle donated.
• Discover how American bootleggers operated in Saint-Pierre during Prohibition.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Follow a naturalist guide on an enlightening hike through the hills of Saint-Pierre while enjoying spectacular views of the wilderness and learning about the local flora and fauna. You can expect the experience to be quite eye-opening as the French archipelago supports numerous native species. As you walk through the rugged but rather low hills, the guide will point out and describe the plant life, some of which will likely be in bloom. You may see yellow lady slipper’s orchids, variegated horsetails and alpine azalea shrubbery. Birds, especially seabirds, will be the most dominant wildlife. Belted kingfishers, snow buntings and purple finches are commonly spotted. Although somewhat rare, gyrfalcons also inhabit the archipelago. Watching one of these powerful predators swoop down on its prey is quite the sight as they are the world’s largest falcons. The guide is also knowledgeable about the islands’ history and geology and will welcome any questions you may have.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike through the surrounding hills with a naturalist guide that will describe the flora and fauna.
• Look for seabirds in particular, many of them native to the archipelago.
• Learn about the plants that thrive in the environment, which can be harsh at times.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise to nearby Sailor’s Island to view the now-abandoned fishing community that thrived there in the late 19th century, when cod was king. A ferry will take you to the minuscule island, where you will find a deserted community of scattered buildings where fishermen and their families lived through the mid-20th century. Although rocky and flat, the stark terrain is hauntingly beautiful. The rocks came in handy for the fishermen, who made stone platforms to dry freshly caught cod in the sun. The cod were salted and loaded onto French ships, replacing the wooden ballast in the vessels. The discarded ballast was then used for construction on the island. Some of the buildings made with wooden ballast are considered an open-air museum so feel free to wander through them at your leisure. You will find a museum, city hall and the Notre-Dame des Marins church with original furnishings from 1874. You might also visit the grotto and cemetery.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise to an uninhabited island where 700 cod fishermen and their families once lived..
• Stroll at your leisure, exploring buildings constructed of wooden ballast from merchant ships.
• Note how the fishermen processed their catch by drying it on the rocky terrain.
• Appreciate the stark, but hauntingly beautiful landscape.
• Browse a church filled with original late 19th-century furnishings.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Take a leisurely walk through Saint-Pierre, starting at the harbor, an area settled in the 17th century around cod fishing, which flourished for next 200 years. Named for Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, Saint-Pierre has the look and feel of a rural French town. It’s only natural as the teeny islands of Saint-Pierre and neighboring Miquelon comprise the last remaining French territory in North America. The official language is French, not Canadian French, and many of the streets and squares are named for French notables such as Jacques Cartier, Louis Pasteur and President Charles de Gaulle, who visited in 1967. Your walking tour will end at the Arche Museum, where you may take a self-guided tour or simply drop in to see the French guillotine. It was used once in 1889 and the townspeople were supposedly so horrified by the execution that the guillotine was retired.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk around Saint-Pierre, taking in the rural French village ambiance.
• Notice the French influence in the architecture, street names and even outdoor games.
• See the cathedral’s stained-glass windows that French President Charles de Gaulle donated.
• Discover how American bootleggers operated in Saint-Pierre during Prohibition.
• Browse the Arche Museum on your own, where you might see a French guillotine.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an enlightening driving tour of Saint-Pierre, the capital of the islands Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, which comprise the last remaining French territory in North America. The first permanent French fishing settlement was established here in 1604 and the importance of fishing is still evident around the harbor. As you drive along streets named for French notables such as Jacques Cartier and Louis Pasteur, you will see a high wall where residents play the Basque game pelote and the modest Cathedral of Saint-Pierre. Saint-Pierre also played a key role during Prohibition in America when bootleggers used it as a base of operations. Reminders of this raucous period include the Cutty Sark cottage, which was built entirely of Scotch whisky cases, and Al Capone’s straw hat, which is on display in the museum in the Hotel Robert, where he once stayed. Just outside of Saint-Pierre, you will find Savoyard Lake, which is depicted on a local postage stamp.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delight in Saint-Pierre’s ambiance, which has the look and feel of a rural French village.
• Notice the French influence in the architecture, street names and even outdoor games.
• See the cathedral’s stained-glass windows that French President Charles de Gaulle donated.
• Discover how American bootleggers operated in Saint-Pierre during Prohibition.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.