OUTING IN SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON     

The unique characteristic of our overseas departments and territories is their diversity which is interesting to discover in places off the beaten track such

as the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon the only French territory of

North America located 25 kilometers from Terre Neuve and Canada.

A radiant French territory in North America located in the Gulf of St. Laurent south of the Canadian island of New land and named Saint Pierre by the explorer JACQUES CARTIER in the 16th century , the SAINT PIERRE and MIQUELON

archipelago , nicknamed " THE ROCK " by the people of Saint-Pierre , consists of two neighboring and adjacent islands

distributed between the main island of Saint Pierre, which is the smaller of the two and where 86% of the population

is concentrated active in parallel with Miquelon, consisting of three peninsulas linked by two tombolos, complemented

by others small islands and islets including Sailors' Island (formerly known as Dog Island),which is particularly popular

with tourists throughout the entire seasonal period,which runs from mid-April to mid-October and these islands are an

integral part of the history of French fishing because they served as forward operating bases for Norman, Basque and

Brittany fishermen from the early of the beginning of the 16th century when they practiced whaling there and more

recently by the Terras Neuvas during their Fishing campaigns and throughout the second half of the 19th century, the

archipelago experienced economic growth is largely due to cod fishing.Strolling through the streets of Saint Pierre is a delight, as one discovers a typical architectural heritage in harmony with the local weather patterns, including wooden houses adorned with multicolored facades ranging from bright yellow to blue turquoise complemented by windows

often incorporating brightly colored flowers and gardens with harmonious and well-defined contours that give in the

city a slightly exotic touch, complementing its cultural exchanges fascinating encounters with the locals, some of whom

still proudly wear the Basque beret or the traditional Acadian headdress taking into account cultural and historical data

which make the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon which is notably one of the 7 French territories in America including Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Saint Martin and Clipperton Island with the specificity,in addition to being a concentration of French history for five centuries, of being the only French territory located in North America.

Unique Marine and Terrestrial Fauna

Visiting this region means immersing yourself in vast, wild spaces steeped in history, flora and fauna, and invigorating landscapes that include unique marine and terrestrial wildlife as in Langlade and Miquelon which has more seals than

inhabitants or during sea excursions which these areas offer opportunities to observe brush wales , fin whales and

dolphins performing majestic movements, and for those who enjoy walking or hunting, there's nothing like a stroll on trails of Langlade or Cap de Miquelon or one can hunt white tailed deer in this game reserve bordered by high cliffs

before crisscrossing the islands boasting over 320 species of birds, which are a delight to observe, particularly during

The journey begins before traversing the only existing boreal forest in France , composed of conifers and deciduous trees. Visiting these enchanting places, each as captivating as the next,offers the sensation of being in another world a

place of calm and serenity seem to have existed for an eternity, as I would observe on the Grand Colombier or the view

of Saint Pierre et Langlade is very great . Discovering Saint Pierre and Miquelon also means sharing in the cultural and

sporting life of these islands are very developed, notably with the Heritage Museum which,since 2003, has presented a collection of objects bearing witness to economic and social life of the archipelago , also including the role of the city

of Saint Pierre during the time of the Prohibition in the United States , which is a pleasant subject to visit during the European Heritage Days, alongside the Prefecture residence and the great activities of the Miquelon Culture Heritage association , and then , during the summer season , to attend the many local events such as the foot race between

Miquelon and Langlade The Basque festival, Rock N Rhum, or the music festival, all of which showcase the full extent

of these islands art to live a life imbued with conviviality and culture, and to choose Saint Pierre and Miquelon as your

next holidays destination mean discovering a great French territory that incorporates all the amenities of our time and where nature in its pure state, enhanced by natural spaces, reigns supreme.

Report by: Gabriel PAGE

Photos credit: Gabriel PAGE / Getty Images