Acadian Culture

The magnificant L’Église Sainte-Marie, the largest wooden church in North America, welcomes visitors and offers tours of the ecclesiastical museum. Adjacent to the church is the main campus of Université Sainte-Anne, built in 1890 as a collège classique. Today Université Sainte-Anne is Nova Scotia’s vibrant and unique multi-campus provider of French-language education, with college, university and French immersion programs. The Church Point campus is home to the Théâtre Marc Lescarbot, and the Centre Acadien, a world-class resource centre for Acadian Studies and genealogical research.

Art

Several organisations in the community maintain websites that can help visitors get the most out of their visit to this beautiful and unique region — for example:

Canoeing and Kayaking

Hinterland Adventures & Gear will set you up for wilderness canoeing and sea kayaking tours of southwestern Nova Scotia and the legendary Tobeatic Wilderness Game Sanctuary, including the Heritage Shelburne River System.

Festivals

See Discover Nova Scotia for a list of all the Festivals and Events around the province. Much essential information is also gathered into the bilingual guide and website of the Festival Acadien de Clare – the oldest Acadian festival in the World, with its outdoor concerts, deep-sea fishing, theatre, parades, activities for children, and more. French-speaking visitors will also want to contact L’Imprimerie Lescarbot, the publishers of Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse (Nova Scotia’s only French-language newspaper), to obtain a copy of Sur la route des festivals, the official Acadian festival guide for the whole province.

Genealogy

The Southwest Nova Scotia Genealogy Circuit maintains a list of the research facilities in this area.

Golf

The Clare Golf and County Club website can fill you in on what you need to know about this excellent 18-hole facility.

Horseback Riding

Ironsmith Farm in Weymouth Falls offers pony rides to the public and English riding lessons to beginner/intermediate riders.

Libraries

Université Ste-Anne
Western Counties Regional Library

Music

Experience informal performances by local musicians at participating restaurants in July, August and September. If you prefer classical music, The St. Bernard Church, a magnificent granite cathedral modelled on the Cathédrale Notre Dame in Paris, is home to a fine classical concert series.

Nature Trails

Next to the Farmer's Market on the wharf at Belliveau’s Cove, where schooners were once a familiar sight, is the north entrance to the Pointe-à-major ocean-side trail, Sentier à Pius, that connects Belliveau Cove and Church Point.

Recreation Facilities

The Church Point campus of l'Université Sainte-Anne hosts an Olympic size pool and gym that are open to the public.

Restaurants

Some local restaurants have websites you can visit:

Or, search the on-line Yellow Pages for a complete list of restaurants in the area.

Theatre

See live performances and events at:

Webcams

Whale Watching

On beautiful, wild Digby Neck, where Joshua Slocum started out before his single-handed sail around the world, a number of local businesses offer whale watching. Don’t miss the chance!

Find more information about Clare: