The spirit of l’Acadie runs deep in Nova Scotia. Throughout the province, there are reminders of the intrepid French settlers who first claimed Nova Scotia as their home in the seventeenth century: the historical sites, the culture, the language, the music, the food and the crafts.

At Port-Royal, Acadian history is reconstructed at the French Habitation, providing a glimpse into life as part of the first European settlement in Canada. See Acadian-built dykes as you journey to Grand-Pré National Historic Site, once home to the largest Acadian community on the Bay of Fundy and immortalized in Longfellow’s poem Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie.

Heading up the Fundy coast from Yarmouth, a long the Acadian shore, you will pass through several French-speaking villages and marvel at the soaring beauty of Acadian churches, such as L’Église Saint-Alphonse or St Mary’s Church at Church Point. On the Southern Acadian Shore, the collection of Pubnico villages makes up the oldest Acadian settlement in the province. Their colourful history is celebrated at Le Village historique acadien, which transports you back in time.

For a taste of Acadian music and culture, visit Church Point, an Acadian village dating back to 1761. It hosts the music-filled Festival acadien de Clare each summer. Cape Breton also has rich Acadian roots. Enjoy typical Acadian food in a local restaurant, watch the ancient art of rug hooking first-hand, and marvel at folk art in Chéticamp. The Acadian Museum at La Co-opérative Artisanale and Les Trois Pignons cultural and information centre will open the door to this area’s rich Acadian history.

Other Acadian highlights in Nova Scotia include:

• Acadian Centre Archives at Université Sainte-Anne, where you can research Nova Scotia genealogy
• A guided interpretive walk along Saint Mary’s Bay in Clare as part of the Histoire de la Baie program
• Acadian cuisine from the bakery and restaurants of Louisdale and Isle Madame, along the beautiful Fleur-de-lis Trail, Cape Breton
• The picturesque Acadian village of Tor Bay / Larry’s River 
• The Acadian House Museum in the scenic coastal community of West Chezzetcook

From the brightly painted houses and towering churches of the seaside villages to the quiet beauty of the masterfully created hooked rugs, Acadian culture infuses much of Nova Scotia with its vibrancy, jaunty rhythms and the romance of its history and language. To view locations for Acadian centres across the province, look for the Acadian flag symbol on the Tourism Regions Map.