Acadia on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia

Who are the Acadians? – A brief introduction to their history and culture the Acadians on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia

Their story is tragic: The Acadians on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia found themselves caught between the fronts in the 18th century, as the conflict between the English and the French for control of this part of the New World escalated.

Why Nova Scotia is a heart of Acadian culture

The Acadians themselves were successful farmers who, through an ingenious method, reclaimed fertile land from the sea, thus securing lush pasture for their cattle. They built so-called "aboiteaux," dikes with wooden sluice gates that allowed runoff to cleanse the lush soils in the tidal regions along Nova Scotia's coast of salt.

At the same time, they blocked the salt water from the sea, thus making agricultural use of these lands possible.

They were not interested in the political turmoil surrounding the rule of the American continent.

Acadian on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia in the Village Historique Acadien

Some Acadians on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia defy expulsion

Nevertheless, their quest for impartiality didn't help them much, as both the French and the English sought to exploit them for their own ends. Their refusal to swear allegiance to the English crown ultimately led to the dispossession of all Acadians in 1755. They were expelled from their lands on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. Most of them were distributed among the English colonies in the south or fled to French Louisiana. Their descendants – the Cajuns – still live in the swamps around New Orleans today.

However, small groups of Acadians managed to hold out in remote regions of Nova Scotia. They live under English rule in their ancestral homeland, although they have not yet taken the required oath of allegiance to the English crown. When asked about their French relatives in Quebec, they also dismiss the idea. After all, their unrealistic demands were the cause of their own group's expulsion. They prefer to keep to themselves and stay out of matters that exceed their own interests.

One of these settlements is the town of Pubnico on the southwest coast of Nova Scotia. There, on a narrow peninsula that stretches southward like a finger from Canada's Atlantic coast, they have preserved their traditional way of life to this day.

Acadian on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia while quilting

Experiences for cultural travelers: Acadian music, cuisine and lifestyle

At the Lower West Pubnico Open-Air Museum, visitors can experience firsthand what life was like on the Acadian farms. Volunteers are enthusiastically bringing this people's way of life to life. Village Historique Acadia In Lower West Pubnico, old farmhouses have been grouped together to form an authentic Acadian village. Life there unfolds as it once did for Acadian families. Women were responsible for maintaining the household and raising the children.

They baked, cooked, embroidered, knitted, and tended the house. In doing so, they ensured that their children led a God-fearing and simple life, just as they themselves had learned from their parents. The men's duties included providing the livestock with fresh fodder. They set homemade lobster traps. They also went fishing in small rowboats to provide the family with sufficient food. The life of the Acadians was a quiet and peaceful farming life. Not much has changed in this regard to this day.

Typical salt meadow meadows on the Atlantic coast

Music is a constant companion in the life of modern Acadians. Groups like Blou or Grand Derangement They sing of the sea, of dancing, of young girls, of hunters in the forest, and, of course, of the Great Expulsion. It's worth listening to this music, which will teach you a lot about the Acadians' way of life.

Conclusion: Why a trip to the Acadians on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia is worthwhile

The Village Historique Acadien is open to visitors during the summer months. The visitor center and reconstructed farmhouses provide a vivid insight into what life was like in an Acadian village. A visit can also be easily included on a drive along the Lighthouse Route on Nova Scotia's south coast from Halifax to Yarmouth. You should definitely allow several hours for the tour.

Le Village Historique Acadien
Lower West Pubnico,
Nova Scotia
Canada B0W 2C0
T: (902) 762-2530
Great free: 1-888-381-8999

More travel tips in the region

The Whirligig Festival in Shelburne

Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

Getting to the Acadians on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia:

Air Canada, Condor and Icelandair fly from Germany to various airports in eastern Canada.

Car Rentals:

Cheap car hire - book quickly and easily!

Hotels:

Hotels in Yarmouth and the Acadian Coast * (advertisement) you can book, for example, through our partner booking.com.

Do you know this?

Source: own on-site research. We would like to thank the Acadian Museum for their kind support. However, our opinions remain, as always, our own.