Acadia Days at Grand Pre National Historic Site plus biking the Dyke Trails, Nova Scotia

Grand Pre National Historic Site

The Acadians first founded a settlement in the Grand Pre area around 1682. The families transformed the region into a thriving agricultural hub by creative systems of dykes to drain and harvest the fertile tidal marshes. Grand Pre grew to be the heart of the Acadian homeland by the time the turmoil with the British forces began. 

In a nutshell, British authorities demanded an unconditional oath of allegiance from the Acadians. The Acadians wished to remain neutral in the escalating conflict between France and Britain, fearing that swearing an oath against their fellow Frenchmen and Mi'kmaq allies would put them in severe danger.

Acadian Flag-vertical stripes of France with the distinct gold star

Fictional heroine Evangeline

Fictional heroine Evangeline

Since they refused the oath of allegiance, Grand Pre became the centre of the Acadian Expulsion in 1755. British forces rounded up local residents, burned the villages and deported about 2000 men women and children. 

Evangeline is a fictional heroine created in a poem telling the events of an Acadian girl separated from her lover on their wedding day. 

To honour past Acadian hardships, Grand Pre National Historic Site hosts an annual festival to celebrate local culture, history and community. The weekend is packed with live Acadian music, dance and food. We just happen to be in the area and join in on the fun. 

Later in the afternoon we head out on bikes to see if we can ride the dykes all the way to Wolfville. 

Cornelius and Charlie

These two young boys, Cornelius and Charlie are selling 'Roks' along the way. We have a great chat with them and even their mom comes out to talk to us. They are a Dutch family currently farming in the area. 

The ride to and from Wolfville reminds us of our biking in France years ago.