Saint Pierre and Miquelon are the last vestiges of France's North American empire. Situated just south of the Canadian province of Newfoundland,
the islands are cold but the towns are quaint and relaxed. Originally
settled by French cod fishers in the 17th century, the territories
passed temporarily from French to British control between 1713 and 1763. Cod fishing, after this time, was the central industry of the islands. Europeans began to regularly visit from the early 1500s and their settlements are some of the oldest in the Americas.
What can you do here besides museums and all that historic stuff? Well, there is birdwatching and some tracks for the nature and adventure lovers.
This place is composed by 3 islands. A third, formerly inhabited island, Isle-aux-Marins, known as
Île-aux-Chiens until 1931 and located a short distance from the port of
Saint-Pierre, has been uninhabited since 1963. You want a better reason to see it? A complet simbiosis of man and nature, the perfect place to spend a night in a old fisherman's house completely abandoned by society.
How to visit:
You can arrive in Saint Pierre and Miquelon by plane (from Canada or even France I think) or boat (SPM Express operates ferries between Fortune in Newfoundland and Labrador and this islands, but the ferry does not carry vehicles). To go to the island just try there to see if you can find some boat that will take you there.
The used currency is in euros and they speak french and have french food. The best time to visit? It depends of what do you want... sping and early summer are foggy, late summer and
early fall (August and September) are warm, sunny and dry, and then you have the immense winter with snow and all of that.
You can find guided tours in this links:
Happy journeys in Saint Pierre and Miquelon!
