Meet Clare Nova Scotia

UPDATED AUGUST 16, 2025

Acadian Pride on the South Shore

Meet Clare, a sweet little southwestern Nova Scotia community that is big on Acadian culture and heritage and home-style hospitality. More than 75% of residents speak both French and English, making it the largest Acadian community in the province. Here, heritage isn’t just preserved, it’s lived daily through music, food, faith, and family traditions.

Clare knows how to celebrate. From the lively Musique de la Baie kitchen parties and Les Beaux Vendredis seafood suppers, to the annual Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie—Atlantic Canada’s largest cycling event—there’s always something happening. And in August 2024, Clare, along with Yarmouth and Argyle, proudly welcomed the world during the Congrès Mondial Acadien, a global gathering of Acadian culture and kinship. It was a powerful reminder that this small coastal region has a big place on the world stage.

But whether the world is watching or not, Clare shines.

First Stop: Rendez-vous de la Baie

I like to begin at Rendez-vous de la Baie Visitor Centre on the campus of Université Sainte-Anne. It’s part gallery, part museum, part gathering place. The Acadian Interpretive Centre tells the community’s story with bilingual exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays. Next door, the gallery spotlights local artists whose work reflects life along Baie Sainte-Marie. It’s the perfect introduction to Clare’s culture before heading out to explore.

Belliveau Cove: Where Community Meets the Shore

Belliveau Cove is always buzzing with life. My husband, Eric and I enjoyed walking the 5 km boardwalk trail, which loops from shingle beach to salt marsh and past Clare’s very first Acadian cemetery. On summer Fridays, the air here fills with music and the scent of fresh lobster, snow crab, and clams during Les Beaux Vendredis seafood suppers. We soon discovered, it is more than a meal, it’s a gathering of neighbours, friends, and strangers who leave as friends.

Saturdays bring the farmers market, Sundays the art market, and at low tide you can even join a clam digging adventure with a local guide. It feels like the heartbeat of Clare is right here, along the shore.

Trails, Coves, and Night Skies

Behind Université Sainte-Anne lies the Le Petit Bois Trail Network, where forest paths meet shoreline views. Interpretive signs share stories of the land, and a replica 1874 lighthouse offers a perfect perch for birdwatching—or even spotting seals and porpoises in the bay.

If you want something truly magical, try the Stella Night Hike—a guided nocturnal walk where you experience the forest and shoreline under starlight. It’s part science, part storytelling, and all wonder.

Farther along the coast, we found ourselves at Mavillette Beach Provincial Park, a 1.5 km stretch of golden sand edged with dunes. At low tide, the sand flats seem endless—perfect for long walks, kite-flying, or even yoga on the beach. Surfers love the waves here, and we lingered until the sun melted into the horizon.

Just a short drive away, Smuggler’s Cove Provincial Park added a dash of history to the scenery. This secluded inlet was once a hideout for rum runners during Prohibition, and interpretive panels share the stories of those secretive days. Today, wooden viewing platforms look out over dramatic cliffs, and 80 steps lead down to the ocean floor at low tide—a breathtaking spot to watch the Fundy tides at work.

Our final stop was Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park, perched on the westernmost tip of mainland Nova Scotia. Here, the cliffs drop steeply into the sea, seabirds swirl overhead, and a moving monument—Coming Home—honours those lost to the ocean over Clare’s 250-year fishing history. Standing there, with nothing but waves stretching endlessly ahead, felt like the perfect close to a day of discovery.

*Église Saint Bernard Church* is an imposing building reminiscent of European cathedral architecture. The foundation stone was laid in 1910, and it was completed in 1942. This was a labour-intensive process as all stones were cut by hand and there were over 8000 blocks of granite transported by railcar 120 miles from Shelburne to Little Brook Station, then pulled the remaining two miles by ox cart. Image from *Discover La Baie Sainte-Marie* Tourism

Sacred Spaces

Faith has always been central to life here, and Clare’s churches stand as powerful landmarks. None is more striking than Église Sainte-Marie in Church Point, the largest wooden church in North America. Completed in 1905, its design was inspired by French castles, and though the interior is now closed, the towering silhouette still inspires awe. Driving through Clare, you’ll spot many other historic churches, each with its own story to tell.

*Église Sacré-Coeur aka Sacred Heart Church* in Saulnierville was built in 1880, and is Clare’s oldest church.

*Église Saint-Alphonse Church*, built in 1923 is most notable for the seven painted murals and the wooden replica of the famous *Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes* grotto inside the church.

*Église Saint-Alphonse-* image from *Discover La Baie Sainte-Marie* Tourism

Art de la Baie: Inspired by the Sea

Clare’s creativity runs as deep as its tides. With an Art de la Baie brochure in hand, I set out to visit studios across the region.

At Galerie Art & Minéraux, sculptor Claude Chaloux shared how clay and colour bring ancient stories to life. His gallery also sparkles with crystals, fossils, and minerals from around the world.
Denise Comeau welcomed me into her Comeauville studio, where her watercolours capture the light and movement of Baie Sainte-Marie.
At K’s Wooly Loft, Katherine Dawson’s rug hooking artistry and custom-dyed wools were a feast for the eyes.
Mayflower Studio, run by Denise Robicheau, delighted me with watercolours, mixed media, and not-to-be-missed her hummingbirds
And in Church Point, I stumbled upon Debbie Kirkpatrick’s Tidal Pool Studio, filled with ocean-inspired oil paintings—proof that in Clare, beauty appears when you least expect it.

*A. F. Theriault & Son Ltd.* is one of the largest private boatyards in Atlantic Canada. It has an impressive 85 years of quality boatbuilding craftsmanship history, and since 1938 they have built over 1000 vessels including fishing boats & passenger vessels, commercial workboats, fire/patrol/pilot boats, as well as luxury pleasure yachts.

Joie de vivre is alive and well everywhere in Clare - even at Frenchy’s.

Did you know that Clare is home to some of the very first Frenchys? You never know what bargains you might find here—the locals swear by it.

Tastes of Clare

If you love food, Clare is a destination in itself. This is a fishing community, blessed with year-round access to the freshest seafood, and it shows.

La Cuisine Robicheau is a must. The Robicheau family serves generous plates of seafood and soul-satisfying desserts that locals rave about. This is hands-down the best homestyle seafood restaurant in Southwest Nova Scotia. Dinner reservations are highly recommended.
At Le Ptit Robicheau, the region’s first gourmet food truck, we lined up with locals for poutine, fish tacos, and more. Worth every bite.
The Wheelhouse offered us the perfect shareable appetizers.
And inland, Corberrie Cider was a revelation. Walking the orchard with cider-maker Denise Flynn, we learned about her craft before sampling blends like Strawberry Rhubarb and Cran-Blueberry Rosé (my personal favourite). Love this crisp, refreshing, and uniquely dry take on cider with clever flavour combinations. Find Denise & her Corberrie Cider at the Belliveau Cove Market every Saturday.

And of course, you can’t visit without trying rappie pie, the Acadian comfort food that tastes like tradition itself. Find it in restaurants throughout the region.

Cabane d'Horizon Luxury Airbnb

It is hard to “contain” my excitement about my luxury cabin stay at Cabane d'Horizon Luxury Airbnb in Saulnierville. Have you tried a shipping container tiny-home accommodations experience yet? These unique “sea-cans” sit on a magnificent waterfront property. This is another successful Robicheau family business and I was thrilled to be one of their first guests to try them out. I fell asleep to the sound of waves, watched the sun set with a cider in hand, and sipped my morning coffee curled on the couch with the ocean right outside the window. It was the perfect Clare moment—peaceful, refreshing, and unforgettable. I highly recommend Cabane d'Horizon Luxury Airbnb for an escape from it all for two, or for a small family getaway.

Festivals, Music, and Joie de Vivre

Clare comes alive with festivals that showcase Acadian pride. The Festival Acadien de Clare, the world’s oldest Acadian festival, is a highlight each summer. On National Acadian Day, join the joyful chaos of Tintamarre, where everyone takes to the streets with pots, pans, horns, and noisemakers. Add in the Terra Fondo mountain bike ride and the Bluegrass Festival, and you’ll see why Clare is a place that knows how to celebrate life. There is so much waiting for you to discover and explore in Clare. Baie Sainte-Marie invites you to come home to Clare on The French Shore of Nova Scotia.

Discover Clare, Nova Scotia - Culinary Destination

There was so much more to discover in Clare that I was invited back a year later to enjoy its many more culinary destination delights. Clare is a fishing community privileged to have year-round access to fresh seafood. Add in a few top-notch Chefs with innovative ideas to create flavourful dishes and special events, a cidery, a brewery, a distillery, and a couple wineries, and a culinary destination is born. Discover Clare Nova Scotia - Culinary Destination.

Getting There

Getting here is part of the fun. I travelled on the MV Fundy Rose ferry from Saint John, New Brunswick, to Digby, Nova Scotia. The two-hour crossing gave me time to relax, watch for wildlife, and soak up Bay of Fundy views before continuing my journey along the French Shore.

Come Home to Clare

Clare is a place where Acadian culture thrives, where the ocean shapes daily life, and where visitors are welcomed like family. Whether you come for the food, the festivals, or the sea air, you’ll leave with a little piece of Clare in your heart.

Baie Sainte-Marie is calling. Come home to Clare.

This post was sponsored by Baie Sainte-Marie/Clare Nova Scotia Tourism and Bay Ferries; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn & Threads. Subscribe to be the first to receive my latest articles. Share articles you love with your social media community so they, too, will discover, There’s No Place Like Home!