Leaving...
If you are already travelling along
Route 1 you are on the right track.
If you are traveling along Highway 101 take Exit 32 to Route 1 which will allow you to better experience the region of Baie Sainte-Marie.
The following is a suggested itinerary for a day trip or for planning an overnight stay in the area.
Discover the peacefulness and tranquility of the villages of Mavillette and Cape Saint Mary's. The Cape’s wharf is Clare’s most picturesque. The quaint wharf is guarded by houses perched on the hill overlooking the sea. During the summer, fishermen share their village with summer residents who return each year to bask in the beauty of the sea and the scenery. Not far from the wharf, you will find Clare’s most precious treasure, Mavillette Beach.
Meteghan evolved around Clare’s most important fishing port. Scallop draggers, trawlers, herring seiners, and ground fish and lobster boats land their catches in Meteghan, where nearby fish plants and lobster pounds provide employment for many workers. A visit to the wharf will give you an opportunity to observe the different types of boats and feel the pulse of the region’s most important industry.
You will find numerous businesses in Meteghan Centre, including one of the oldest family businesses of the area, U.J. Robichaud founded in 1867. Do not hesitate to stop and browse for treasures ar the very first Frenchy’s store located in this village.
Meteghan River is home to A.F. Thériault & Sons, one of Canada’s largest private shipbuilding companies. The shipyard builds boats in aluminum, fiberglass and composites and offers a vast array of services related to ship repair for all kinds of boats. Stop by for a unique photo opportunity!
By turning right onto Eustache Comeau Road before the yellow Église Sacré Cœur de Saulnierville Church (Sacred Heart church) you can follow the signage that leads you to the Bangor Sawmill Museum. This 19th century water-powered turbine sawmill provides guided tours.
Saulnierville was first settled in 1785 by a group of six Saulnier families. For the past 60 years, Comeau’s Sea Foods Ltd. has been a leader in the harvesting, processing and global distribution of fish and other sea products. The village has become Clare’s shopping centre with its numerous stores.
The Club social de Clare’s very large Acadian flag will welcome you to Clare at Exit 29 in Little Brook. The Club offers a variety of concerts and dances throughout the year. Its vast premises is ideally suited for sport activities and outdoor concerts during the summer.
Driving through Comeauville, you will notice Clare’s community radio headquarters, CIFA at 104.1 FM, as well as signs leading to the modern 18-hole Clare Golf Club as well as those for the new 9 hole golf course Le p’tit cour.
In Church Point you cannot miss Sainte-Marie Church Museum reputed to be the largest wooden church in North America and Université Sainte-Anne, the only French language university in Nova Scotia. The university has numerous facilities and is Clare’s cultural centre.
The village of Grosses Coques was named after the large clams that the first Acadian settlers discovered on the tidal flats. Today it is mostly known for the very popular restaurant Chez Christophe the birthplace of Musique de la Baie, a live Acadian music program in local restaurants.
To the east of Clare, the villages of Saint Bernard and Belliveau Cove were renowned boat building communities during the age of sail. Today, they are Clare’s tourism hub with Saint Bernard’s stone church standing as an impressive landmark. You will also find here the Visitor Information Centre, a long walking trail, restaurants and arts and crafts shops.