The Town of Saint-Pierre

Saint-Pierre, the main town of the tiny French archipelago of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, is one of the most surprising places in North America, a genuine piece of France set in the cold North Atlantic just off the coast of Canada's Newfoundland. Here, remarkably, everything is unmistakably French: brightly painted wooden and stone houses line the streets, the euro is the currency, baguettes and pastries fill the boulangeries, French cars navigate narrow lanes, and cafés serve wine and coffee with Gallic flair. Wrapped in maritime history of cod fishing and, once, Prohibition-era rum-running, and set against a rugged, windswept island landscape, Saint-Pierre offers the delightful and utterly unexpected experience of stepping into France without crossing the Atlantic.

What you actually see

• The colourful houses - the brightly painted French streetscape.
• The French cafés - the boulangeries, cafés and Gallic life.
• The maritime heritage - the cod-fishing and rum-running history.
• The island setting - the rugged windswept Atlantic landscape.

When to go

June to September, the short northern summer, is the mildest and most pleasant time to visit, when the weather is warmest, the days long and boat and ferry links most reliable; the archipelago is cool, foggy and windswept for much of the year. Summer is the liveliest season in the town.

Honest expectations

Saint-Pierre is remote, reached by ferry from Newfoundland or a small flight, and its cool, foggy North Atlantic climate is bracing rather than balmy, so it is a quirky cultural curiosity more than a sun destination. As a genuine, delightful piece of France, complete with cafés, baguettes and euros, set off the coast of Canada, though, Saint-Pierre is a wonderfully unexpected and charming place.

Nearby

The wilder island of Miquelon and the islet of Île aux Marins lie nearby.