Acadian Village Trails
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Quick Facts
| Difficulty | accessible |
| Trail Type | loop |
| Distance | 2.8 km return |
| Estimated Time | 4 hours |
| Surface Type | old road |
| Elevation Change | 12 meters |
| Features | historic village |
| Trail Markers | none but easy to follow |
| Scenery Rating | must see |
| Maintenance Rating | well maintained |
| Cell Reception | medium |
| Dog Friendly | no |
| Fees | yes |
Description
The Acadian Village is one of only a few historic sites in the province that show what life was like in the 1700s, 1800s and early 1900s. The Acadian Village focuses on the Acadian history of the province. When you enter the village you are emersed into the past. Most of the old buildings were brought here from around the province. Actors play the part of the people who would have lived and worked in these buildings back when they were new. The oldest house on the site is from 1773.
The majority of the village is from the mid 1800's but there is also a section of the village that represents the early 1900's. If you want the full experience of what it would have been like living in the past you should consider staying the night at Château Albert, an exact replica of a hotel that stood in Caraquet in the early 1900's. You can also stay the night in the upstairs of the train station across the road like we did. Wandering the dimly lit streets around the hotel is something you won't soon forget.
Since most of the village is made up of old farms there are lots of animals. Sheep, goats, cows, and rabbits will keep your kids interested as you explore the history of each house. There are also several historic shops that actually sell a lot of the artifacts and old fashioned products that they have on display.
Beyond the historic significance of the village, walking around the site is also interesting. One side of the village travels along the grassy wetlands along Rivière du Nord. A dam at the grist mill creates a pond. A short trail through the woods takes you to a covered bridge that crosses the stream where it enters the pond. When I was out doing night photography a beaver slapped his tail several times in the stream above the bridge. The next morning a visitor told me that there was a large moose standing in the pond near the covered bridge the previous day.
Map
Directions
From Caraquet drive west on route 145. When you come to the roundabout in Bertrand turn right onto route 11 towards Bathurst. Drive for just over 4 kilometres and you will see the historic village on the left.
If you are coming from Bathurst drive east on route 11 along the coast. Grand-Anse will be the last village you pass through before the road takes a sharp turn to the right. Drive for another 5 kilometres past this turn and you will come to the historic village on the right.
Trail Last Hiked: September 2, 2019.
Page Last Updated: September 7, 2019.