Isle Madame

Isle Madame is on the south coast of Cape Breton Island. It’s approximately 35-40 minutes from the Canso Causeway. As you enter the island you see the ocean. Surrounded by the ocean, Isle Madame is very much at sea level which is different from what you would experience on the Cabot Trail where the vistas are beautiful but you’re at a higher elevation.

Acadian Communities

Isle Madame is a quaint village. You will see modest homes and every once and a while you will see something that’s not so modest, but for the most part, it’s still pretty much Acadian-style homes. Petit-de-Grat is the main Acadian village. It’s where you will find the heaviest population of French-speaking people, with many Acadian families still living on their original homestead. It’s also a working fishing village, so if you go down to the wharf in Petit-de-Grat during lobster season (mid-May to end of June), you will see the fishers come in with their catch that day, swarmed by a cloud of seagulls looking for lunch. My parents are Acadian and I grew up in a French-speaking household. Although many things in our lives are now in English (movies, music, etc.,), the Acadian culture is still strong and very much intact on this island. There are Acadian traditions, from making fricot to knitting slippers, that I enjoy sharing with my kids and hopefully they will continue to share these traditions with their families.

Settling by the Ocean

The communities are based mostly near the ocean as most families relied on fishing for their livelihood. The island offers a slower pace of life to both residents and visitors, and you feel that as soon as you cross the Lennox Passage bridge onto Isle Madame. Visitors are genuinely surprised by the number of amenities on the island. In Arichat, you have the Clairestone Inn, a gas station, cafe, a convenience store, pizza place, ice cream parlour, full-service restaurant, pharmacy, medical clinic and a large Catholic church (built by shipbuilders over a hundred years ago). In Petit de Grat, you will find a bakery/convenience store, a credit union, and our French cultural centre, La Picasse. D’Escousse offers a convenience store and a B & B with an on-site pub. 

Connect with the Past

The Isle Madame Historical Society and Le Noir Forge Museum are both located on the lower road in Arichat and many visitors come here to research their family lines at the Historical Society. Genealogy tourism is quite popular in the area. The Forge also offers blacksmithing demonstrations and workshops.

A Cycler’s Paradise

Cycling on Isle Madame is beautiful. Our roads are in good condition and most follow along the water’s edge. Kayaking is another fantastic activity on the island. Known as “the Isle of 100 Coves” the scenery is breathtaking. Other activities that are popular on the island are beach walking, sea glass hunting, snowshoeing and ATV trail riding. 

Spend the day at Lennox Passage

One of the island’s hidden gems is the Lennox Passage Provincial Park. With a lighthouse, beach area, picnic areas and two kilometres of trails, it’s the perfect place to spend a day.