Painted houses
On a grid.
Quintin Soloviev — CC BY 4.0 · Marie Cuvelier — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marc A. Cormier – www.st-pierre-et-miquelon.com — CC BY 2.0 · Marie975 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Keizers — CC BY-SA 4.0
Saint-Pierre is the capital of the French archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, off Canada's island of Newfoundland in the Atlantic, home to about ninety per cent of the archipelago's people. The town stands on the north side of a natural harbour called the «Barachois» on the east coast of Saint-Pierre Island. The explorer Jacques Cartier claimed the islands for France in 1536, and for centuries town life revolved around cod fishing in the rich waters nearby. It is named after Saint Peter, patron saint of fishermen, and it keeps its French character and language, with the euro as currency, despite lying so close to Canada. Houses painted in bright reds, blues and yellows line its streets, laid out on a regular grid around the waterfront. The harbour is full of fishing boats and traditional wooden dories, and the hills behind town look out over the colourful rooftops, the harbour and small islands. Walking around town is free. The climate is cool and damp even in summer, with frequent fog; June to September is the best time to visit, and the town is reached by plane or ferry from Canada.
On a grid.
In the harbour.
From the hills.
Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon
By plane or ferry from Canada.
June to September.
