Iles-de-la-Madeleine at a Glance
The Îles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands) are a special part of Canada's
landscape and history, inhabited since 1755 by French-speaking Acadians who
escaped British expulsion from the Maritime provinces. Located northeast of
Prince Edward Island, the islands
are nonetheless considered part of Quebec,
but have some of the province's oldest English-speaking settlements at Old
Harry, Grosse-Île
and Île
d'Entrée. Several settlers are survivors of the more than 500 shipwrecks
that have occurred in the dangerous currents surrounding the islands, disasters
curbed by the placement of several lighthouses
that remain today.
Formed from molten rock that escaped from middle earth, the islands are the
visible peaks of a deep underwater ridge that connects each one except the Île
d'Entrée by wind-swept dunes
and sandy beaches.
Hilly landscapes are dotted with colourful houses, eclectic shops, interpretive
centres and historic villages. Dine on delectable cuisine fresh from the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, stroll through acres of parkland and splash in the waters
of the Îles de la Madeleine, Canada's exceptional island enclave.
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WELCOME TO Iles-de-la-Madeleine!
