Grand Pre

Wayne and I set out on our own this morning because we wanted to stop at Grand Pre on the way to Halifax.  The others had gone last week when we did something else.  When we arrived we went to the information center and saw a very informative movie on the Acadians of this area.  Even though most were of French descent, they were forced out by the French and sent to the English colonies or back to France.   this is a view of the ridge where many houses and other buildings were burned.

After the movie, I walked to the memorial chapel and the statue of Evangeline.  Longfellow was so taken by the area and the stories of families torn apart that he wrote the epic poem “Evangeline.”

 

This is the statue in front of the memorial chapel.

This is the close up of the statue.

The gardens in the area are beautiful.

There is also a statue depicting the families that were torn apart.

Emelie, who is traveling with us, is from Evangeline Parish in Louisiana.  When she was nineteen she was selected to be Miss Evangeline and traveled to Grand Pre as the representative from Evangeline Parish.   Needles to say they were happy to have her back and gave all of us the royal treatment.