About Grand-Pré National Historic Site
UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Canada's most-visited national historic sites, commemorating the Acadian settlement of Grand-Pré (1682–1755) and Le Grand Dérangement. Multimedia visitor centre, Memorial Church, statue of Evangeline, Victorian garden, and access to the Harvest Moon Trailway.
Features & Highlights
Detailed Information
On the low, dyked meadows of the Annapolis Valley, Grand-Pré National Historic Site is Canada's most powerful monument to Acadian history — and one of its most-visited national historic sites. This is the heart of the countryside that inspired Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's celebrated 1847 poem Evangeline, and it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 as part of the broader Grand-Pré heritage area. For Acadians around the world, this quiet corner of the valley is the symbolic homeland: the place where, between 1755 and 1762, thousands of Acadian families were rounded up and deported during Le Grand Dérangement. Walking the site's grounds today — with the Memorial Church, the statue of Evangeline, and the restored garden — is to stand at the emotional centre of one of North America's defining stories.
The site tells that story with real depth. The experience begins in the visitor centre, where a multimedia presentation opens inside the hull of a deportation ship before guiding you through the history of Acadian settlement from 1682. From there, a path leads past serene duck ponds and weeping willows to the statue of Evangeline — Longfellow's heroine, cast in bronze and gazing toward the Minas Basin — and the Memorial Church, built in 1922 as a symbol of Acadian renaissance. The gardens, laid out in the early 20th century, frame the church beautifully and bloom through the summer months.
Practical Information
Address & Location
2205 Grand Pré Road, Grand Pré, NS B0P 1M0
Grand-Pré sits in the heart of the Annapolis Valley, roughly 90 minutes from Halifax via Highway 101 (exit 10). The site anchors the Grand-Pré UNESCO World Heritage Site; Wolfville is a 10-minute drive away, and the wineries of Gaspereau Valley are minutes beyond that.
Hours of Operation
- Open 7 days a week, 9 am to 5 pm
- 2026 season: May 15 to October 12
- Guided tours run twice daily in July and August (included with admission)
- Grounds remain accessible during posted hours; last entry 30 minutes before close
Admission
- 2026: Free admission through the Canada Strong Pass, June 19 to September 7
- Outside that window: standard Parks Canada daily fees apply; free for youth 17 and under
- The Discovery Pass covers Grand-Pré plus all other Parks Canada sites for a year
Amenities
- Visitor centre with multimedia exhibits and gift shop
- On-site parking and picnic tables
- Wheelchair-accessible pathways and facilities
- Electric vehicle charging stations
- Harvest Moon Trailway passes through the site — a 110 km cycling and walking route linking Grand-Pré to Annapolis Royal
- Parks Canada red chairs at the Grand-Pré View Park, a short walk up the hill
Contact
- Phone: (902) 542-3631 (toll-free 1-866-542-3631)
- Email: grandpre@pc.gc.ca
- Website: parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/grandpre
Plan to spend two to three hours — an hour for the visitor centre and its multimedia show, another for the grounds, garden, and Memorial Church, and a few minutes for the climb to the View Park for the classic view over the dyked farmland toward the Minas Basin.
Combine your visit with the nearby wineries (Grand Pré, Luckett, Gaspereau), the Old Congregation Church in Hortonville, and the Evangeline Trail — see our Grand-Pré UNESCO guide for a full itinerary and wine-tasting tips. In Wolfville, the historic district, farmers' market, and waterfront boardwalk round out a full day. During July and August, guided tours bring the deportation story to life with costumed interpreters — book your visit around one of the twice-daily tours if you want the full experience.
Grand-Pré rewards both the history-minded traveller and the casual visitor. Few places in Canada combine such emotional weight with such quiet beauty — the long views over the great meadow (grand pré, in French) that gave the site its name, the soft light on the Minas Basin at sunset, and the powerful story embedded in every corner of the grounds. Whether you come for the UNESCO designation, the Longfellow connection, or the setting itself, Grand-Pré leaves a lasting impression. With free admission for most of summer 2026, there has never been a better time to visit.
At a Glance
| What it is | A Parks Canada national historic site commemorating the Acadian settlement of Grand-Pré (1682-1755) and Le Grand Dérangement |
|---|---|
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2012 as part of the broader Grand-Pré heritage area |
| Location | 2205 Grand Pré Road in the Annapolis Valley, about 90 minutes from Halifax via Highway 101 (exit 10); Wolfville is 10 minutes away |
| 2026 season and hours | Open 7 days a week, 9 am to 5 pm, May 15 to October 12; guided tours twice daily in July and August, included with admission |
| 2026 admission | Free through the Canada Strong Pass June 19 to September 7; otherwise standard Parks Canada daily fees apply, free for youth 17 and under |
| Key features | Multimedia visitor centre, the Memorial Church built in 1922, the bronze statue of Evangeline, and gardens that bloom through summer |
| Trail connection | The Harvest Moon Trailway, a 110 km cycling and walking route to Annapolis Royal, passes through the site |
| Plan your visit | Allow two to three hours: the multimedia show and visitor centre, the grounds and church, and the View Park red chairs |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grand-Pré National Historic Site?
It is a Parks Canada site in the Annapolis Valley commemorating the Acadian settlement of Grand-Pré from 1682 to 1755 and the deportations of 1755 to 1762 remembered as Le Grand Dérangement. For Acadians worldwide it is the symbolic homeland, and the wider landscape was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
What are the hours and the 2026 season?
The site is open 7 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm, with the 2026 season running May 15 to October 12 and last entry 30 minutes before close. Guided tours run twice daily in July and August and are included with admission; the grounds stay accessible during posted hours.
How much does admission cost?
Entry is free through the Canada Strong Pass from June 19 to September 7, 2026. Outside that window standard Parks Canada daily fees apply, with free entry for youth 17 and under, and a Discovery Pass covers Grand-Pré plus every other Parks Canada site for a full year.
What will I see on the grounds?
The visitor centre opens with a multimedia presentation staged inside the hull of a deportation ship, then a path leads past duck ponds and weeping willows to the bronze statue of Evangeline gazing toward the Minas Basin and the Memorial Church, built in 1922. Gardens bloom through the summer, and red chairs wait at the nearby View Park.
How much time should I allow?
Plan to spend two to three hours: about an hour for the visitor centre and its multimedia show, another for the grounds, garden and church, and a few minutes for the climb to the View Park for the classic view over the dyked farmland toward the Minas Basin. Wolfville is only a 10-minute drive for a meal afterward.
Can I walk or cycle from the site?
Yes, the Harvest Moon Trailway, a 110 km cycling and walking route linking Grand-Pré to Annapolis Royal, passes right through the site. Amenities include on-site parking, picnic tables, wheelchair-accessible pathways and facilities, and electric vehicle charging stations.
