Port Au Port Peninsula

The Port au Port Peninsula stretches into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is connected to Newfoundland by a narrow isthmus at the town of Port au Port. To the south, you’ll see Bay St. George. To the west, is the expanse of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. No matter which way you look, you’ll see spectacular coastline and ocean views.

Known as The French Shore, the area was named “Ophor portu” (port of rest) by Basque fishermen during the 16th-17th centuries. The area was used for seasonal fishing settlements by French and Basque fishermen and eventually settled permanently. Mi’kmaq families were also present in the area.

Today, the Port au Port Peninsula is still home to a vibrant Mi’kmaq culture. It also has the highest proportion of French-speakers on the island of Newfoundland and is the only bilingual electoral district in the province.