Grand Pré is comprised mainly of marshland that was first polderised by the Acadians in the 17th century for farming and settlement. Its inscription is based on two justifications: (1) the site represents the development of traditional agricultural techniques by the Acadians that adapted to the environmental and tidal conditions of the area, and (2) the site is a testimony to an important part of the history of this region—the Acadian diaspora.

Our visit last November 2022 was an easy 1-hour drive from Halifax. As we were visiting outside of the dates of operation (from May to October) the visitor reception centre, the memorial church, and bookings for the tent accommodation and guided tours were all closed. The grounds remain open year-round. Visiting outside the season meant that learning about Grand Pre's history on-site would be limited to the information panels scattered around the area, and thus, prior reading is helpful. On a positive note, we didn't have to pay anything and you could expect that there would be a lot fewer visitors, which was the case during our visit.

After crossing a railway track that seemed to double as a walking trail, we were welcomed by the statue of Evangeline, the heroine of a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that retold the story of Le Grand Dérangement. Past the statue is the memorial church, which was pretty much the main building on the site. We continued strolling to the west and reached an area where the tiny blacksmith shop stands. This area provides visitors the opportunity to view the expansive farms and dykelands. We circled and walked towards the east of the park, where there weren’t much to see other than the Herbin cross and the bust of Longfellow. As there was nothing much to do, we decided to go to Horton Landing to see the Acadian Memorial cross. We got to hang around the area for a bit before ending our visit to the site. Driving through the farmlands to reach Evangeline beach never crossed my mind as I was more interested in finding a restaurant to eat and relax. Fortunately, the lovely college town of Wolfville was just a few minutes' drive from Grand Pré. I would say that travelers to the area should not miss visiting this town, as the restaurants, bars, and the pretty Acadia University give the town its youthful vibe.

Whether it deserves inscription or not is a matter of contention. However, Grand Pré is undoubtedly an important heritage and archaeological site in this part of North America and a solemn love letter to the Acadians.