Mi-Carême: three days in March

Every March, hundreds of costumed participants gather in small groups at around fifty selected homes in Fatima to celebrate Mi-Carême. The festival lasts three days, from Wednesday to Friday. Travelers can take part too. The exact dates vary each year with the liturgical calendar, so the date for the year in question is key when planning a March trip. Traditional Acadian and Québécois music is at the heart of Mi-Carême. Longstanding customs also include drinking Bagosse or “bière des îles,” artisanal alcoholic beverages made in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

Built Heritage and Religious Heritage

Fatima developed around a church and a parish of the same name; the parish was established in 1948. Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire de Fatima was built in 1967 and received a “C” (“supérieure”) religious cultural heritage rating. The homes also offer clues to the area’s building traditions: most houses built in Fatima during this period share similar designs and volumes. They are located within a radius of less than three kilometers from the fairgrounds. Hip roofs, gables and front galleries are characteristic features. The designated religious heritage site and recurring forms of residential architecture thus offer different perspectives on Fatima’s built history.

The “Les Caps” Trail Section and Anse aux Baleiniers

The “Les Caps” trail section from L’Étang-du-Nord to Fatima is 16.5 kilometers long, takes four hours and is of moderate difficulty. The route guide, published in 2021, notes that it passes through Fatima and ends at the Anse aux Baleiniers site. Check trail conditions and markers before setting out. The L’Anse-aux-Baleiniers recreational tourism site is located at 146, chemin de l’Hôpital and is open from June to September. The four-hour trail section and the seasonal opening period are two specific details that play different roles in planning your day.

Further Afield in Les Îles-De-La-Madeleine

At the northeastern end of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine archipelago lies the Réserve nationale de faune de la Pointe-de-l’Est. Dunes, heathland and ponds characterize the protected area. It provides a stopover for migratory birds, especially shorebirds, and breeding habitat for at-risk species such as the red-necked grebe and piping plover. More than 150 bird species and about ten mammal species are currently found there. Guided hikes and activities that raise awareness about protecting wildlife habitats are offered; check the details directly.

The Site patrimonial de La Grave is also part of the cultural attractions of Les Îles-De-La-Madeleine: it includes 33 buildings and structures associated with traditional fishing. For longer hikes through the archipelago, the Sentier Entre Vents et Marées has 13 sections and a total length of 230 kilometers. Its thirteenth and final section is on Île d’Entrée. The Sentier du Littoral offers a different scale: this two-kilometer trail is designed for pedestrians and cyclists and leads to a lookout point at the tip of the cape. This puts the local “Les Caps” trail section in Fatima and the longer routes across the destination into perspective as different trail options.

Discover more destinations: Grande-Entrée, Havre-Aux-Maisons, L'étang-Du-Nord, Cap-Aux-Meules.

Back to the main destination overview: Les Îles-De-La-Madeleine.