Petite Riviere Bridge, Nova Scotia

Petite Riviere is a small village on route 331 in Lunenburg County South Shore in Nova Scotia in Canada. The Nova Scotia tourism office refers to route 331 as the Lighthouse Route, a scenic drive along Nova Scotia's south shore, known not only for its lighthouses, but for its white sand beaches, historic settlements, and spectacular ocean views. Petite Riviere's year-round population of about 200 swells to a much larger number during the summer when occupants of vacation houses, cottage renters, and campers arrive. There are no hotels or large restaurants here, but about fifteen minutes away in Bridgewater Bridgewater there are supermarkets, banks, a hospital, doctors, and other services.

The village of Petite Riviere lines both sides of the river which bears the same name. Early French settlers gave the river its name in contrast to the nearby much larger LaHave River. Samuel de Champlain arrived in the area in 1604 and mapped the offshore islands which are still sparsely settled despite their beauty and proximity to the mainland. Native Mi'kmaq had s summer encampment in Petite before the 17th Century, and they were followed by a few French Acadians whose community did not survive for long. Today a small burying ground contains the remains of both Acadians and natives.

When the English had control of Nova Scotia in the mid-eighteenth century, they brought in many Palatine Germans to settle the area around today's Lunenburg. Some of these people and their descendants along with some English spread out to settle in adjacent areas such as Petite Riviere. The river provided access to the Atlantic Ocean. This access encouraged fishing and boat-building. By the nineteenth century tourists began flocking to Petite to enjoy its beaches and scenery

Today the center of the village is at the crossroad of Route 331 and Green Bay Road. Here the General Store supplies the everyday needs of residents and tourists and is the morning gathering place for coffee and conversation. Across the road is the local volunteer fire department which not only provides fire and emergency services but is a meeting hall for local groups and serves public breakfasts, suppers, and the occasional wedding reception. There are two other commercial buildings at this intersection as well as the Petite Villa, which before its renovation was the post office for Petite Riviere Bridge, Canada Post's official name for the community. An elementary school occupies a large lot not too far away, and two churches serve the village.

From the village center route 331 leads across the river and curves along the shore past Risser's Beach, a provincial campground which offers a long beach, a canteen, and a boardwarlk above the marsh. The route continues to Crescent Beach on which cars are allowed for the convenience of sail boarders, paddle boarders, swimmers, and photographers. At the end of the beach a narrow bridge carries cars to the LaHave Islands where a museum welcomes visitors and displays a history of the islands.

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Wikipedia