Discover Nova Scotia: Lunenburg
Down in the South Shore of Nova Scotia lies a town rich with history and designated a UNESCO world heritage site. The town of Lunenburg is a stop you will want to make when visiting Nova Scotia.
The colorful town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
History:
Lunenburg Academy, built between 1893-1895
Originally founded in 1973, this small port town on the southern shore is one of the first settlement attempts by British protestants. in 1995 it was designated a UNESCO world heritage site due to being the best example of a British settlement in North America. The town still maintains the appearance of the settlement from the early 1800s and the layout of the town remains the same as the original settlement. You may even come across many buildings which have been part of the town since it’s foundation.
Not only is the town known for its status as a UNESCO world heritage site, it is also the birth place of the most famous Canadian ship in history.
The Bluenose
During the 1920’s and 1930’s the Bluenose sailed the seas as a fishing vessel, but also a racing vessel. The ship originally manufactured in a shipyard in Lunenburg was launched in 1921 and began its racing career the same year. The Bluenose had become a very dominant ship on the world stage, so much so that it became known as “The Queen of the Atlantic”. As time went on, ships such as this famous schooner began to be replaced by larger motorized boats due to the faster speeds and ease of sailing.
The Bluenose eventually sank off the coast of Haiti while hauling freight when it struck a reef. To this day the Bluenose is still a large part of Canadian history as it is the ship featured on the Canadian dime. The town of Lunenburg and the builders at the original shipyard which built the Bluenose decided to create a near identical ship, the Bluenose II, which was launched in 1963 and continues to sail the world today.
The Bluenose II docked in the Lunenburg harbor
Lunenburg Today:
Today Lunenburg is a bright and vibrant town with many shops, a maritime fishing museum and many great restaurants where you may enjoy some of the freshest seafood on the east coast. Still strongly rooted in it’s fishing heritage many of the towns people from Lunenburg and the surrounding area fish to make their living.
The Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg
Today many tourists visit Lunenburg for the amazingly beautiful cityscape, the colourful old buildings and to go on a tour boat to go whale watching. The town even features a horse and buggy ride for those who would like a guided tour of the city to visit the many historical sites around the town.
The town even has a secret gem which is kept as their own response to Peggy’s Cove, a small town only minutes away called Blue Rocks.
Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia:
Blue Rocks is a small coastal town just minutes away from Lunenburg. Originally named after the blue slate rock found on it’s shores, it has now earned a nickname, “Lunenburg’s Peggy’s Cove”. The town is quite small, however it is a very scenic area filled with historical homes and from the shore you can see a few islands where some fishing sheds and docks still reside and are used today.
Many kayak tours launch from their docks, and their docks are still in use today for fishing and recreational use.
The docks of Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia
This is an area rich with history, breathtaking views and a relaxing atmosphere. It will be a town I will explore more in the future.
