Lunenburg
Lunenberg, Novia Scotia
This Nova Scotia fishing town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts well-preserved wooden architecture. Visit the boat-filled harbor to take in its brightly painted clapboard homes and heritage buildings. Lunenburg is also the birthplace of the boat featured on the Canadian dime.
Visit Lunenburg on a day trip from Halifax, which usually incorporates stops at other historic fishing communities on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, such as Mahone Bay and Peggy’s Cove. Whether you visit Lunenburg independently or with a group, swing by Ironworks Distillery to taste fruity liqueurs; visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic to learn more about Lunenburg's seafaring heritage; and explore the 18th-century Knaut-Rhuland House for a peek into the lifestyle of wealthy Georgian-era locals.
Lunenburg is a must for visitors interested in Nova Scotia’s history.
Leave time to sample some of the town's celebrated seafood restaurants.
Wear comfortable shoes to explore compact and walkable Lunenburg, which has many steep streets.
Lunenburg is on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) west of Halifax for about an hour’s drive along Highway 103 and Route 324. Some local bus companies, such as Maritime Bus, operate services between Halifax and Lunenburg, but departures are limited so it’s often more convenient to rent a car or go as part of a tour.
Lunenburg is busy in peak summer months of July and August. Visit in May and September for mild weather with fewer people. Summer is also peak festival season, with events showcasing folk art and music.
The Bluenose II is a circa 1963 replica of the original 1921 Bluenose, a celebrated racing and fishing schooner constructed in Lunenburg. An image of the original has been stamped on the Canadian dime since 1937. The Bluenose II now resides in Lunenburg, and you can take a sightseeing cruise on it in summer, as well as experience life on board as a crew member for the day.
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