Lunenburg

The Town of Lunenburg's waterfront visage is, without doubt, one of the most photographed views in Atlantic Canada.

The panoramic view of Old Town Lunenburg, as witnessed from nearby Kaulbachs Head, is bright, colourful and reminiscent of years gone by, during which time wooden vessels ruled the seas and the size of one's catch determined the prosperity of a man, a family and, indeed, the entire community.

With a population of approximately 2,300, Lunenburg is something of a study in contrast.

The older portion of the community, facing the Atlantic, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The newer quarter of the town features a sprawling residential area.

Lunenburg was founded in 1753, when Col. Charles Lawrence and the British military escorted settlers to the shores of what had previously been known to the local Mi'kmaq as Merligueche.

The community was the first permanent British colonial settlement in Nova Scotia outside of Halifax.

Those first settlers brought to the area by the British came from different parts of Germany, Switzerland and the Montbeliard region of France.

These "foreign Protestants," as they so often have been called, settled in a region that already had a rich history of Mi'kmaq and French habitation.

Lunenburg became the shiretown for the surrounding countryside, serving for years as the seat of government and the local courts of law.

The community was also a key economic hub.

In addition to a healthy farming economy, the residents of Lunenburg gained an affinity for the sea and quickly began building entire fleets to capitalize on the bountiful fish stocks accessible off the Atlantic coast.

Beyond fishing, Lunenburg also became known during the 19th and 20th centuries as a home to master shipbuilders.

The port's crafters were responsible for a number of famous vessels, including the famed racing and fishing schooner Bluenose and the Theresa E. Connor.

Today, visitors to Lunenburg can immerse themselves in the community's seafaring history by visiting the working waterfront and the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

During the summer months, a variety of festivals highlight the town's vibrant past, including Folk Harbour Festival, the Lunenburg Waterfront Seafood Festival and the Folk Art Festival.