Lunenburg Travel Guide

Lunenburg has "small town character," yet has easy access to Halifax and South Shore markets, links with the Annapolis Valley, the New England States, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Lunenburg is a quick 92 kms southwest from the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax. The town is located on a steep hillside facing south.

The Town of Lunenburg, in Nova Scotia, Canada, was formally established in 1753 as the first British Colonial settlement in Nova Scotia outside of Halifax. These early settlers were from various parts of Germany, Switzerland, and the Montbeliard region of France. They followed in the footsteps of earlier Mikmaq and Acadian inhabitants in the area.

A vibrant and stable economy was built on farming, fishing, ship building and ocean-based commerce, particularly in the West Indies trade. More than 200 years in fishing, ship-building and marine related industries has provided Lunenburg with a strong economic base.

A view from Lunenburg's beautiful waterfront today will take in many of these established marine industries. Among these are: High Liner Foods Inc., one of the largest fish processing plants in North America; Lunenburg Industrial Foundry and Engineering Ltd., founded in 1891; Scotia Trawler; Adams and Knickle; Deep Sea Trawlers; ABCO Industries Ltd., founded in 1947; and the Lunenburg Marine Railway, one of the largest marine railway complexes in Nova Scotia. A diversified economy based on the fisheries, tourism and manufacturing has become firmly entrenched in Lunenburg. The Town of Lunenburg's 250th anniversary in 2003 is a testament to this.

Lunenburg's architecture reflects a strong European influence. Historic buildings and stately heritage homes add to the unique charm of Lunenburg's tree-lined streets. For those who enjoy the great outdoors, Lunenburg offers a number of recreational activities. Campgrounds, golf courses and sandy beaches are all within a few minutes' drive. The surrounding waters are a sailor's paradise.