Located on Nova Scotia's South Shore, the Town of Lunenburg has been tied to the sea from its early beginnings in the mid 1700s.
For centuries, the town thrived on fishing and shipping. It became known as 'the home of wooden ships and iron men'. Many ships were launched here, none more famous than the fishing schooner Bluenose, a Nova Scotian, and indeed, Canadian icon.
The shipwrights who built and maintained the vast fleet of wooden fishing schooners and coastal trading ships also had a hand in the construction of the town itself.
Men, skilled in the carving and shaping of wooden hulls and spars, used these same skills to construct the town's houses, churches and other buildings. Their distinct building techniques resulted in a treasure trove of wooden architecture that eventually led to the town being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lunenburg is built on the side of a steep hill that slopes down to the harbour. Unless you own a convertible, the best way to see this architecture for yourself is on foot.
That's why walking tours here are so popular. However, if you're not good at imitating a mountain goat, the other option is to take advantage of the many horse and carriage tours. The advantage of a tour is that you get expert information on what you're seeing.
For me, as a photographer, I like to go at my own pace . . . to stop and take pictures as the mood strikes me. There is plenty of interpretive signage scattered about the town, so I'm never at a loss for information.
(L) St. John's Anglican Church and (R) Lunenburg Academy
The pictures contained in this blog, with the exception of the two nighttime shots taken the night before, were captured in the space of two hours on a sunny Sunday morning walk.
If you haven't done a tour of Lunenburg, organized or otherwise, then you've missed some of Nova Scotia at its finest. Take a look . . .
Notice that each of the above houses has a variation of an architectural theme . . . the protrusion on the front known as the 'Lunenburg Bump" Some houses even have two of them.
So that's Lunenburg, or at least part of it. Would you believe I've only scratched the surface of what there is to see, do or photograph in this amazing town. Seeing is believing . . .
To see more on Lunenburg and the South Shore, visit these sites:
www.exploreourshores.com
www.destinationsouthwestnova.com
www.novascotia.com
www.lunenburgns.com
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