Old Town Lunenburg


World Heritage Identification Number: 741

World Heritage since: 1995

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Continent: Americas

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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A Historical Gem: Old Town Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Old Town Lunenburg, located on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, stands as a testament to the rich history of British colonial settlements in North America. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, this picturesque town offers a unique glimpse into the past, preserving its original layout and architectural charm that dates back to the 18th century.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Lunenburg is the best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America. Established in 1753, it has retained its original layout and overall appearance, based on a rectangular grid pattern drawn up in the home country. The inhabitants have managed to safeguard the city's identity throughout the centuries by preserving the wooden architecture of the houses, some of which date from the 18th century.

Encyclopedia Record: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Lunenburg is a port town on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. Founded in 1753, the town was one of the first British attempts to settle Protestants in Nova Scotia.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 33.85 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement

Coordinates: 44.37611111 , -64.30916667

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Image of Old Town Lunenburg

© Jvienneau, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Landscape of Grand Pré
83 km — Canada
Joggins Fossil Cliffs
149 km — Canada
Miguasha National Park
443 km — Canada
Anticosti
580 km — Canada
Historic District of Old Québec
601 km — Canada

Country Information: Canada

Flag of Canada

Official Name: Canada

Capital: Ottawa

Continent: Americas

Population (2024): 41,288,599

Population (2023): 40,083,484

Population (2022): 38,935,934

Land Area: 8,788,700 sq km

Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Old Town Lunenburg are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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