Lunenburg: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Several sailboats on the water in Lunenburg.

What is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a landmark or area is legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Culture Organization. UNESCO designates World Heritage Sites for having cultural, historical, scientific, or other identified significance.

Why Lunenburg was chosen

In 1995, UNESCO recognized Lunenburg for its fine preservation of Old Town, for having the best surviving example of a British Colonial grid-pattern street layout, and for its authenticity as a working town. The inhabitants of Lunenburg have worked hard to preserve traditional architecture, some of which dates back to the 18th century. 

An old canon in the street in Lunenburg.
How many towns do you know with old canons in the street?

It is the second urban community in Continental North America to be included on this list, the other is old Quebec City.

The UNESCO monument

On August 16, 1996, the distinctive UNESCO monument commemorating the official designation of Lunenburg as a World Heritage Site was unveiled in Lunenburg. The eight-foot-tall granite monument is topped with the World Heritage symbol in bronze, cast at the Lunenburg Foundry.

Old Town Lunenburg was also commemorated by the Government of Canada as a National Historic Site in 1991.