THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGE OF ST PETER'S, NS.

THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGE OF ST PETER'S, NS.

You can find the village of St Peter's right in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Bras D'or Lake. It is where the Ocean meets the Cape Breton Inland's waters, where the the St Peter's Canal lives. Where  hundreds of pleasure boaters uses the tidal lock canal yearly. Our very own mini Panama Canal would you say!

Lots of interesting history can be found in this village. All you need to do is go for a historic walk and take in some of the visitors sites. As you enter the village by land, you can find a mural done by a local artist Linda Mc Connel that illustrates it very well.  Founded in the 1630's by French merchants, it is one of the oldest settlements in Canada, then  taken over by Britain by the early 17th century. The canal was primary used by the Mi Kmak nation as a canoe portage route then further more during the fur trade era by them and some small sailing ships. It made travelling to Sydney NS the gateway to Europe, much shorter and safer, then sailing around the southern coast of Cape Breton Island ( that means in the ocean, versus in land passages).

Construction of the canal locks that regulates the difference of water level between the lake and the ocean waters began in 1854. After fifteen years of manual labour through a solid wall of granite, it has been in operation since 1869 and is still widely used by boaters just like us. It is now designated as a National Historic site.

We can not say enough about this village. Just outside the locks, passed the swinging bridge and     around the bend that is called  "Two Cat Cove" is the great small port of St Peter's Lion Club Marina. It was our home port for all of summer 2015. Visited by hundreds of vessels big and small, from all around the wold. A great place to stop and rest from your short or long voyage, a place to take refuge from the storm. Well managed by a very resourceful staff,  it is located just a short walking distance away from the villages shopping area. St Peter's has a great business and service directory.  It offers everything you could need in preparation for the next leg of your voyage.