Sydney Highlights & Cape Breton

OVERVIEW

Meander through the charming streets of Sydney and discover much about its early history through an array of monuments and architectural gems. Your walking tour will begin at Wentworth Park, an urban greenspace created shortly after Britain’s Lord Sydney founded the town in 1785. Outdoor monuments nearby include one dedicated to the sailors who served Canada in the merchant navy during the world wars and the Big Fiddle, an oversized steel musical instrument that pays tribute to the folk music of the province’s Celtic community. The creativity of the local artisans will be on display at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design, where you may see jewelers, weavers, dyers and glassblowers working on new pieces. While browsing Jost House, Sydney’s oldest original wooden building, be sure to notice the more unusual furnishings such as the beehive bake oven. St. George’s Anglican is notable for being the island’s oldest church.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through Sydney’s historical downtown, which dates to the late 1700s.
• View a monument to Canada’s merchant navy and another that celebrates Celtic folk music.
• Visit the island’s oldest church and see the unusual tombstones in the graveyard.
• Purchase fine crafts by local artisans in an acclaimed design center, if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.