Saint John (New Brunswick) / Canada

On the eastern coast of Canada in the Bay of Fundy in the province of New Brunswick lies the city of Saint John at the mouth of the river of the same name.

The area has been inhabited for many thousands of years, and in 1604, on Saint John's Day, after whom the city was named, the French navigator and cartographer Samuel de Champlain landed here as the first European. The area was soon acquired by the British, and in the second half of the 18th century, Saint John became a rapidly growing city: its prosperity was based on port activities and shipbuilding. Today, the third-largest Canadian port is home to about 125,000 residents.

Saint John boasts Victorian-style influenced architecture, brick-paved alleys, historic churches, beautiful squares, as well as street singers and interesting art galleries.

The center of Saint John is Brunswick Square with the largest office building in the area. In the mid-19th century, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built in the Gothic style. Its tower reaches a height of over 70 meters and is believed to have aided ships navigating into the city.

Already in 1876, the beautiful historic building of the City Market, the oldest continuously operating farmer's market in Canada, with a unique roof resembling an inverted ship's keel, was established. At the New Brunswick Museum, you can get acquainted with the rich cultural history of the area and its nature. Those who prefer beer should not miss a visit to the Moosehead Brewery, whose history dates back to 1867. In 1812, the Carleton Martello Tower was built by the British to defend the city, but it was never used and today is a good reason for a short stop.

In the city center, the Saint John River flows through a narrow rocky canyon, where you can observe a unique phenomenon, the so-called Reversing Falls, where one of the world's strongest tides raises the sea level by up to 8 meters and forces the river to flow upstream for several hours a day.

Surrounding the city is Stonehammer, the first geopark in North America, whose billion-year-old rock formations have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the Bay of Fundy area, birdwatchers or rare whale species enthusiasts will also find their place.

Less than an hour's drive from the city lies the fishing village of Saint Martin, where it is possible to walk on the seabed and explore an underwater cave during low tide.

Places worth seeing

Reversing Falls – Observe the unique phenomenon, one of the largest tides in the world, and the river flowing through a narrow rocky canyon against its current.

New Brunswick Museum – Get acquainted with the rich cultural history and beautiful nature of the Bay of Fundy area in an interesting museum with a range of interactive exhibits.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception – Admire the beautiful cathedral from the second half of the 19th century and its majestic 70-meter-high tower.

Carleton Martello Tower – Stop by the defensive tower built in 1812 by British settlers.

City Market – Don't miss a visit to the oldest farmer's market in Canada and taste the freshest pastries, cheeses, meats, or seafood.

Moosehead Breweries – Take a tour of the brewery from 1867 and enjoy a properly chilled golden brew.

Stonehammer Geopark – Admire the billion-year-old rock formations in the first North American geopark, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.