Newfoundland and Labrador’s tourism season has officially begun! Being who we are (Newfoundland RV Rentals), we’re very excited to usher in this years tourism season as many great things are happening province wide. From new and exciting archaeological sites all the way down the line to multitudes of icebergs floating from the Northern Peninsula to Eastern Newfoundland (as of 2 weeks ago) and abroad, things are leading up to be a very interesting season for both locals and tourists.

Staying true to our tourism articles, this week we’ve decided to write a piece about the community of Brigus located in Eastern Newfoundland about an hour outside of St. John’s (not far away from Newfoundland RV Rentals in Carenville) on the Irish Loop. Last week our blog writer and photographer headed out to get some beautiful photos to showcase the area to those who haven’t been there before.

Do enjoy the article and feel free to share it with your friends, family, co-workers and more! This article is to be shared and read by all to showcase what we have here in our beautiful province. This article may even entice you to come to Newfoundland & Labrador to have your own adventure because there’s always something to be discovered around each and every corner!

Brigus, adjacent from Cupids, the first English Settlement in Canada and the second English settlement in North America. Brigus is a land shrouded with rich history, deep roots and mysteries being uncovered… and in many cases… YET to be uncovered! If that doesn’t fire up the inner adventurer and explorer in you, we don’t know what will!

Easily accessible to the public from Newfoundland & Labrador’s main hub St. John’s, Brigus is approximately 80km west of the provinces capital city. It is accessible by travelling on Route 70-A, only 18km from the Trans Canada Highway.

The scenery alone in this region of Newfoundland brings in an estimated 12,000 tourists every tourism season and is set to grow more and more over time – all for ‘great’ reason pertaining the areas significance, of course. From the communities quaint old English streets resembling the atmosphere often found in European villages, to long, flowing green hillsides cascading over seaside walkways and cliffs, it sets the precedent for Newfoundland culture, adventure and tourism alike!

After strolling though the communities hiking trails, fields and picturesque landscape, you can always stop into a local shop for a slice of Brigus’s world renown blueberry cheesecake. The region even has a Blueberry festival during the summer months for all to partake in while enjoying activities, song, dance and watching some of the provinces most renown stage performers deliver a memorable experience for all. 

The seaside community is set in a sheltered area of Conception Bay which had been settled as a strategic settlement and fishing community during the early years of our provinces utilization by Europeans. The areas architecture is well maintained with its wonderfully preserved stone walls coupled with lush gardens and saltbox homes. During the summer months tourists and locals can visit Hawthorne Cottage National Historic Site which served as the home of the infamous sea captain, Captain Bob Bartlett – known as the greatest ice traveller of the 20th century. That’s quite the achievement, isn’t it?

Interestingly enough, Brigus derives from the old English word for ‘Brick House.’  If you want to tickle your fancy for history, take a walk back through the ages as Brigus is just the place for that as it resembles not only English roots and heritage, but Irish and Welsh as well.

As noted earlier, Cupids is not far from Brigus. In the year of 1610 Bristol’s Society of Merchant Venturers sent traveller Joy Guy brought a boat of settlers to the area where they lived for some time conducting fishing, farming, homesteading, mining operations and trade with the Beothuk until their departure around the year 1700. The site of the settlement that had been made in Cupids had been lost for 250 years until recently where archaeologists and have been uncovering the areas past history bit-by-bit and stone-by-stone. During the summer months locals and tourists can see the activity in person.

During King William’s War known as ‘The First Intercolonial War’ by the French (1688-1697), the village was raided in what was noted as the Avalon Peninsula Campaign at the time when forces of New France took over and dissembled 23 English settlements and villages not only in the area but around the province over the duration of a 3-month period.

In later years Brigus had become home to a multitude of noteworthy sea captains and farers throughout the years. In the year 1819, Captain William Munden had constructed the very first 100-ton schooner on the island.

The notable sea captains of Brugus written down as ‘Arctic Heroes’ in history are as follows: Captain John Bartlett, Captain Sam Bartlett, Captain Robert Bartlett, Captain Arthur Bartlett, Captain Isaac Bartlett, and Captain William Norman.

Last but not least we certainly can’t forget to discuss ‘The Tunnel’ of Brigus which is located within walking distance of the iconic view of the Brigus wharf. The Tunnel had been constructed during the year 1860 to provide access to an area in the cove where ships could be loaded and unloaded and is open to the public. Don’t forget to take your camera along with you on your journey because you won’t want to miss capturing any of the fun to be had in this fabulous region of Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.

If you’re looking for accommodations for your RV, there is an RV park called Crowhill RV Park, located at 395 Conception Bay Hwy in the community of Brigus. Click here for more.