St. Dunstan's Basilica, Charlottetown (must see)
Saint Dunstan鈥檚 Basilica stands as a cornerstone of Charlottetown鈥檚 identity, built of Island sandstone in the High Victorian Gothic style. It presents an imposing profile with a richly detailed fa莽ade, ornamented portals, and sharply defined pinnacles.
The story of the basilica begins humbly with a wooden chapel erected in 1816, followed by two later wooden churches. A first stone cathedral rose between 1896 and 1907, only to be devastated by fire in 1913. From that tragedy emerged a renewed determination: Islanders worked together to preserve the surviving walls, while architect J. M. Hunter guided the reconstruction. By 1919, the church reopened with an English Gothic interior set within its original French Gothic stonework.
In recognition of the community鈥檚 perseverance and sacrifice, Pope Pius XI elevated the cathedral to the rank of Basilica in 1929, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlottetown. Decades later, in 1990, it was declared a National Historic Site of Canada, honoured as a leading example of Gothic Revival architecture in the country.
Inside, visitors encounter a cruciform layout with vaulted ceilings, clustered stone piers, and finely carved woodwork. Stained-glass windows cast rich colour across the interior, while the ornate altar provides a focal point. Today, Saint Dunstan鈥檚 Basilica remains the spiritual heart of Catholic life on Prince Edward Island, open to worshippers and visitors alike.
The story of the basilica begins humbly with a wooden chapel erected in 1816, followed by two later wooden churches. A first stone cathedral rose between 1896 and 1907, only to be devastated by fire in 1913. From that tragedy emerged a renewed determination: Islanders worked together to preserve the surviving walls, while architect J. M. Hunter guided the reconstruction. By 1919, the church reopened with an English Gothic interior set within its original French Gothic stonework.
In recognition of the community鈥檚 perseverance and sacrifice, Pope Pius XI elevated the cathedral to the rank of Basilica in 1929, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlottetown. Decades later, in 1990, it was declared a National Historic Site of Canada, honoured as a leading example of Gothic Revival architecture in the country.
Inside, visitors encounter a cruciform layout with vaulted ceilings, clustered stone piers, and finely carved woodwork. Stained-glass windows cast rich colour across the interior, while the ornate altar provides a focal point. Today, Saint Dunstan鈥檚 Basilica remains the spiritual heart of Catholic life on Prince Edward Island, open to worshippers and visitors alike.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Charlottetown. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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St. Dunstan's Basilica on Map
Sight Name: St. Dunstan's Basilica
Sight Location: Charlottetown, Canada (See walking tours in Charlottetown)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Charlottetown, Canada (See walking tours in Charlottetown)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Create Your Own Walk in Charlottetown
Creating your own self-guided walk in Charlottetown is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Charlottetown Introduction Walking Tour
During a 1775 raid by American privateers, Charlottetown was plundered and several officials were taken captive. Yet the residents had the last laugh. They rebuilt the town the following year.
Charlottetown lies on the traditional territory of the Mi鈥檏maq people, long before European arrival. The first European settlement in the area began in 1720, when French colonists from Louisbourg... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Charlottetown lies on the traditional territory of the Mi鈥檏maq people, long before European arrival. The first European settlement in the area began in 1720, when French colonists from Louisbourg... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles