Louisbourg Fortress

Why Louisbourg Fortress is special
The Louisbourg historic site has an impressively recreated 18th-century French fortress (see photo) and old town.

Louisbourg tips and insights
French colony days
During that period, Louisbourg was a cod fishing, salting and preserving center - and a major seaport for trade with Europe, New England and the Caribbean.

Today
The recreated Louisbourg takes you back to 1744, a year before the British captured it from the French. That battle eventually helped the British gain control from the French of what is today eastern Canada.

Reconstruction
It began in 1961 and took over a decade to reach a substantive completion stage. Archaeological work continues today. The reconstruction deserves praise for its attention to authenticity. The architects and interior designers relied heavily on archaeological artifacts and historical documents.

A complex of buildings
Louisbourg old town has dozens of buildings of various purposes, including homes, stores and workshops. They are open from spring to fall.

Role playing
Staffers in period attire play dozens of roles, including those of soldiers, fishermen, cooks, and shop keepers. Their spiels on what 18th-century life was like are both educational and entertaining. You are encouraged to ask these staffers questions. They will answer you true to their character, as if they just arrived in a time machine.

Exploring
Visitors can explore Louisburg on their own or can take a free guided tour (which I recommend).

Eating
You can dine in restaurants where the decor, recipes and server outfits are colonial style.

The other Louisbourg
A contemporary Louisbourg town sits on the other side of the bay. It's of scant interest to travelers except for accommodations.

Location in Canada