Fortress Louisbourg

From the cruise ship we have about a 40 minute tour to Fortress Louisbourg, another 40 minute journey to return.

Fortress Louisbourg, a National Historic Site, is an intimate part of the fabric of the history of Nova Scotia, involving French, English, American, and Mi’kmaq peoples and their history. Has been called the Gibraltar of North America and was so expensive to build, that Louis the Fourteenth, of France “expected to see it’s walls from Paris”. 

It is the largest fortress re-construction site in North America. In 1713, Louisbourg, was settled by a French expedition relocating from Placentia, Newfoundland. By, 1740 the population reached 2500 civilians and 700 garrison personnel, a mixture of Bretons, Normans, Basques and other French, along with Germans, Swiss, Irish and Africans, plus local Mi’kmaq.

In 1744 France and Great Britain declare war on each other. In 1745 an army of 4000 New Englanders captured the Fortress after a 6 week siege, the inhabitants of the garrison are deported to France. From 1745 to 1749 New Englanders and British forces occupy the Fortress.

A 1748 treaty gives the Fortress back to France and the French inhabitants return. In 1758 British forces, including New Englanders, totaling thirty thousand re-capture the Fortress. The French inhabitants are again deported to France. In 1760 the British blow up the fortifications, preventing yet another return of the French.

In 1763 with the Treaty of Paris, France cedes New France to Great Britain. In 1768 the British Garrison withdraws from Louisbourg, area.

In 1928 Fortress Louisbourg is proclaimed a National Historic Site. Beginning in 1961 the Government of Canada begins to reconstruct one-fifth of original Louisbourg, using the original blueprints to recreate identical building units (there are more than 25 open for viewing).During your visit, you will find dozens of costumed animators who portray the residents of 1744. Period costumes and exhibits line the streets and along the busy waterfront. See how the wealthy elite lived and contrasting to the very different life experienced by the poor.

In your visit/exploration of the Fortress you will see engineers, musicians, soldiers, merchants, bakers, servants and fishermen.

As an option, you may wish to have private guide tour of Louisbourg.

Following your time at Louisbourg, and as an option, you may return to your ship via the Marconi Trail. It will add additional time to you outing, but you will experience, hear, understand and see much more of Cape Breton, learning about the history, the peoples and it’s unique Cape Breton Culture.

This Excursion will take about 6 hours +/- there are two “restaurants” in the Fort - lunch on own - the Marconi Trail option will add about 1.15 hours +/- to the over-all tour time.